In this thoughtful reflection, Lee Gale explores the evolving role of solitude in the second half of life and challenges the common fear of being alone. Drawing from personal experience, Lee describes how a busy, activity-filled lifestyle can act as a distraction from deeper thoughts, and how slowing down—whether by choice or circumstance—creates space for mental clarity and emotional renewal. Rather than something to avoid, solitude becomes a valuable practice that supports creativity, resilience, and balance. This conversation offers a perspective on how embracing moments of quiet can help individuals reconnect with themselves and navigate life’s transitions with greater intention.
Lee Gale Gruen is a regular Podcast contributor for The Transitions Network. She is an actress, author, speaker, and blogger. She focuses on how retirees can customize their retirement to fit their own personalities, interests, and comfort level.
WEBSITE: https://leegalegruen.com
EMAIL: gowergulch@yahoo.com
BLOG: “Reinventing Yourself in Your Retirement Years”. https://leegalegruen.wordpress.com
BOOKS ON AMAZON.COM:
“Reinventing Yourself in Your Retirement Years: Find Joy, Excitement, and Purpose After You Retire” https://tinyurl.com/33x9vmcx
“Adventures with Dad: A Father and Daughter’s Journey Through a Senior Acting Class” https://tinyurl.com/5d3yycjw
Click to see the Full Transcript
Neil Rerup (00:00.886)
Welcome or welcome back to my podcast, Retirement Made to Order. In great quantities, solitude can be isolating and destructive. However, in small quantities, solitude can be comforting and cleansing. We as retirees definitely need lots of that. I and so many of my peers seem to spend our waking hours
On what can be described as an invisible treadmill. We are always running somewhere. A lunch date, a class, an event, a planning meeting, a trip, well, fill in the blank. We do it in the morning, stop for lunch, do it in the afternoon, stop for dinner, and do it in the evening. Then come the complaints of I’m so tired.
Been trying to figure out why I spent so many years caught up in that behavior and why it still has a siren call for me. I think it has to do with my fear of missing out, my fear of being alone, my fear of solitude. Solitude left me alone with my thoughts. It meant that I didn’t have anything to do. It meant that no one wanted to be with me. Now, in my senior years.
And the forced slowing down imposed by my body. I have found, to my surprise, that solitude replenishes me. It gives me space from the demands of the world. Downtime. Solitude enables my creativity. When I’m alone, my mind is free to wander. That’s when I come up with some of my best thoughts.
Sometimes solitude helps when life becomes overwhelming. During those times, I give myself permission to take a mental vacation. I try hard not to make any big decisions, not to have any conflicts, to engage only in non-demanding activities, and to just let my mind drift. Solitude in limited amounts can be refreshing.
Neil Rerup (02:28.471)
like sleep. It can help you pace yourself, stop your hectic running, and get off the racetrack for a while. Don’t fear solitude. In controlled amounts, it can be your friend. I’m Le Gail Gruen, I hope you’ll visit me again here on my podcast Retirement Made to Order, hosted by the Transitions Network. I will be posting
New podcasts every week. Feel free to contact me if you want to comment on any of my podcasts. You’ll find my email address in the information that follows, or in the description at the beginning of this podcast, along with links to my website, my blog, and my two books on Amazon.com. Goodbye for now.