Just a few more weeks to retirement, and I am thinking a lot about what my life will be like and who I will be after I retire. For more than thirty years, my work as a college counselor gave my life structure, identity and sense of purpose.

I was intrigued to read a post by Fabian Kruse about living an interesting life. Although we sometimes use the term "interesting" to politely describe questionable experiences, Kruse defines living an interesting life as "finding the experiences that shape us as human beings and enjoying them to the max." Most of us don't live interesting lives because we "play it safe" too much. I have lived a good life, but I don't think I would describe it as an "interesting" life. I have "played it safe." Now, however, I can experiment with what it means to live an interesting life. I can create whatever life I want and shake it up a bit.

One of the gifts of retirement is the opportunity for reinvention, a chance to create a new life. More time and freedom allow us to take risks because we no longer have responsibilities such as raising children and saving for college.

Could 60 be the new 18? Choosing from an abundance of possibilities in retirement isn't all that different from heading off to college, exploring options and choosing a major. Sounds exciting, right? It is, but just as it was when starting college, there is a little anxiety mixed in with all of the excitement. Kruse believes that a little bit of anxiety is a perfect indicator of an interesting life.

Where do I start creating my new life? I will look at my interests, un-pursued dreams, strengths, values and life purpose. Clarifying or revisiting life purpose (often called a life purpose check-up) is a good first step as I approach this new life stage. Knowing and expressing life purpose provides the foundation for a meaningful life.

WHAT WE KNOW

Retirement is a prime time to identify or revisit life purpose. This transition may be a time of reflection and introspection in preparation for the next stage, for living a good life. Richard Leider defines the good life as living in the place you belong, with the people you love, doing the right work, on purpose. Purpose is where talents and passions intersect with a need.

Although it is not always easy to identify life purpose, it is always possible. In The Power of Purpose, Leider states "A sense of purpose is rarely handed to us. We get it by deciding to have it. We get it by deciding that, yes, I matter. A sense of power comes from within, and only we know if we have it."

WHAT WE CAN DO

Follow the steps below to help discern or examine your life purpose.

Decide that you matter and you can have clarity about your life purpose.

Assess your values, passions and skills, and seek to understand how they can meet a need. In Coaching Authentic Retirement, Marcia Bench identified 10 clues to help discover life purpose. Spend time reflecting on your responses. Allow time for meditation, to sit quietly.

Write a draft of your life purpose. Most life purpose statements have two parts, the first part is the essence (what you do) and the second part is the expression (how you do it.) The essence remains basically the same; the expression may change over time.

Live with your draft purpose statement and see how it feels. Tweak and edit. Refine it. Live it.