08/24/2025
“These are two responses to Lifeshiift’s newsletter this month, This Phase of Life? You Get to Name It.
In that piece, I wrote about how society hands us prepackaged labels — ‘retired,’ ‘widowed,’ even ‘elderly.’ But what if, instead, we claimed the right to define our own phase of life?
One reader shared: ‘Upon reading your most recent post, I realize elderly is not how I want to define myself. Love the saying no to stuff draining me.’
Another wrote: ‘I prefer to not be defined as widowed or retired. After years of not fitting in, I am finally comfortable to be in a discovery phase — exploring the many options to make the most out of this chapter.’
I love how both reflections echo the same truth: this chapter is not about accepting labels handed to us — it’s about choosing language and phases that feel expansive, energizing, and deeply our own. 🌿✨
So tell me, Lifeshiifters: what phase are YOU in right now?