What do you do when the career you've dedicated
nearly three decades to no longer feels like
home? After 29 years as a teacher, I found myself
standing at a crossroads, grappling with fear,
grief, and the undeniable pull towards something
new. I had the pension in sight, the job security,
the comfort of familiarity, but deep down I knew
I was no longer aligned and I was exhausted.
In today's episode of Life's Next Lesson Plan,
I'm opening up about what it's really like to
start over in your 50s. The doubts, the identity
crisis, the freedom, and yes, the fire that comes
with finally listening to your gut. If you've
ever asked yourself, am I too old to make a change?
Or what if I walk away from everything I've built?
This episode is for you. I'll walk you through
the emotional highs and lows of this midlife
career transition. Share the breakthrough moments
that helped me reclaim my purpose and reveal
what I'm doing next. You asked for it and it's
here. Reinvention isn't just possible. It might
be your next calling too. So let's begin. Thank
you for joining me for another episode of Life's
Next Lesson Plan. I'm Rachel and I started this
podcast during my 29th and last year as a high
school teacher. The goal of my work with Life's
Next Lesson Plan as well as my Live and Learn
Patreon is to create a connection where we are
all teachers. We all have lessons and stories
to share that can help others. I'm so fortunate
to be able to extend the four walls of my previous
classroom to an unlimited audience. where we
can all learn from each other. And my guests
are some of the most inspirational people, with
the best stories and lessons I know, which is
why I want to share them with you. Their words
are something everyone should hear. It is my
hope that you are able to take away something
from each episode to apply to your own life,
whether that be a career search, path to a more
fulfilling life, or new ideas on current topics.
Hello, hello, hello. Today we're talking about
what I'm actually going to be doing after an
entire career of teaching. So I guess my intro
is probably a little bit inaccurate if I'm being
honest because it wasn't at my 29th year where
I felt like... needed a change. It was a few
years leading up to that and if I'm gonna, you
know, divulge exactly my journey today I would
have to be honest and say that for years I had
been exploring other potential avenues of what
to do. Many of you know I dabbled in health coaching,
not that that was ever my full -time plan, but
maybe a part -time plan and I really, really
enjoyed that. I actually also completed an online
certification to become an instructional designer
and did have quite a few interviews actually
for a position in instructional design and I
just... didn't love it. There were a lot of things
about it right up my alley and I think I was
so focused on you know any career that could
be remote and use my skills but it got really
technical I think and while I'm not afraid of
that it just wasn't exactly what I was looking
for. So unfortunately I did invest money in that
path and did pursue it but knew that I would
not be happy doing that. And I look back, I guess,
with a little regret of maybe I should have taken
a less expensive path to explore that. But it
is what it is. I mean, once I'm determined to
try something, I do it. And then I've always
had part -time jobs. I worked at CycleBar. I've
worked at a kind of a big box outdoor retailer
for quite a while and still you know I only have
to work four hours a month to keep that position
I did actually explore you know what if this
were my only option what could you offer me and
for years they were like the minute you're done
teaching we have this for you you know you would
have insurance and benefits and you know That
having that and having those conversations, I'm
going to be honest, was what helped me say, OK,
I have to make the decision. And I would have
this if I absolutely needed it. It's not ideally
what I want to do, but I could survive. And I
knew that after years and years and years of
applying to, you know, I applied to do social
media and content creation for businesses and,
you know, interviewed and interviewed, I interviewed
for actually the school district that I live
in now, applied for communications coordinator
position there and made it really far, but nothing
was working. And it was... Making me realize
after conversations with other people my age
that like hey you're entering your 50s and a
you're expensive even though I was willing to
you know make concessions with salary and Be
you know, you're nearing retirement age. Although,
you know, it's my hope to continue to work in
some capacity. I've worked Almost every summer
because I get bored. I shouldn't say I get bored
I should say that me with a lot of unstructured
time is just not good for a lot of reasons And
so I always like to have at least something to
do Or I didn't have too much unstructured time.
