Episodes

  • Your first year of retirement: Things to make your retirement REMARKABLE!

    Your first year of retirement: Things to make your retirement REMARKABLE!
    Dec 13 2025
    In today's video I talk about 7 things to make your first year of retirement....REMARKABLE!

    Retirement is pictured at your "golden years," the "best time of your life" and something we can't wait to get to. But for many people, retirement is a struggle. We go from being busy, having a purpose and working for 30 years to nothing. That can be difficult.

    And so after talking to many, many retiree's I've come up with a list of 7 things to help you through that first year. To help you get on track and to set yourself up for success in retirement.

    Timestamps:
    0:00 - Introduction
    0:48 - Relax
    2:27 - Friendship
    3:30 - Let excitement guide you
    4:30 - Be careful of big commitments
    5:22 - Be honest with yourself
    6:42 - Dress for the person you want to be
    7:16 - Retirement is a process

    Retirement is one of the four largest stages a person goes through. The more you understand about it and what to expect, the more REMARKABLE it can be!!

    Please join our Facebook group at www.facebook.com/groups/lifestartsatretirement
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    9 mins
  • I don't care anymore...the FREEDOM I found in retirement

    I don't care anymore...the FREEDOM I found in retirement
    Dec 6 2025
    Retirement didn’t just change my daily routine — it changed my mindset. After years of worrying about what people thought, explaining myself, and living by expectations… I finally reached the stage of life where I can say: I don’t care anymore — and I have never felt more free.

    In this video, I share the unexpected emotional freedom that came with retirement — letting go of people-pleasing, releasing comparison, and finally choosing peace over pressure.
    If you’re nearing retirement or already there and wondering why life suddenly feels lighter (or why you're ready to stop caring what others think), you are not alone.

    This is especially for anyone over 50 who is navigating identity shifts, confidence changes, or that powerful moment of choosing to live authentically instead of living for approval.

    💬 I’d love to hear from you: What’s one thing you’ve stopped caring about since retirement? Comment below — your story may inspire someone else.

    Things I no longer care about in retirement...
    Timestamps:
    0:00 - Introduction
    2:42 - What anyone thinks of me
    3:26 - Being liked by others
    4:33 - Other people's opinions
    5:55 - The need to justify myself
    6:23 - Looking younger
    7:10 - Energy suckers
    7:48 - To compare myself to others
    8:25 - Regrets

    #retirementplanning #retirement mindset #life after retirement, #women over 60 #not caring what people think #freedom #freedominretirement
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    10 mins
  • Letting go of GUILT in retirement

    Letting go of GUILT in retirement
    Nov 29 2025
    Guilt is one of the most common — and most hidden — struggles retirees face.

    In this episode of Life Starts at Retirement, we talk openly about the guilt that comes with finally prioritizing yourself after decades of putting everyone else first. From feelings of obligation toward family and caregiving responsibilities, to the pressure of being needed, available, or “useful” — this emotional weight can quietly steal the joy from what should be one of the most fulfilling seasons of life.

    If you’ve ever felt guilty for:
    • Traveling or enjoying freedom in retirement
    • Saying “no” to family obligations
    • Choosing experiences over expectations
    • Wanting more joy, adventure, or personal growth
    …you are not alone — and you are not selfish.

    In this honest conversation, we explore:
    🔦 Why guilt shows up in retirement
    🔦 How to recognize when guilt is misplaced
    🔦 The emotional shift that comes with reclaiming your time
    🔦 Healthy boundaries for family relationships
    🔦 Why your joy does not take anything away from others

    This video is for anyone navigating the emotional transition into retirement, feeling torn between supporting loved ones and finally living the life they worked so hard to earn.

    Your time matters. Your happiness matters. And your dreams didn’t expire when your career ended.

    Timestamps
    0:00 - Introduction
    8:13 - Be where your feet are
    9:00 - Give yourself permission
    9:14 - Schedule anchors
    10:12 - Love isn't on a timer
    10:31 - You matter too


    ✨ Subscribe to Life Starts at Retirement for weekly guidance on emotional well-being, travel, purpose, and creating a joyful retirement lifestyle.
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    13 mins
  • Does retirement actually shorten your life

    Does retirement actually shorten your life
    Nov 22 2025
    Is retirement making people die sooner?
    It sounds dramatic—but surprisingly, some studies suggest our health can decline faster after retirement, especially when we lose purpose, routine, social connection, and a sense of identity.

    In today’s video, we dive into the research, the myths, and what really impacts life expectancy after retiring.
    In this video, I cover:
    ✔ Why some retirees decline after leaving work
    ✔ The link between purpose, loneliness, and health
    ✔ Why early retirement isn't the problem—losing meaning is
    ✔ How to retire and live longer, happier, and healthier
    ✔ Practical ways to stay mentally and physically engaged

    This isn’t about fear—it’s about awareness so we can design a purpose-filled, vibrant retirement. Because life doesn’t end when work does—in many ways, it finally begins.

    Please check out my video about how to add remarkable things into your life! ✅https://youtu.be/mwMV6W_Qn74

    ✨ New here? I’m Maureen, and this channel is all about inspiring people to make their retirement remarkable.

    ➡ Subscribe for more retirement inspiration: Life Starts at Retirement

    Please join our Facebook Group www.facebook.com/groups/lifestartsatretirement
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    9 mins
  • 5 Milestones you MUST do before you retire

    5 Milestones you MUST do before you retire
    Nov 15 2025
    Thinking about retirement… or getting close? Before you take that final step, there are 5 essential milestones every future retiree should hit to protect their finances, strengthen their relationships, and build a life filled with purpose and joy.

