Think about the last time you bought a birthday card. You were probably in a hurry, maybe even running late for the party you needed the card for. You scanned the racks, noticing that cards now cost more than the gift. But even more than that was the overwhelming bombardment of “over-the-hill” birthday themes: sagging body parts, balding heads, bad jokes about fading attractiveness. If you found it a little depressing, you’re not alone.

Jan Golden decided to do something about it. 

Inspired by a greeting card contest called Changing the Narrative, she combined her graphic design, tech, and creativity skills to create a line of age-friendly greeting cards. As she wound down her primary career, she was able to jump in with both feet. Now, Age Friendly Vibes is thriving, and Jan discovered that she absolutely loves doing it. 

Ageism can affect anyone, but it’s often directed at older people. As you plan or execute your happy retirement journey, you won’t always be able to control when it rears its ugly head. But you can decide how to react to it. Listen to Jan’s story and be inspired by her mission to put age-positive sentiments into the world, one greeting card at a time. Now, that’s what I call all the hallmarks of happiness.

00:00-You Can Do Just About Anything

03:29-Transitions & Empowering Older Adults in Tech

09:21-Mindset Matters

10:33-A Birthday Card Contest Turned Etsy Business

15:48-Tradeshows & Strategy

22:06-Immerse Yourself in Something Joyful

28:21-Retirement Rewirement

33:30-Practicality Problems

36:42-Ikigai!

40:50-Core Pursuits & Staying Active

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