Judy Wilburn / Finding Fulfillment in Retirement through Community Service
Fri 1:00pm - 1:50pm
Venue: Convo Table 02
Co-Creators
Type of Experience: Conversation
Content Type: Life after retirement through volunteerism
Most of us are defined throughout life by our roles and job titles. In retirement, we may retain some of that identity, as in being a parent never ends! But for those used to being defined by whatever profession we devoted over half our lives to, there is a very real loss of identity that accompanies retirement. It can be scary, leaving us lost, without a meaningful sense of purpose. As an educator, I found it natural to look to volunteer work to fill that void. As an animal lover, I first tried being a Puppy Raiser for Service Dogs. In this session, I will discuss the challenges and potential pitfall of that particular work. Then I discovered personal fulfillment as an ESL tutor at a literacy center. In this session, we will discuss how to meet one's needs through giving back to the community and how to deal with one's insecurities regarding retirement. The session will be open to sharing of the experiences of others related to their quest for fulfillment in retirement as related to their values and personal goals.