    In today’s video, we’ll walk through the Top 5 Milestones You MUST complete Before You Retire — from organizing your money and redefining your identity, to building a lifestyle you can’t wait to wake up to.

    These are the milestones most retirees wish they’d focused on sooner… and the ones that help you avoid regret later. If you’re in your 50s or 60s, already retired, or just planning ahead, this video will help you:
    ✨ Get clear about your future
    ✨ Reduce stress and uncertainty
    ✨ Discover how to fill your days with meaning
    ✨ Build a retirement you LOVE — not just tolerate Welcome to Life Starts at Retirement — where we help you build a life filled with freedom, fun, and fulfillment. 💛

    Check out the video on how to find what you love here.....
    ✅https://youtu.be/G-yWwd-ddrI?si=VBuItLJsMZNwkM2M
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    15 mins
  • Retirement and the death of a parent

    Retirement and the death of a parent
    Nov 8 2025
    Losing my Dad was something I thought I had already prepared myself for.

    He had dementia, and over time, we lost him in small pieces. I believed I had grieved already… but when he actually passed, the grief was unlike anything I expected.

    In this video, I’m opening up about: What it feels like to lose a parent later in life.
    How grief can change our understanding of our own aging.
    How my relationship with my Mom has shifted — and become more precious.
    How family dynamics change when someone we love is no longer here.
    And what it means to move forward with love, awareness, and purpose.

    If you're in retirement or approaching it, you may find yourself reflecting on family, legacy, and time more than ever. You’re not alone. I hope this brings comfort, connection, and understanding to anyone who has walked through loss or is supporting a loved one through it.

    Thank you, Dad, for the lessons that continue long after you are gone.


    Please check out my video about the 8 signs you may be ready to retire ✅https://youtu.be/_T1BDpPC9lo?si=G8cJNG443pMgDG7r
    Please check out my video about what I wish I had known before I retired ✅https://youtu.be/H7pPGcUp3o0?si=dOaQlRovInW3603p
    Please check out my video on the 8 legal steps you can't ignore when you retire ✅https://youtu.be/k47IzMkJTQI?si=TqxjVq2V81ahWkoy

    Please join our Facebook Group www.facebook.com/groups/lifestartsatretirement
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    9 mins
  • 1 year of travel....Here's what we would do differently!

    1 year of travel....Here's what we would do differently!
    Nov 1 2025
    Are you dreaming about traveling in retirement — or already living it? After a full year of travel, we’ve learned a few hard-earned lessons. In this honest video, we share the biggest travel regrets retirees have (and how you can avoid them!).

    From waiting too long to see the world, to trying to do it all at once — these are the moments we wish we could do differently. Whether you’re planning your first trip or your fiftieth, these insights will help you make the most of your retirement adventures.

    📍 TIMESTAMPS
    0:00 — Introduction
    1:06 — Travel While You Can
    2:00 — Don’t Rush
    3:10 — Get Rewards Cards
    4:14 — Experiences vs. Stuff
    5:54 — Tried to Do It All
    7:06 — Spend the Money
    8:56 — Didn’t Record the Memories
    9:45 — Money vs. Time

    ✨ Watch this before you plan your next trip!

    💬 Join the Conversation What’s your biggest travel regret or lesson learned on the road? Share it in the comments — your story might inspire someone else to travel smarter and live fuller.

    🧭 About This Channel Welcome to Life Starts at Retirement! I’m Maureen — traveler, storyteller, and cruise lecturer exploring what it means to live your best life after retirement. Subscribe for weekly videos on retirement lifestyle, travel tips, and inspiration to make every day an adventure.
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    12 mins
  • Retirement's stability stage - Building a life you truly love

    Retirement's stability stage - Building a life you truly love
    Oct 11 2025
    The final stage of retirement is the stability phase — the point where life feels balanced, purposeful, and truly yours.

    In this video, Retirement’s Stability Phase – Building a Life You Truly Love, I explain how retirees move from uncertainty to confidence, creating routines, relationships, and meaning that make retirement deeply fulfilling.

    You’ll learn:
    ✅ What the stability phase of retirement looks like day to day
    ✅ How to build routines that feel joyful, not rigid
    ✅ Why strong relationships and purpose create lasting happiness
    ✅ Practical tips to create a retirement you truly love If you’re planning for retirement or already there, this video will inspire you to build a chapter filled with peace, purpose, and joy.

    🔔 Subscribe to Life Starts at Retirement for more real insights, inspiration, and practical tips to help you make retirement remarkable.

    👩‍💻 I’m Maureen Dobranski, and this is Life Starts at Retirement. On this channel, I talk about the real journey of retirement — not just the money side, but what it actually feels like to live day to day after work and to make your retirement remarkable

    📍 Today’s filming note: While you’re watching this, I’m actually traveling — enjoying another cruise, this time I'm in Venice!

    Please check out my video about the 8 signs you may be ready to retire ✅https://youtu.be/_T1BDpPC9lo?si=G8cJNG443pMgDG7r

    Please check out my video about what I wish I had known before I retired ✅https://youtu.be/H7pPGcUp3o0?si=dOaQlRovInW3603p

    Please check out my video on the 8 legal steps you can't ignore when you retire ✅https://youtu.be/k47IzMkJTQI?si=TqxjVq2V81ahWkoy

    Please join our Facebook Group www.facebook.com/groups/lifestartsatretirement
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    10 mins