So I will say 100 % that what finally helped
me just make the decision, cut the cord was knowing
that if nothing else worked out because I had
been applying so much that I would have that
option at my part -time job to go full -time
with benefits because I do carry the insurance
for my daughter. I knew enough about myself that
if my back were against the wall and I had no
other option, I would dig in even harder, even
though I felt like I was working pretty hard
to explore. So after many anguishing conversations
and communicating this, I knew I had to just
make the decision and then it would force me
to take action. So I guess this is just to say
like you need to know yourself if you're feeling
like a change is on the horizon for you. Like
how do you plan to explore? What are you looking
for? You know, there is just something about
always having that comfort zone to fall back
on. And I knew once I didn't have that, not that
I couldn't, you know. Find many teaching jobs
now. It's becoming very obvious, but I knew I
could not teach any longer I could But I would
not be happy and I'm just tired. I'm just done
and need a change So, you know, I have to be
transparent about that now going on from there
There were also years of internal struggle like
what are you doing? You know, you are so close
to your your pension. You are leaving money on
the table. A lot of second guessing myself. But
when you know how you feel and you just feel
like I cannot do this another year, I just that's
how I felt. So, boom, made the decision. I think
in late fall, you know. Definitely checked into
like how much notice do I need to give I really
didn't have to give any But I knew in the position
that I was in that I wanted I guess I'll just
say I wanted there to be a smooth transition
because my publications program I've been doing
for about 11 years and Holy cow the work and
blood and sweat and tears that have has gone
into building that program to what it is now
to just hand that off Once I found out there
was nobody qualified to teach it Just to hand
that off and leave the students Kind of in the
lurch. I just couldn't do that. I also made the
decision that I wanted to try podcasting because
why not and so The idea I had for my podcast
was to talk about, obviously, other people who
are feeling at a crossroads and talk about people's
journeys in their careers. And I couldn't really
do that and talk about leaving the classroom
without people knowing I was leaving the classroom.
So both of those reasons. Again, I've said it.
I would have preferred to quit at the end of
the school year in the summer. I don't. Even
though I appreciate the parties and the celebrations,
it makes me uncomfortable. I would have just
preferred to go away quietly, but it was not
the best choice for the situation that I'm in.
So I'll just say that. And now, because a colleague
of mine who I admire very much is taking over
my program, it gives us the opportunity. I mean,
this was actually something that I had. proposed
to administration that I felt that the best person
to take over the position was somebody already
in the building who knew our school really well,
someone who had really good connections, and
someone who would be willing to work with me
through the transition. Knowing that this was
the only person they had to take over, they graciously
agreed and we have been working together and
will continue to work together until she feels
comfortable taking over the position. It is just
so multifaceted and there is so much to it that
is unlike anything else in the school that I'm
happy that I made that decision. I think it was
the right one. So again, for you, what does that
look like. This was not my wish of how I wanted
to do it but it also had the silver lining of
me being able to do the podcast and talk about
this and so in that way I think you know it worked
out. I do think it's really important to talk
about all of the narratives that go through your
head when making a decision like this. number
one the fear of the unknown like will I find
work that I love again because obviously it had
an amazing career as a teacher and you know still
I'm seeing the rewards of my hard work pay off
in the kids and the opportunities that they're
getting and you know got the best essays from
the great cats be that I've ever received you
know here at the end you know you kind of figure
some things out at the end and you know still
really proud of the work that I've done and I
want to do something with purpose where I'll
get some of those feelings again. So that was
scary and it makes you really picky. I've talked
about ageism concerns. I mean, I don't feel like...
I'm someone who should be using the word ageism
because I feel young but it is starting over
after 50 it is an actual concern and then let's
just be honest there are huge financial implications
for teachers many many many I'll say too many
teachers stay in teaching too long or longer
than they would like to because of all the benefits
of staying. And I guess, you know, there's a
reason for that. It's a secure job. It has wonderful
benefits and great options for pension and all
of that. And that was a huge concern. And I could
not have made this decision five years ago. There
are certain things in my personal life that had
to line up with me feeling comfortable financially
being able to do this. It's still terrifying.
