Feeling lost and purposeless when her youngest child left for college, Rita Lussier leaned into her writing and running to cope. Forming a new morning routine along with the process of running and writing helped her find a new sense of purpose, culminating in the creation of her book, And Now Back To Me. Rita is an award-winning journalist and writer whose column 'For The Moment' was a popular feature of the Providence Journal for a dozen years. Her writing has also been featured on National Public Radio in the Boston Globe, the New York Daily News, and many other publications. Rita enjoys coaching writers, conducting workshops, and has worked as a publicist and editor. She's taught at both University of Rhode Island and Rhode Island College.

What You Will Hear in This Episode

01:12 Rita's Journey: From Empty Nest to Published Author

03:37 The Healing Power of Writing

05:04 Navigating Midlife Changes and Empty Nest Syndrome

06:51 The Emotional Rollercoaster of an Empty Nest

09:34 Finding New Purpose and Joy

13:29 Advice for Empty Nesters

26:45 Comparing Empty Nest Syndrome to Retirement

29:01 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Quotes

" I think I'm at my best when I'm reaching out to others and using the things that I have learned and helping others with them."

" The best advice I can give to anyone is to just acknowledge that this is a huge transition. You're going through a big change, and you need to be patient with yourself. It's not gonna happen right away, and I think women in particular are very patient with everybody and everything else in their lives, but maybe not necessarily themselves."

" I think it's important to acknowledge the loss before you can really embrace a new beginning."

" I believe writing your life honors your life."

Mentioned

https://www.ritalussier.com/

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Substack Newsletter: Own Your Ambition

Gendered Ageism Survey Results

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5 Tips to own the superpower of your age

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