Where Do I Go From Here?

Summary

---

Podcast Summary: Dr. Laura Call of the Day

Episode: Where Do I Go From Here?
Host: Dr. Laura Schlessinger
Date: August 21, 2025

---

Overview

This episode features a candid, deeply personal call from Elizabeth, a 63-year-old woman navigating retirement, physical setbacks, and questions about her next chapter in life. Dr. Laura guides Elizabeth through reflections on her past choices, the challenges of aging and reinventing oneself, and the potential for personal growth even in uncertain times. The episode delivers practical advice, characteristic encouragement, and areas for self-development, relevant to anyone facing life transitions or feeling unmoored.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Elizabeth’s Background and Life Choices

[01:11 – 03:56]

• Personal History & Independence

  • Elizabeth shares that she’s been single all her life, influenced by her father's death when she was 12, which fractured her family and instilled a sense of self-reliance and urgency.
  • “From age 12, just sort of felt like, okay, life is short, you're on your own, go hard.” – Elizabeth [01:20]
  • Her career took her to Wall Street in the male-dominated 1980s, where being underestimated (“oh, you're the girl, you'll quit”) motivated her to persist.

• Relationships

  • Elizabeth reflects on her social life: she enjoyed friendships with men but never found the right partner, citing poor choices and perhaps a subconscious avoidance of intimacy or family after her childhood experiences.

• Community & Isolation

  • She acknowledges living in a suburban town geared toward young families, feeling occasionally isolated but still engaging with friends, church, and some activities.

---

2. Physical Setbacks and Their Impact

[03:56 – 05:25]

• Injuries and Surgeries

  • Elizabeth details multiple joint replacements and injuries due to an adventurous lifestyle (skiing, mountain biking, traveling), leading to a sense of being limited physically and, by extension, existentially.
  • “Trying to keep up with a cute guy skiing up in Vermont... yard sale then had it fixed. And then... a fun trip to Mont Blanc... fell through a snow bridge and ripped it out again... Mountain bike crash in Lake Tahoe…” – Elizabeth [04:03–04:36]

• COVID’s Impact

  • The pandemic dispersed her network, exacerbating feelings of being unanchored (“tumbleweed-ish”).

---

3. Facing an Uncertain Future

[04:50 – 05:25]

• Lack of Direction
  • For perhaps the first time, Elizabeth lacks a defined plan for what’s next, admitting to feeling adrift and seeking clarity.
  • “Rather than where the wind's gonna blow me. How about have a, you know, more of an idea?” – Elizabeth [05:11]

---

4. Employment, Technology, and Adaptation

[09:19 – 10:18]

• Shifting Work Landscape

  • After a Wall Street layoff in 2010, Elizabeth found periodic work and travel but now finds part-time gigs scarce and struggles with lacking computer skills—a significant obstacle at her age.
  • “Being 63, it's harder to sort of find job opportunities. And you know, the computer skills are lacking to say the least...” – Elizabeth [09:32]

• Dr. Laura’s Challenge and Encouragement

  • Dr. Laura asks directly about Elizabeth’s readiness to learn technology and AI, suggesting it could open possibilities and provide purpose, even during her recovery from surgery.
  • “Do you think you have the intelligence, this is a question. To learn AI and computer skills, stuff like that?” – Dr. Laura [10:04]
  • “It’ll give you a challenge. While you’re lying in bed recovering from yet another surgery, you can do these things online… It would open up what you could come up with yourself.” – Dr. Laura [10:18–10:44]
  • Dr. Laura recognizes the need for direction: “I know you need to have a ticket on a train or else you feel lost. I get that.” – Dr. Laura [11:32]

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Life is short, you're on your own, go hard.” – Elizabeth [01:20]
• “I probably still have to do surgery... and feeling just sort of like tumbleweed-ish, you know, which way is the wind gonna blow me?” – Elizabeth [05:02]
• “Do you think you have the intelligence, this is a question. To learn AI and computer skills, stuff like that?” – Dr. Laura [10:04]
• “While you’re recovering, would be a good time to learn these new skills because I know you need to have a ticket on a train or else you feel lost.” – Dr. Laura [11:29]

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:11] – Elizabeth explains being lifelong single and her motivations
• [03:56] – Discussing sports injuries and physical repercussions
• [05:02] – Feelings about lacking direction—“tumbleweed-ish”
• [09:19] – Career, part-time job prospects, and technology barriers
• [10:04] – Dr. Laura introduces the idea of learning computer skills
• [11:29] – Dr. Laura connects Elizabeth’s need for direction to proactive learning

---

Episode Takeaways

• Life transitions—retirement, aging, changing health—can leave even independent, accomplished people feeling adrift.
• Emotional openness, even about regrets or fears, is the first step to adapting and creating new possibilities.
• Dr. Laura’s pragmatic coaching style pushes callers to identify tangible next steps (“learn new skills,” “create a plan,” “challenge yourself”).
• Adapting to new tools—like technology—can provide both purpose and community, even later in life.