And then just what I talked about in my last
solo episode 33 of the identity shift of if I'm
not a teacher and you know, my daughter is leaving
the nest, who am I? Right? Well, I'm still Rachel,
right? And there's a lot to do with my identity.
So I just want to be transparent about those
are definitely challenges that I personally felt.
And so as a result of that, I, you know, had
to kind of have some mindset shifts and really
be in tune with, you know, who I was. And, you
know, experience that breakthrough of like, okay,
I'm doing I have been talking about it and talking
about it. I am going to do it. So one of the
mindset shifts I had to have was just redefining
what success in this chapter will be. And a lot
of that, you know, has to do with how fulfilled
you feel by your job. And even though teaching
is... oh my gosh, one of the most difficult jobs
I believe. It is also one of the most rewarding
and fulfilling, right? So there's a double edged
sword. And it is hard. I know people who are
jealous of teachers, not that they would want
to do their job, but just like, you have so much
purpose and you enact so much change, right?
And shape people's lives. And that is really
cool. I mean, I would not have some of the guests
on my podcast here without teaching. So it is
definitely something I'm really proud of my legacy
and I'm really proud of the lives that I have
had the opportunity to influence. So that is
hard to match. But I also know at this stage
I've had that, right? And so my goal in seeking
my next position was to take all of the skills
which You know, in the last 11 years have changed
a lot. An English teacher is one thing, and there
are certain skills that come with that. Being
a journalism advisor is a whole other ball game.
And I would not have felt comfortable podcasting
if I didn't have the journalism skills that I
have acquired in the last 11 years. So for me,
more so, it was how could I provide value in
a different way? So. how could I provide value
to a company that needed my skills? And I have
to credit my yearbook rep, Cindy, who said to
me, you know, why don't you contact this company
or companies like this who are always looking
for people with your skill set? And that is 100
% what happened. So I basically contacted a company
in our area who I had worked with through yearbook.
They're a photography and yearbook company. I
did not realize all the years of working with
them. all of the things that they did. I just
knew that they provided us pictures for our yearbook.
I knew that they were a company run by former
alumni from the high school where I taught. And
I had had one of their relatives as a yearbook
editor. And I didn't know if it was going to
pan out to anything. I was still actually talking
with my own yearbook company about potential
employment opportunities there. Why not? Right?
All they can say is, oh, you know, thank you
for reaching out. Sorry. No. Well, I reached
out to them, I believe, before the holidays,
I think, if I remember right. And I think we
started talking in around that time, but then
January, I think we actually had four or five
meetings face to face where we would talk about
what And they basically said, what are you looking
for? And I laid out exactly what I was looking
for and the skills they knew of me and they knew
of my work because actually one of my new supervisors
is a parent who I had all three of his students
in different classes and they just knew, you
know, having had worked with our school and having
gone there and our partnership through yearbook,
they knew of my work and of my students work.
So That's what started it. And I didn't know
where it was going to end up, but it was very
unconventional. I have the job now and I never
turned in a resume. They never asked for a reference.
I mean, they know my principal. They know everybody
I work with. They know my yearbook rep very well.
