What if happiness wasn’t something that happened to you, but something you chose—even in retirement?

In this solo episode of Beyond Retirement, Jacquie reflects on a powerful message from her recent conversation with musician Ron Sowell: “It’s all up to you.” Drawing on stories from Ron’s life and the profound example of Viktor Frankl, she explores the idea that happiness isn’t about perfect circumstances, it’s about how we choose to engage with the season we’re in.

If you’re navigating the years beyond your career, wondering how to find meaning, joy, or direction, this episode invites you to reclaim your agency. Because growing old may be inevitable, but growing disengaged is not.

Key Topics Covered:

The difference between aging and growing old - Why vitality is a daily choice, not a number
What it means to “choose happiness” - The difference between agency and toxic positivity
Ron Sowell’s example of a life built on alignment - Choosing passion over security, and never looking back
Viktor Frankl’s lesson from the Holocaust - How mindset becomes a final freedom, even in suffering
Reframing retirement as a meaningful phase - Finding joy, purpose, and connection regardless of circumstances

MUSIC CREDIT: Ron Sowell - It's All Up to You (used with permission)

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Choosing Happiness in the Second Half of Life