A Hard Lesson Learned

I want to share a personal story from a difficult time in my life. One that helped shape the foundation of the Retirement Reimagined Academy. It’s a story about how my own stress during a major life transition had a ripple effect on those around me—especially my dog, Kaya.

After retiring from a 30-year career, I was emotionally overwhelmed. My husband and I sold my dream home under difficult circumstances, including wildfire evacuations and a sudden relocation. Everything we owned was packed away in boxes and the smallest things—like not finding a jar of Dijon mustard—triggered meltdowns.

What I didn’t realize was how much my emotional state was affecting those around me, including Kaya, our Bouvier des Flandres.

Just hours after we left for a 2 a.m. drive to finalize the sale of our home, Kaya had a serious health crisis. She was taken to an emergency veterinary hospital where she spent 8 days under 24-hour care. The diagnosis? The technical term is hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, but in reality, it was a canine version of a nervous breakdown, brought on by the extreme amount of stress in her life.

That experience was a wake-up call. I vowed never to let stress consume my life like that again. It’s what inspired me to dive deep into studying the mind, managing emotions, and navigating life transitions more gracefully. This is the very foundation of what I teach in the Retirement Reimagined Academy.

This group coaching program is designed to help you find balance during your next chapter, guiding you through:

• Managing emotions so they don’t take control
• Redesigning your life structure for greater purpose and fulfillment
• Discovering your authentic self beyond your past career or roles
• Building meaningful connections in this new season of life

Doors are only open until September 22nd!

If you're planning for retirement (or thick in the middle of a life transition), consider joining the Retirement Reimagined Academy, where you'll have a guide—someone who's been there and now has a roadmap to help you.

Together, we’ll explore how to embrace a fresh perspective, find new purpose, and confidently design a fulfilling next chapter. Let’s make sure stress and uncertainty don’t dictate your future like it almost did mine.

Ready to learn more? Find it here .

I look forward to seeing you thrive in this exciting new phase!

Warmly, Christine

P.S. The lessons I’ve learned—and the mindset and neuroscience tools I now use—are woven into the Academy. Join us, and let’s make this next chapter your best yet.