But how crazy, right? After all the cover letters
and resumes and interviews that I had, this is
a lesson that I have said to my students and
I'm going to say it to you to spread. Every day
of your life is a job interview. and you're not
going into every day of your life intending it
to be a job interview, but I'm gonna give you
a couple examples of how this has repeated itself
in my life and maybe this has happened to you
too. So going way back to just starting out as
a journalism advisor, right? Like I'm the type
of person who... hits the ground running. I had
won, you know, the JEA, which is the National
Journalism Education Association. I had won their
Rising Star Award that after applying for that
was pretty rigorous. I had applied for a special
journalism fellowship. It was a two -week fellowship
at Mizzou. Again, a very rigorous application
process that included work samples, letters of
recommendation. They were choosing different
yearbook advisors from different states. They
put us up in a boutique hotel for two weeks in
the summer on the campus of Mizzou. I met people
I still love and keep in touch with today in
the field of journalism. I did a lot of things
then that led me to, I taught summer journalism
workshops. I had one of the best JEA mentors
out there to help me start my program. Thank
you, Linda, for everything. This to say that
in the pandemic, which I would have been like
eight years into my journalism career by then,
I got a call from my mentor, Linda, who had worked
with my students, who had worked with me. at
Iowa, University of Iowa summer journalism workshop.
She was helping at a local college, Mount Mary
University. She was helping them with their journalism
program. And they were losing their advisor and
they needed someone to just step in for a while.
And she's like, are you in the area? Are you
interested? She knew my work. She knew me. I
didn't reach out to them, and there I did turn
in a resume as a college adjunct professor position,
right? I had interviews and was hired. But that
was because every time she saw my work and saw
me, that was an interview, right? Then, same
time, during the same time frame, I got a...
message from a guy I'd gone to college with.
He was starting a business in the wellness space
and he needed someone who was into wellness and
knew how to write. That's me. And all he wanted
was basically a ghostwriter to, you know, I was
provided SEO outlines of topics that he needed
content for his website for. Never turned in
a resume, didn't really have a formal interview.
It was just like, can you send us a sample? We'll
give you an outline. Can you do a writing sample
for us? And we'll see if it'll work. Boom, bam,
boom. I think I was writing a blog a week. Great
extra money in both of those cases because of
the skills that they knew that I had and the
person that I was. And so I feel like this opportunity
is similar to that. So I want you to think about,
right, people whose paths you've crossed, who
know your work, and how that could work to your
advantage, because definitely that's what helped
me. All right, I'm gonna be awful. And we're
going to take a little break here and do some
ads and ask the teacher anything. And then when
we come back, I'll talk to you exactly about
what I'm going to be doing and how that will
look. To those of you who have followed me for
a while, you know that I value mental and physical
wellness. Personally, I've worked with a few
different coaches over the years and even been
one myself. If you are looking for education
and support in your own wellness journey, I would
love to invite you to the wellness community
I am currently in that keeps me accountable daily
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Megan Grimord, who is a certified trainer and
nutrition coach. She offers lots of education
and support for your wellness journey. If you
want to get to know Coach Megan Moore, you can
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our bell, and it's ask the teacher anything time.
So question one, what's been the most unexpected
joy of this new chapter? And I'm assuming that
means like new chapter of podcasting and maybe
a new chapter to make the decision. I'm just
going to go with that. I've talked about this
before, I think, but definitely putting yourself
out there and voicing kind of what's going on
in your life brings people who are resonating
with your message sort of to you or things that
you've talked about or things that you've gone
through. And I think when you're vulnerable,
people feel comfortable being vulnerable with
you. And so that's been really, really nice.
I think there are different, again, opportunities
that are popping up in my life that would not
have popped up I don't think if I hadn't a taken
the sleep and be been vocal about sharing it
and so again totally it was not the path that
I would have preferred to take but decided if
this is the way I was going to do it, I was going
to do it 100%. And those are really the benefits
that I have seen of just, I think, reconnecting
with certain people and different opportunities
popping up that I couldn't have predicted. Question
two, has your decision to leave teaching changed
how you view education as a whole? I don't think
it's the decision. that has changed my view of
education. I think I made the decision because
my view of education changed. So, you know, anytime
you do something over a span of three decades,
things are going to change. You're going to experience
extreme, you know, differences in how it was
when you began. And, you know, It's it's funny
to now be the one of the older teachers in the
building and to listen to the young teachers
Who sound exactly like I sounded when I was that
age like I'm gonna work here my entire life I'm
gonna retire, you know and die in this building
Yeah, I felt like that too. And I was super passionate
about what I did and, you know, threw myself
in it. And I get that and that is very true for
a lot of people. But, you know, I don't know
if it's just this pull of knowing there's something
different or just I know I'm exhausted. I know
my patience is short. I know there are things
about the system that really, really, really
have been bothering me in the last few years.
