Passion Has No Expiration Date: Encouraging Grandmas to Stay Active in Retirement

I became a grandma at 64 and an entrepreneur at 70. Today, at 78, I am still learning, creating, and discovering what comes next.

I call myself a Grandmapreneur® because being a grandmother and pursuing new dreams belong together in my life. I love my family. I also love having projects that challenge me, spark my curiosity, and give me something exciting to share with my grandchildren.

Finding Purpose in a New Chapter

For decades, I taught technical writing at the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University. When I retired, I had ideas I finally had time to explore.

One became Tip 'n Split®, a handheld device that helps people read restaurant menus and bills, calculate tips, and split the check. My journey as an inventor brought opportunities I could hardly have imagined, including appearances on QVC and national television.

It also brought unfamiliar tasks, setbacks, and plenty of questions. I had spent years teaching, but now I was a beginner again.

Being willing to start before I knew everything helped me move forward. I hope sharing that experience encourages another woman to try something she has been putting off.

Find Your Spark

Entrepreneurship is my path, but every grandmother can find her own.

You don't have to launch a business to have an exciting retirement.

Take a class. Volunteer. Join a walking group. Learn an instrument. Mentor someone. Try the thing you keep saying you'll do "someday."

Start small-but start.

Ask yourself: What would make me excited to get up tomorrow?

My work with Write Your Selfie® grew from my desire to help people preserve their life stories through pictures and captions.

Many people look at their photographs and see ordinary moments. Their families may see something irreplaceable: a glimpse of Grandma as a schoolgirl, a young mother, or a woman discovering her independence.

Choosing a photograph and writing a few sentences can become a meaningful retirement project. It can also open a conversation with a grandchild.

This is my current project.

Let Them See You Learning

I describe myself as a "low-tech" grandmother, yet I keep finding reasons to learn new technology. Sometimes I need help. Sometimes I need the instructions more than once.

I keep going.

When our grandchildren see us asking questions and trying again, we show them that learning lasts a lifetime. We can share our experience while letting them teach us something, too.

I hope my example gives other grandmas permission to pursue an interest simply because it makes them feel engaged and alive.

There is still room for a new friendship, a new skill, a new contribution-or a dream you have carried for years.

As a "Woman of Influence," I'm proud to share this message with other grandmas: You still have dreams to pursue, stories to tell, and new adventures ahead.

At 78, I'm still learning, creating, and dreaming big. I hope you'll join me.

Passion has no expiration date.