Savoring Life at 59: Letting Go to Begin Again

This reflection is part of my ongoing series: Savoring Life at 59 — exploring freedom, rediscovery, and meaning beyond roles.

Until August 2024, my days were defined by roles carved in concrete—Spouse, Mother, Teacher, Caregiver, Musician, Traveler, Nature Lover. Schedules ruled my hours. If someone had asked, “What do you do?” I could readily rattle off an impressive list of titles.

Life at 58: A Week in the Concrete Routine

• Teach Language Arts to 6th graders

• After-school commitments: meetings, grading, lesson planning, parent emails.

• 2–3 days/week: Two-hour round-trip visits with The Mama (as I affectionately called her in her later years)—for doctor’s appointments, grocery shopping, errands… or simply sitting at the water’s edge with soft serve ice cream.

• Evenings: Collapse into bed, exhausted, my mind still drafting tomorrow’s lessons, savoring a few moments of rest before sleep oozed into every corner of my being.

And when there was any breathing room, I squeezed in music, nature walks, and vacations—tiny lifelines of hope, sanity, and joy.

The pace wasn’t sustainable. My body knew it. My spirit whispered it.
And then—everything changed.

My Mother slipped away quietly on August 26, 2024, leaving a gaping space and deep sadness in the rhythm of my days. And in March 2025, I retired from a 34-year career in education.
Two of the roles that shaped my very identity—gone, completely.

Age 59: Three Questions That Changed Everything

On my 59th birthday, I began asking:

1. Who am I if I’m not pouring my time into an organization or a person?

2. What do I want to do with this newly reclaimed time?

3. What gifts can I offer—to myself, my community, and the world?

So began an open-ended exploration of purpose—an existential pursuit of meaning that I suspect will carry me well into the next decade and beyond.

And because life is never one-dimensional, I was also navigating the tender terrain of strained relationships within my family of origin—seeking both understanding and solace. (That’s a story for another series.)

Savor Life Studio: Born from Loss and Uncertainty

As grief oozed quietly into the corners of daily life, I threw myself headlong into the daunting task of organizing, sorting, and distributing The Mama’s belongings—important documents, books, treasured items, and her writing.

To feed my wavering spirit, I also began the creation of Savor Life Studio, and wrote this on the welcome page of my website:

“I’m so glad you’re here.
At Savor Life Studio, my mission is to help you find balance, reconnect with yourself, and cultivate a sense of inner peace. Whether you're looking for soothing music, mindfulness practices, or stress-relief tools, you'll find resources here to support your journey.”

“At the center of your being, you have the answer; you know who you are, and you know what you want.” —Lao Tzu

The creation of these tools and practices over the next five months became a lifeline toward hope and renewal. Creating the Calm & Clarity Collection pulled me out of my comfort zone and brought mindfulness, gratitude, meditation, nature, and music into my daily rhythm.

Little did I know—the tools I was building for others became my own life raft.

A New Beginning: Saying Yes to Substack

On March 21st, I hit Publish on my very first Substack post—and a brand-new journey began.

To my surprise, Substack quickly became a source of connection, inspiration, and creative energy. It gave me a place to explore, express, and begin again. It didn’t just offer a writing platform—it offered purpose and unexpected joy during a time of deep transition.

It also reignited my lifelong love of writing—a passion that had long simmered on the back burner.
And spark it did.

I wrote my first newsletter—A Fresh Start, a Calming Reset & the Joy of Spring—and my fingers danced across the keyboard like old friends reunited.

One of the greatest experiences on Substack has been the chance to lift up other voices in the Substack community. The connection with fellow writers and creators has brought profound joy and a deep sense of belonging.

Here’s a link to my most recent Shout-Out post:
WEEK 11 SUBSTACK: REFLECTIONS | SHOUT OUTS, featuring:

• Anthony Anselmo

• Grace Grossman

• Saira Anwar

Be Gentle With Yourself

Even though I still don’t know exactly where I’m headed—on Substack or in life—some powerful truths have surfaced:

• Holding space for all that is yet to come is a brave and courageous act. Be gentle with yourself every step of the way.