---

This summary captures the spirit, honesty, and actionable advice that define Dr. Laura's program, providing meaningful insight into both the caller's situation and the guidance offered.

Transcript

[Caller]

The future of Downton Abbey is now in Mary's hands.

[Narrator]

It's the grand finale we've been waiting for. See it on the biggest screen possible.

[Dr. Laura]

It will be a sensation with scandalous.

[Narrator]

Twists and shocking revelations.

[Caller]

Should wives have secrets from their husbands? Definitely. But not the other way around.

[Narrator]

The best is yet to come.

[Sponsor/Advertiser]

So off we go for our next adventure.

[Narrator]

I like the sound of that. Downton Abbey, the grand finale. Gritty pg. Parental guidance suggested only in theater september twelveth. Get tickets now.

[Dr. Laura]

Hi neighbor. Welcome to Birch Lane where you'll find timeless furniture and decor for your fall refresh. To help you celebrate it all, from big holiday gatherings to everyday moments at home, shop classic style for Joyful [e-mail] thanks for listening to my Call of the Day podcast. You can hear my live radio program Monday through Friday from 2 to 5pm Eastern Time on Sirius XM Triumph 111. Elizabeth welcome to the program.

[Caller]

Yeah, so I'm 63, I'm single, basically retired, have had some part time jobs.

[Dr. Laura]

Have you always been single?

[Caller]

Yes.

[Dr. Laura]

Oh, you didn't mention that. Okay, so. And the reason you never hunkered down and got married and made babies and all that is because.

[Caller]

Yeah, I, you know, when I was growing up, I lost my dad at like age 12 and it sort of blew up my whole family. We were sort of cast, you know, everybody just sort of, you know, on your own. So sort of from age 12 just sort of felt like, okay, life is short, you're on your own, go hard. And ended up a job, ironically, in Wall Street. You know, of course back then it was like in the 80s and it was like, oh, you're the girl, you'll quit. Which was just the perfect incentive to stay with it. And I guess it was just sort of always, you know, maybe not having that family represented and guys that I like didn't necessarily like me and guys who did, you know, but I did unfortunately, you know, have a tendency to pick bad choices, which I guess is the best thing that, you know, never happened that I, you know, I'm not calling you now with, you know, all kinds of marriage proposal or whatever. But yeah, and I loved working with guys and I love having guys as friends and, you know, just sort of haven't. And of course I sort of live in a very suburbia town, very, you know, mostly young families, not that that's an excuse. And I definitely probably could be much better and open to friends and family saying, you know, oh, do you know anybody? Which I don't do. I think I, you know, still have that tendency to isolate. But I do have some great, you know, active friends circles in church. Oops. Oh, sorry. That's another call coming. But and just lately now I think I was telling your. The caller who or that your people who answer the phone, you know, now 63, you know, and having had a dad who, you know, unfortunately passed away at like 52, felt like, okay, life is short, go hard, you know, which is great. Was able to do a lot of traveling. But now I've had a replaced right shoulder. Replaced right knee. And going to the orthopedic doc today to look at replacing the left shoulder. He's telling me that I'm wearing out the right shoulder and it's a little.

[Dr. Laura]

What are you doing that's wearing out your joints? Are you ridiculously part of it was something.

[Caller]

Or maybe not that coordinated enough. The first time I tore the rotator cuff was trying to keep up with a cute guy skiing up in Vermont and he was a better skier than I was. Yard sale then had it fixed. And then a fun trip to Mont Blanc. Not, you know, circumnavigating around Mont Blanc, but I fell through a snow bridge and ripped it out again, you know, left. I tore. Mountain bike crash in Lake Tahoe. So, you know, upright is good. Hitting the ground bad. And now I'm starting to, you know, have the consequences of that with joint replacement. And now, you know, especially Covid has sort of dispersed a lot of friends and family from the area and it's a little unnerving, you know, as I'm like, oh boy, you know, I probably still have to do surgery and change my ways a little bit and feeling just sort of like tumbleweed ish, you know, which way is the wind gonna blow me? Rather than having, you know, that, you know, plan or, or where I'm headed, you can kind of just, you know, rather than where the wind's gonna blow me. How about have a, you know, more of an idea?

