Life After Retirement: Thriving in Your Next Chapter

Have you ever thought about what your days will look like after you’ve retired? If you have retired, does your life look how you imagined?On this episode of Rooted & Rising, Tabitha and Cheryl are back to discuss the transition from military to civilian life, what the retirement process was like, and what they are up to now.Transitioning out of the military often comes with profound identity and cultural adjustments, particularly for women who have served in predominantly male environments.Cheryl opens up about how veterans who are women often feel unseen once they’ve transitioned to civilian spaces, despite being highly visible in their previous career, calling it “a reverse culture shock”. She goes on to say that providing social spaces for women who have retired from the military to support their mental health and wellness would be highly beneficial.Tabitha shares insights on her new life running the JROTC program for 6th to 8th-grade students, helping them grow into the successful leaders they intend to be. Though her current path is still dealing with the military, project management, and HR abilities are some transferable skills that made her transition into civilian life easier. Episode Takeaways:* Identity shift post-retirement* Understanding your new life will look different* Financial, medical, and emotional planning for this new phase* Transferring skills and maintaining friendships* The ongoing journey of mental health and wellnessLeaving the military isn’t just a career change; it’s a profound transformation. Planning, community, and a focus on purpose can make it the start of a powerful new chapter. Tabitha and Cheryl are walking testimonies of this.What’s been your biggest shift after leaving a structured environment? How do you nurture your purpose now?Grab your 2026 Wellness Powered By You digital planner HERE.Did you miss last week’s post? Get full access to Lamisa Wellness Collective at lamisawellnesscollective.substack.com/subscribe