What Nobody Admits About Retirement
We talk a lot about the freedom of retirement. No alarm clock. No commute. No meetings. No boss. Finally, you get to decide how you spend your time. But there’s something we don’t talk about nearly enough. Retirement can be lonely. Not necessarily the deep, painful loneliness we usually imagine. Sometimes it’s much quieter than […]
What Does Labor Mean if You’re Retired?
For decades, your days were filled with responsibilities. You showed up, solved problems, cared for others, met deadlines, and contributed your unique talents to your family, your workplace, and your community. Some days were rewarding. Others were challenging. Yet every step along the way became part of the story that brought you here. Retirement doesn’t […]
Share Your Skills with Family, Community, or a Cause That Matters
Many Melders spend years asking themselves: “What am I supposed to do now?” “How do I stay useful?” “Does anyone even need what I know anymore?” The answer is YES. Your lived experience is valuable, needed, and deeply relevant. The skills you developed over decades did not lose their worth the day you retired. In fact, retirement may […]
“Renew Your Mind, Renew Your Path”
Spring invites us into a season of possibilities. As the days grow longer and the air softens, we’re reminded that renewal isn’t just happening around us; it’s available within us, too. Like nature shedding winter’s weight, this is a powerful time to release what no longer serves you—old routines, limiting beliefs, or habits that keep […]
Success Has No Age Limit
Although success may look different to you at different points in life, the ability to achieve success has no age limit. In this month of celebrating women, it seems only fitting that Melder Women should be in our spotlight. Purpose propels us forward. May you find inspiration and purpose in the myriad achievements of these women. Diana […]
Story Catchers
Did you listen when your elders reminisced about times gone by? Can you recall their stories about childhood, adventures, laughter, loves, heartbreaks and where they lived? These stories are the keys that unlock our history. Now, we are the elders, the keepers of the keys to our family’s treasures, the stories that provide a sense […]
Multigenerational Housing
The rise of multigenerational living in the U.S. is driven by financial pressures, shifting social norms, and the benefits of intergenerational support. After returning from Spain, 25-year-old Ben Hoffinger moved back in with his parents while attending Harvard due to high housing costs, a common trend among young adults. The number of multigenerational homes—those housing […]
Is it New for You?
Is it really a new year? That’s what the calendar says, but what part of your life is? We turn the calendar, a new day, a new month, a new year, but is it really? That’s a thoughtful reflection. The calendar says it’s a new year, but real change comes not just with the flipping […]
Finding your Calling
What do you want to be when you grow up? There’s still time, you know. Here are some key lessons about discovering and living your calling, based on themes from the book Callings by Dave Isay: The core message is that living your calling is an ongoing, courageous journey of aligning with your values and […]
‘Mess’ Baskets
If you’re someone who gets home from work and drops your keys wherever, kicks off your shoes wherever, and leaves your dirty clothes wherever they may land, you may also be the type who dreads the day you inevitably have to clean it all up. Not everyone has a predisposition toward being tidy—but there is a way you can be […]