“We all have two lives, the second one starts when we realize that we only have one.”
— Tom Hiddleston
About Your Retirement Coach
M. Samela Dingus is a speaker, producer, and writer dedicated to helping individuals 55 and older navigate life after retirement with confidence and purpose.
As a retirement coach, Samela empowers multicultural individuals to make a meaningful impact—whether in their home, community, or the world. Samela’s mission is to challenge outdated stereotypes of aging and show that retirement is just the beginning of new possibilities.
With a lifelong passion for creativity, she has worked as an actor, dancer, choreographer, producer, and director. Beyond the arts, she has been an executive, tutor, teacher, and post-retirement career coaching expert. Her personal journey of lifelong learning and reinvention proves that it’s never too late to pursue your dreams. At 51, she earned a Master of Fine Arts in Arts Administration.
By 58, Samela became a certified Profiting from Your Passions Coach. At 61, she graduated from Visionary Business School, and at 66 she later became an ESL, English as a Second Language, instructor.
The Five Pillars of a Purposeful Retirement
Through years of experience, Samela has developed these five guiding principles for a thriving and fulfilling retirement:
1
Age is just a number. Your potential isn’t limited by the number of candles on your birthday cake.
2
It’s never too late to follow your dreams. No matter when you start, you can manifest the life you’ve always wanted.
3
Until you try, you don’t know what’s possible. Don’t let fear hold you back from discovering new opportunities.
4
Life has meaning at every stage. Finding purpose in your experiences leads to greater joy and fulfillment.
5
Health is the foundation of a thriving retirement. A strong body and mind allow you to enjoy all that life has to offer.
Mindful Elders: Redefining Life After Retirement
I coined a new name for us olders—MELDERS.
A Melder is a Mindful Elder—a vibrant, purpose-driven individual previously labeled as a “retiree” or “senior citizen.” The term senior citizen carries outdated stereotypes, misrepresentations, and stigma. But retirement is not the end—it’s a new beginning. Melders have the time, talent, wisdom, and experience to make a meaningful impact in their families, communities, and the world.
We are soon to be over 20% of the population, and it’s time to embrace this chapter with purpose and passion.
Join our Mindful Elders Facebook Group to connect with like-minded individuals.