Reinventing Retirement, Practicing "Do Nothing", and Finding Peace | Mike Bailey

In this episode of Behind the Village Podcast we sit down with Mike Bailey, a lifelong learner who spent decades reinventing his working life, moving from grocery clerk and electrical apprentice to corrections officer and HR advisor before retiring into a second act as a full‑time photographer. Mike shares how he recognized when it was time for change, how he rebuilt confidence, and how photography gave him purpose; he explains his pre‑visualization approach to storytelling, the daily "do nothing" practice that reduced stress and sharpened focus, and offers practical advice on midlife career change, retiring into creative work, photography as therapy and income, overcoming self‑doubt, slow living, and balancing family and work.A Shoebox of MemoriesWebsite: https://ashoeboxofmemories.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AShoeboxOfMemories/The Villager MagazineWebsite: https://villagermagazine.caFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheVillagerCommunityNews/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevillagermagazine/Newsletter: https://villagermagazine.ca/subscribe/Chapters00:00 Intro01:10 Life After Retirement03:21 When is it Time to Make a Change05:09 Self-Confidence is the Secret07:55 Finding Balance09:52 Photography as a Creative Endeavour17:05 What Does Success Mean19:13 The Effects of Negativity and How to Combat it27:14 A Look Back - What Would Mike Change