Wendy Gladney
There are certain birthdays that cause you to stop and reflect a little more deeply than others. For me, turning 65 is one of them. As I prepare to celebrate this milestone, I find myself thinking about the many chapters of my life: the good, the difficult, the unexpected, and even those seasons I was not sure I would make it through. And through all of them, one word continues to come to mind: Grateful. I am grateful for the faithfulness of God. I am grateful for my family and the people who have loved me along the way. I am grateful for the lessons, opportunities, relationships, successes, disappointments, and even the mistakes that helped shape the woman I am today. At 65, I understand something I could not fully appreciate when I was younger: Sometimes you must live long enough to look back and recognize the hand of God.
Things that once felt like rejection may have been protection. What seemed like a delay may have been preparation. And some of the experiences I thought would break me ultimately helped build the strength, wisdom, and compassion I would need later. That is the gift of perspective. This birthday is especially meaningful because it coincides with another milestone. I am releasing the 25th Anniversary Edition of my first book, The Preacher’s Daughter: A Memory. I can hardly believe it was over twenty-five years ago when I first put pen to paper to share my story. When I originally wrote The Preacher’s Daughter, I was sharing some of the painful experiences of my life and the journey that helped shape me. But now, 25 years later, I can look back at that younger Wendy through different eyes. I have had 25 more years to live, learn, heal, forgive, and 25 more years to discover who I am and what God has called me to do.
One of the greatest lessons I have learned is that your past can explain you without defining you. You can acknowledge what happened to you without allowing it to determine what happens next. Turning 65 is not only a spiritual and emotional milestone. It is also a practical one. So, as the Purpose Partner, I want to remind women approaching this season to do some preparation. First, educate yourself about Medicare. Understand your enrollment window, the different parts of Medicare, your current health coverage, and the choices available to you. Do not wait until the last minute. Second, review Social Security and your retirement plans. Turning 65 does not necessarily mean it is the right time for everyone to begin collecting Social Security or stop working. Learn about your options and consider getting qualified professional guidance based on your individual circumstances. Third, look at your finances. Know what you have, what you owe, what your monthly expenses are, and where your important financial and legal documents are located. Review your beneficiaries, insurance, retirement accounts, will or estate plan, healthcare directives, and other important paperwork. And please, take care of your health. Schedule your appointments and recommended screenings. Pay attention to nutrition, movement, sleep, and preventive care. But do not stop with your physical health. Check on your emotional, mental, and spiritual wellness too.
Finally, ask yourself a question we do not talk about enough: What do you want your life to look like now? Do not just make a retirement plan, make a life plan. I believe retirement planning should be about more than money. Think about all the other aspects of your life such as your dreams, relationships, what is still available for you to learn and experience. Most importantly, what is God still calling you to still do? You may retire from a job, career, or position, but please do not retire from living. At this stage of my life, there are things I no longer feel the need to prove. There are battles I do not need to fight and opinions I do not need to carry. I have learned that every season does not require the same version of me. I am also asking what I want this next chapter to look like for me. I want to love deeply, laugh often, protect my peace, take care of my body, stay close to God, spend time with people I love, continue serving, keep writing, keep learning, rest without guilt, forgive freely, and enjoy the life I have been given. I do not want to count the years but rather make sure the years count!
Wendy is the Purpose Partner helping women go from Crossroads to Confidence, from Shaken to Unshakable, from Purpose to Power. To learn more visit WendyGladney.com and ForgivingForLiving.org.