[Dr. Laura]

Is this the first time you don't have that sense of a plan D? Life doesn't have to be so complicated. Walmart helps you simplify. They're your one stop. Shop for daily essentials like groceries, snacks, school supplies. And thanks to Walmart Pharmacy, you can count on them for your prescription needs too. Use the Walmart app to easily manage your family's medications and save time by getting prescriptions delivered right to your door. Switch your prescriptions to Walmart Pharmacy Delivery not available for all prescriptions and and exclusions apply. Did you know that skin care can start in the laundry room. The Dr. Laura program is happy to be partnering with our sponsor All Free Clear Laundry Detergent. My peeps with kids are especially thrilled to use it because it's 100% free of dyes and perfumes. All Free Clear is the number one laundry detergent brand recommended for sensitive skin by pediatricians, dermatologists and allergists. For a clean you can feel good about, all you need is all free clear. Don't get burned by your wireless bill. Get three months of unlimited service from Mint Mobile for just $15 a month. While your friends are sweating their data, overages and surprise charges, you can till with extra money for your barbecues and beach vacations. All plans include high speed data and unlimited talk and text delivered on the nation's largest 5G network. Use your own phone. Keep your old number and all your existing contacts this year. Skip breaking a sweat and breaking the bank. Get this new customer offer and your 3 month unlimited wireless plan for just $15 a month at mintmobile.com drlaura that's mintmobile.com DrLora upfront payment of $45 is required, equivalent to $15 a month limited time new customer offer for the first 3 months only. Speeds may slow above 35 gigabytes on unlimited plan. Taxes and fees extra. See Mint Mobile for details. I am a big fan of family dinners. Families who sit down to meals together and talk about their day have kidlets or who are far less likely to get into sex, drugs, rock and roll. Even during the hectic back to school season, Suvi makes it simple to put a nutritious meal on the table. Serve chef designed kid friendly meals without shopping, prepping, cooking, very little cleanup. Built in refrigeration keeps your subi meals cool until you want them cooked before you head out for carpool. Pop one in, set the schedule. Let SUV handle the rest. You'll be sitting at the soccer field while Suvi prepares your family's favorites. Discover why I have loved having Suvi as my partner in the kitchen for nearly five years. Save $129 plus get 16 free [e-mail] DrLora bring home your own souvi today. That's S u v I e.com drlaura@rxbar.

[Sponsor/Advertiser]

They believe in simple nutrition without the BS. That's why they said NO to artificial ingredients and yes to deliver intentional transparent nutrition. Try their original 12 gram protein bar, the Nut Butter and Oat bar or Minis Rxbar. The proud sponsor of no BS. Use code RXBAR on RXBAR.com for 25% off, subject to full terms and conditions and to change. Valid until September 30, 2025, and may not be combined with other offers. See rxbar.com for full details and limitations.

[Caller]

Yeah, like even when I got, I got laid off from Wall street in like 2010, but there was a lot of part time jobs that sort of came my way and was able to do some great traveling. But all of a sudden lately I was doing some part time driving, you know, so some of the part time gigs have stopped. And of course, being 63, it's harder to sort of find job opportunities. And you know, the computer skills are lacking to say the least, which seems to be, you know, very much so required to be able to sort of have a job. But I don't think I want to go back full time, but part time.

[Dr. Laura]

Do you think you have the intelligence, this is a question. To learn AI and computer skills, stuff like that?

[Caller]

Yeah, it might take an effort, but.

[Dr. Laura]

You know, well, that'll open things up and that'll give you a challenge. When you're lying in bed recovering from yet another surgery, you can do these things online. Since this is a shoulder, you can still walk. So you, you know, as long as you think you have the ability to learn that stuff, then it opens it up. You don't necessarily have to get a job job from somebody else being a boss, but it would open up for you to think of possibilities, what you could come up with yourself. Yeah, people are out there doing the most outrageous things with computers and AI. I'm so glad I have a job because that's very intimidating for me. But really you could come up with, I mean, younger, older people are coming up with, I have an idea. But you need those skills. So I'm wishing you definite good luck on the surgery. And while you're recovering, would be a good time to learn these new skills because I know you need to have a ticket on a train or else you feel lost. I get that. My number 1-800-375-2872. Check out my social media on Facebook and Instagram. I post stories, photos and videos seven days a week and feature some of what you sent me too. There's always something interesting going on there. You can find me at facebook.com drlaura and instagram.com DrLauraProgram.

[Sponsor/Advertiser]

How do you make an Airbnb, a VRBO picture, a vacation rental with a host who's showing you every room like you've never seen a house before. Now get rid of them. There you go. No host ever. Now it's a vrbo. Make it a vrbove.