I had a massage a client who was one of the top 20 paid CEOs in the country according to Forbes magazine. He became my client when he was sixty. I talked to him about retiring, as I knew he was young enough to appreciate things a decrepit person cannot. He did retire about nine months later. When I worked on him after his retirement, I asked him how everything was. It was as if he was lost. Everyone wanted to take out the “former CEO” vs. John Doe, the person. I found it very sad. Since that time, I have worked on other newly retired people. Many of them have lost identities, probably very similar to those of us becoming “empty nesters” as well as those of us who are TBI (traumatic brain injury) survivors.

Losing oneself is quite a battle. I am undergoing a double whammy through both my children becoming of age and adapting to life since my fall of 20 feet from my former Victorian home’s balcony. Even when life is not perfect, there is comfort in knowing WHO you are versus the quandary of solving the puzzle.

When a person asks a question, that person wants an answer; however, when no question is asked, many times our insight is stated in vain (except it can make us feel worthwhile to help and support).