You could ask the same questions about the midlife transition so many of us are swimming in. How long will it last? What’s coming around the bend? How do I plan? Where will I find meaning?
My last big trip before the pandemic was to a magical place in Baja Sur, Mexico where I spent a week with 20 people wrestling with big questions about how to spend the rest of their lives. Even though I was part of the faculty, I learned so much about what I wanted for my own next chapter. And I left with some concrete ideas about how to get there. I also left with a collection of dear friends from varied walks of life and a few continents. We still meet virtually every month to support one another on our quest to make the most of our lives.
I’m thrilled that my first big trip since the pandemic will take me right back to MEA! I’ll be leading a workshop the week of February 20-27 called “Crafting Your Encore Career.” We’ll dig into questions like these:
- How can I figure out what I want at this stage of my life?
- How can I connect my interests to volunteer and paid opportunities?
- How can I work alongside and learn from younger people?
- And how can I be prepared for the pivots and detours that inevitably arise?
There will also be opportunities to stretch. You can meet with a shaman, learn to surf, or just slow down long enough to experience the moment and connect with dreams that have long been dormant.
I’ll be co-facilitating with MEA co-founder Christine Sperber, a former professional snowboarder, which means that the whole thing will be infused with a sense of fun, adventure and exploration. Without revealing too much about how the magic happens, I can say that it’s way better to do all this in a setting that involves a lot of bread (baking and breaking), laughter, beach-walking, and sunsets.
I hope you’ll consider joining us in Baja. And if it sounds just right for someone you know, I hope you’ll forward this note along. Note that MEA is committed to socio-economic diversity, so scholarships are available — details here.
Marci is the author of The Encore Career Handbook and VP Narrative Change at Encore.org, which brings older and younger changemakers together to solve problems, bridge divides and create a better future for all.