And either, you know, you can work to change
those things, or you can make a change. And I
had put in my time, is what I felt. And so, yeah,
I'm sad about some of the things that I'm seeing
in public education. Yes, I am. There were years
where I actually thought about opening up my
own school. And I've seen on X, you know, these
X teachers who have opened up these one room
school houses. And, you know, I've toured charter
schools before and, you know, there's opinions
about that idea and that model. But I do think
that there needs to be Changes and you know,
I think what kept me in teaching as long as I
did was AP capstone training, which I did a whole
episode about revolutionized my teaching and
the things that I was able to do in my classroom
with that model with kids Really putting them
in the driver's seat same thing through journalism
where they are running with their ideas. I Think
more of that is needed. I mean I had an entire
conversation about this with my guest Star Stakstein
and Michael Hernandez. You know, Star has written
numerous books and they do webinars on these
topics and so I'm not the only one feeling these
things, but I just, again, as I said in the opening,
didn't feel aligned. So when that is how you're
feeling, then you need to do something about
it. And so that's what I did. Am running out
of questions, so I need you to submit more to
me either on social media Or there is a question
box on my website at life's next lesson plan
calm You know life's gonna be changing here soon,
so maybe you'll have a fresh batch about that
for me Thanks always for providing those questions
Okay, okay, let's get into it so I talked about
you know kind of how I landed on the path that
I was on this unconventional direction of you
know me reaching out to a company and them being
open and willing enough to have multiple conversations
with me and so you know I'm not going to say
the exact name of the company in particular,
but it wouldn't be that difficult to figure it
out. Again, it's a company that works out of
Wisconsin and Illinois, which I didn't even realize
that until we started speaking how large they
were. I went to them and I explained my situation.
You know, they knew me or knew of me and said,
you know, after all of this time, I'm looking
for a change and I would like to find a company
who needs the skills that I can offer. However,
I can help. You know, it was. Such a crazy moment
because they told me that they had been wanting
to do some of the things That I could help them
do for years, but just didn't have anybody to
help them Okay, so What like how crazy is that?
Okay, so and again, you know Sometimes I just
always think, oh, people are just being nice,
right? Like, they're just saying that so that
I don't feel bad coming in here knocking on their
door, right? Asking them basically for a job
out of nowhere. But that was the case. There
were a lot of things that they... want to try
to do or at least learn more about to expand
their company and they needed someone with my
skill set. There's a lot of things I went to
them, you know, things they're already doing
like my yearbook rep had said. You know, one
of the things that I wanted in this next phase,
because I've been commuting so much, is the opportunity
to have more remote time. I want a hybrid position
with the ability to work remotely. I'd like to
spend some time in warmer weather as I get older.
This company, their dead time is during our cold
time in Wisconsin, so that is actually a possibility.
But basically, I was like... Do you just need
someone to put together elementary and middle
school yearbooks at home? And they were like,
yeah, we have people who do that. Yes, they have
a lot on their plates. We could always use that
help. But like, we could use you for so much
more than that. But that's originally what I
expected to be doing, like using my yearbook
skills. Not everybody has those skills to help
them in some capacity. And so that's where the
conversation started. And then from there it
evolved, you know, by me then finding out more
about what their needs were and how I could be
a fit for them. And this, like I said, was at
least three to four conversations. And at one
point they pulled in another person who was this
parent whose children I had. and knew of me,
knew my work, and many different aspects. And
so we just started talking about what this could
look like. And that evolved from their goals
and my goals to them having conversations with
people who were currently employed there. They
wanted to ask them, are there parts of your job
you would like to get off your plate that I could
help with? And then I basically... Told them
some of the things that I thought that they could
maybe offer or add That they weren't currently
doing that was in my wheelhouse that that I could
help with and they took notes and took notes
And we just kept talking about okay You know,
how could this look they had to wait, you know,
because this definitely started in January and
didn't Finalize until you know, I think late
March, early April, yeah, April. And so they
had, they were waiting for certain pieces of
their puzzle and certain answers because again,
they didn't have a job posting. I went to them
and they said, tell us exactly what you want.
