How many people do you know who were “lost” after retirement? Are you one of them? Did your career define your purpose in life?

Upon retirement from a 45-year medical career at the age of 64, I was blessed to know exactly what I was going to do: my next purpose. But I’ve discovered that many people don’t have a clue what to do next in life. They haven’t found that next purpose. Dr. Roger Landry sums this up very nicely when he states in his book, Live Long, Die Short: “Without a purpose, we are like a ship without a course, without a compass.” Let’s look at a few wonderful examples of people who have found a purpose in their lives.

During the time I spent last month in Life Enrichment Wisdom Circles with the wise elders at Larksfield Place in Wichita, Kansas, I learned first hand what it means to have a purpose as we gain more years of life experience. One of the eldest individuals (102 years of life experience) shared with their group “My purpose is to get up every morning, get dressed and start my day!”

According to the Oxford Language Dictionary, purpose is the reason something is done or created, or for which something exists. During another Wisdom Circle, one of the wise elders shared that her purpose in life is to come alongside the other residents and assist them in any way she can. One of the ways she helps every morning is to take the schedule of the daily activities around to each resident’s room, so they know about the wonderful activities they can take part in throughout the day.

What is your main purpose in life? How are you living that purpose? What will be your purpose in life in the future and how will you fulfill it? One of the participants shared, “My purpose has evolved over the years and continues to evolve even today.” His take on a purposeful life is to embrace new opportunities that make a difference for others. Mother Teresa, one of the most incredible servants of all time, summed up a purposeful life nicely when she said, “The purpose of life is to find your mission and fulfill it.”

A guest participant in one of our Wisdom Circles, Jermaine Pennington, shared a quote from his soon-to-be- published book Pathways to Purpose: “Moreover, intergeneration living with purpose strengthens social bonds and builds a supportive network that benefits all age groups. Such interactions combat age-related isolation and loneliness by fostering meaningful relationships and a sense of belonging.”

Facilitating the Life Enrichment Wisdom Circles at Larksfield Place with so many wise elders is one of the newest purposes in my life and I have been truly blessed to be a part of the lives of the people who live in these communities. In an upcoming blog post, I’ll offer some resources for ways to help you find your purpose.

If you would like to know more about Life Enrichment Wisdom Circles at Larksfield Place, please email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..