• Surround yourself with people who lift you up and truly see you.

• Give yourself permission to fail. Life’s most important lessons often rise from struggle and surrender.

Gently Begin Again: Living, Learning, and Loving Your Life

Ever so slowly, creativity and inspiration began to rise—curling around my grief, wrapping light around the ache.
And that is when the phrase,

“May there be peace, light, and love.”
became my daily mantra.

And with that mantra came a long-lost friend: Hope.

• Hope for the dreams that haven’t yet lived.

• Hope for my spirit to soar again.

• Hope that one day, the path ahead will be lit with clarity and intention.

• And most of all—hope that I will one day give, with reckless abandon, to all that is beautiful and just and kind in this world.

It was around this time that I wrote Saying Yes Changed My Life, and began looking ahead with hope dialed to medium-high.

Commit to Yourself and Renewed Pathways

With each passing day, I felt the urge to commit to something larger than myself. I began actively seeking joy, gratitude, and meaning—and making intentional space for new ways of being. It was then that I realized the importance of:

• Committing to what brings you joy. Whether it’s music, movement, creative expression, or anything that lights you up—embrace it fully.

• Cultivating gratitude daily. Through journaling, affirmation cards, mindfulness, or meditation, gratitude opens the heart and transforms perspective.

• Asking yourself: What have I always wanted to create, learn, or explore? Don’t wait for the perfect time—take the first small step. Begin.

Permission to Slow Down

When your life has been defined by constant motion, stepping away can feel terrifying. Be gentle with yourself as you wander into uncharted space—where freedom and discomfort walk hand in hand.

Give yourself permission to:

• Rest

• Think

• Dream

• Wonder

• Nap

• Plan

• Meditate

It takes time to get reacquainted with your inner self.
But in doing so, you may discover that the answers you’ve been seeking are simply awaiting your attention.
And when gifted grace, they’ll rise to meet you—right on time.

These days, when someone asks what I do for a living, I simply say:

“I recently retired—from everything—and now I’m holding space for what’s next. I’m not always certain where the path is leading, but I’m deeply grateful for the chance to begin again.”

Wishing you peace, light, and meaning on your journey.
Let’s keep lifting each other up—one small act at a time.

With love and gratitude,
Lis at Savor Life Studio 💖

Savor Life Studio Weekly Schedule

• Tuesdays – Anchor Post
  Personal reflections + life at 59

• Fridays – Shout-Outs
  Highlighting inspiring Substack voices

• Sundays – Freebie Post
  Calm & creative gifts for your week ahead

New subscribers are always welcome here — encouraged and appreciated more than words can say (which is saying something, coming from a writer! 😄)

☕️ Coffee 💖
If you enjoyed this post, I’d be truly honored if you’d consider buying me a cup of coffee. Your support means the world to me and helps keep this creative space alive. Wishing you a day full of peace and beautiful moments.

PS — This post is public, so please feel free to restack and share with others. Thank you! 💖

🌿 Want to know more about Savor Life Studio?
Come take a peek behind the scenes — meet Lis, explore the mission, and pick up some peaceful freebies to add more calm and clarity to your days.

Welcome to Savor Life Studio! 🌿

I’m Lis—the creator behind this space dedicated to bringing calm, clarity, and connection through nature and mindfulness.

As a lifelong educator, I find deep peace in creating resources that inspire reflection, creativity, and presence. My hope is that they bring the same sense of grounding and inspiration to you.

Lifting up voices and sharing favorite Substacks in my weekly ‘Shout-Out’ post has filled me with joy and a true sense of belonging. I’m deeply grateful for the soul-filling connections I’ve discovered within this wonderful Substack community.

When I’m not out in nature or writing, you’ll likely find me spending time with loved ones, playing guitar, curled up with a good book, traveling, or savoring a scoop of peanut butter ice cream. I’m thankful for all the moments that bring joy, laughter, and connection.

With love,
Lis ❤️