I told them exactly what I wanted and they created
a job around that. We did have to negotiate salary
a little bit and I can't just walk into that
position making what I made as a teacher, but
You know, I talked to a lot of people about this
and I talked about it on my podcast as well of
like, there are different types of wealth. And,
you know, if working remotely from a sunny location
is worth 20 grand to you, then it's worth 20
grand to you, right? This stage of my life, I
want more flexibility. I want those 10 hours
in my car back. And I will still have to drive
quite a ways when I need to go into the office,
but it will not be five days a week. Um, and
again, just a lot more flexibility, really amazing
people to work for. Like if you wanted to pick
your ideal bosses. And again, I haven't started
yet. I don't start until July, but you know,
I know of them too and have crossed paths with
them previously in my life. And so how crazy,
right? That just going from like, oh my God,
what have I done? What am I going to do? To putting
out into the universe, this is what I want and
going to find it. And in a lot of cases, you
know, as I've explained, sometimes it has come
to me without even asking. So I just think it's
so important to really think about your life's
work and the skills that you build or, you know,
choose to have in your life. And so yeah, I'm
gonna be working full time. That was my, it's
going to be seasonal though. It's gonna be like
a lot of hours. during some parts of the year
that are really busy for them and then falling
short of full time during their quieter periods.
And so, you know, I know that it's going to be
year round. And, you know, one of the biggest
things people say is like, how can you give up
your summers off? Well, if I'm going to be honest
with you, I could not relax or decompress as
a teacher until 4th of July. is where I felt
like, okay, I'm a human again. And then honestly,
meetings started at the beginning of August.
So yeah, I felt like I had a month of summer
and I always worked another job, whether it was
related to teaching, like teaching summer journalism
workshops, you know, by my choice, or, you know,
that I wanted something completely not related
to teaching because I was starting to get burned
out. And I've talked about that during this episode.
I always like to have something to provide structure
and just build new skills and explore. And so
that doesn't phase me. Also, everybody who I've
talked to who's transitioned out of teaching
to working year round is like, it's just so different.
You're not completely exhausted by the end of
the week, especially if you're working at home.
You don't have the extreme mental load that teachers
carry. And so you're not in your pajamas by six
o 'clock on Friday, which I am most Fridays.
So I think it's just different. And that doesn't
bother me. I'll still have plenty of time to
do what I want to do, especially if I'm getting
10 hours a week back in my car. You know, I will
be working full time. I will be working for a
photography and yearbook company with amazing
bosses. A lot of people who are my supervisors
are people who I know or people who are on my
team are people who I have worked with in my
yearbook journey. So that's kind of fun. And
I'm just excited to again, I'm going to be learning
a ton. I'm sure it'll be like drinking out of
a fire hose. I love that. I love learning new
things. This is just another avenue for me to
build my skill set and to hopefully, you know,
provide value with the skills that I have. So,
you know, I guess if I have to turn this into
a lesson and some takeaways today is, you know,
trust your instincts. but plan practically. This
was not an overnight decision, although I feel
like, you know, one day I was like, I have to
do it. There were years and years of conversations
leading up to that. Your skills are more transferable
than you think, and you may have to think outside
the box for how you use them. When I graduated
from college 30 years ago, many of the jobs that
exist now didn't exist and so you know kind of
think about what could I do or what am I willing
to learn courses am I willing to take in order
to provide value to another company it is okay
to grieve your old chapter and be excited about
the new one you know yeah I want my classroom
packed up so on that last day I am out and I
am you know, not going to look back. There are
definitely things that I'm going to miss and
it is sad, but it's time. And oh my gosh, I'm
so excited to see what's next for me. And community
and mentorship are crucial during big transitions.
