Retirement is a wild, exciting, and sometimes nerve-wracking phase of life. It’s full of possibilities, but let’s be honest—there’s also a bit of uncertainty. It can feel like you’re standing on the edge of something big, with a mix of anticipation and perhaps a touch of anxiety. For me, this period became a time of deep reflection and exploration, and one of the most surprising tools that helped me navigate it was art journaling.
Art journaling is a creative practice that combines art and writing in a visual journal. It’s a space where you can freely express your thoughts, emotions, and ideas using a mix of words, drawings, collages, and other art forms. This process isn’t about creating perfect artwork; it’s about using creativity to explore and understand your inner world.
When I first retired two years ago, I spent four weeks walking the Camino de Santiago, hoping to find clarity and purpose. It was an incredible experience, but when I returned to the U.S., I was still searching and struggling to understand how I fit into a culture built on achievement and busyness. That’s when I discovered MEA and took their online courses Cultivating Purpose and Navigating Transitions.
During these courses, I revisited my art journaling practice with fresh curiosity and openness. The more I engaged with it, the more I realized how much joy and discovery it brought into my life, helping me tap into something deeper that had been quietly waiting for me to notice.
Art journaling became a way for me to access the right side of my brain, bypassing the analytical to-do lists and constant hum of daily life. It allowed me to connect with a more intuitive understanding of myself and the world around me. This wasn’t about producing something beautiful; it was about uncovering truths that words alone couldn’t express and finding joy in the sheer act of creation.
Reflecting on my past through this creative lens brought a new perspective. Retirement felt like a giant pause button, a chance to look back on where I’d been and think about where I wanted to go next. But it was more than just reflection—it was a process of integration. I found that art journaling allowed me to connect the dots between my experiences, desires, and the person I was becoming. It was like having a conversation with myself where the usual rules didn’t apply, and I could be honest about my fears, hopes, and everything in between.
One of the most powerful aspects of this practice was how it helped me navigate the emotional complexity of retirement. Change is hard, even when it’s something you’ve been looking forward to. There was excitement, yes, but also fear, uncertainty, and a bit of sadness for the roles and identities I was leaving behind. Art journaling became a safe space to explore these emotions, to start understanding them in a way that felt manageable, and to remind myself that this new chapter was just as much about discovery and play as it was about reflection. It also became a thoughtful companion during times when caregiving or health issues arose, offering a space to process those experiences with grace and creativity.
Navigating this stage of life certainly has its challenges, but it also offers a unique opportunity to redefine who we are and what we want out of life. For me, art journaling has been a way to embrace that opportunity with open arms, to navigate the uncertainty with a bit more grace, and to find joy in the journey, however messy it might be.
-Susan
Susan Hensley is an author, workshop leader, and coach who uses art journaling as a tool to help others navigate life’s transitions. In her former careers, she was an HR executive and broadcast journalist.