Thank you so much to my sister who held me up
during this agonizing decision and listened to
me over the years and knew that it was time and
knew she told me she could hear it in my voice,
knew that I had made the right decision, and
has helped me on this entire podcasting journey.
So much still is I mean multiple texts a day
there for a while Thank you so much Renee and
also Brett, of course my significant other who
you know taught me that True life fulfillment
is not tied to money is not tied to your identity
in a career and that it is okay to put yourself
first. Thank you, thank you for supporting me
and thinking, you know, these tough decisions
through with me and providing a model for what's
really important in life. So definitely find
your people who, you know, won't judge you and
are there to hear what's right for you, not what
society says you should be doing, or what the
bank says you should be doing. It's never too
late to start again. And you are brave, and you
are curious, and you are strong. You can do it.
So two short action steps for today. I want you
to frame this in. You are not starting over.
You are starting. from where you are now. And
so it's not like you're starting as a newbie
fresh out of college. You are starting with so
much life experience and so many skills, right?
So I want you to not think about it as like a
clean slate, but definitely all of these assets
that you have. And with that idea then, if you
could... Get a fresh start. What passions do
you have and what careers align with that? And
that could just start with a simple list. Or
I'm sorry, I use chat GPT to solve a lot of my
burning questions and it is actually so helpful.
And the more that I use it, the more it knows
about my life and things that are important to
me. And I know that sounds ridiculous because
it's AI, but you can have these conversations
with people who know you. But sometimes it's
really nice to just have an objective. artificial
intelligence to provide you with some, you know,
again, jobs that I didn't know existed or creative
ways to use my skills that I didn't know existed.
Actually, just help with brainstorming was really
great. And then in my last episode, episode 33,
that's where I talked about identity and just
who you are at your core and what is important
to you, what your top three values are. So, you
know, I would, I think, start with some journaling,
whether it's downloading that free journal that
I offered to do some brainstorming there about
what's important to you, or again, find a journal,
but do some writing, do some reflecting, really
put it out there so that you can see it in black
and white. So that's what I'm gonna leave you
with today. I'm sure that I will be as I get
started in July, you know talking a little bit
more specifically about what I'm going to be
doing Because you know, I have a lot of hats
that I'll be wearing but I can't really Visualize
them because I haven't worked for a company like
this before so stay tuned Alright guys, thanks
for joining me for this personal episode of life's
next lesson plan If you're standing on the edge
of a big change, whether by choice or circumstance,
I hope today reminded you that starting over
doesn't mean starting from scratch. It means
starting from experience. So leaving behind a
29 -year career is not going to be easy, but
definitely necessary for my health, for my growth,
and for the life I still want to build. I'm learning
that reinvention is less about having all the
answers and more about trusting yourself enough.
to take the next step, even when the road is
unclear. If today's conversation resonated with
you, I'd love to hear what chapter you're stepping
into or dreaming about. And if you're looking
for support and rediscovering your identity during
a transition, don't forget to grab my free identity
journal at Life's Next Lesson Plan dot com slash
freebies. Let this be a reminder, it's never
too late to become the version of yourself you've
been quietly envisioning. And if you know someone
who could benefit from this message, please be
sure to share the podcast. And it always helps
me grow the podcast if you do that, as well as
scrolling down and leaving a rate and review.
Thank you so much to those of you who've already
done that. You can also join me on Instagram
at Life's Next Lesson Plan or on my YouTube channel
where I've been counting down my final days in
the classroom and also chronicling our new upcoming
camper adventures. So until next time, stay curious,
stay brave, and keep writing your next lesson
plan.