You’ve spent a lifetime being everything to everyone — and you were great at it. But here’s a question worth thinking about: who are you now? Rally gets real about shedding the roles that no longer fit you and finding the ones that actually do. Spoiler alert: it’s never too late to become your favorite version of yourself.
EPISODE TRANSCRIPT
Hey there, beautiful people!
It’s me, Rally Preston—your 70-year-old buddy …still kinda figuring out how to do this whole aging thing gracefully without tripping over my shoelaces or something. And, yeah, you may hear me creak and groan a little more than I used to, but hey, that’s just part of the soundtrack, right? Growing older comes with its own set of sound effects, right?
So, hey —welcome to the Silver Beast Podcast! Glad you’re here. Really.
Now listen, I’ve got this short quote I want to share with you today. And, uh, don’t roll your eyes just yet, ‘cause I know sometimes quotes can feel a little…Hallmark-card-ish. But this one? I think it really hits home for a lot of us right now. It’s from Connie Zweig’s book “The Inner Work of Age.” She says, and I quote:
“With deeper practice, we can let go of our past roles and beliefs about ourselves, expand our identity to something larger, and move into a new stage of awareness.”
Okay, I know—that sounds like something you’d hear at, like, a yoga retreat while sipping overpriced chamomile tea. But hang on, ‘cause this one carries some weight.
What she’s really talking about in that quote is letting go of who we used to be … and then giving ourselves permission to grow into something new.
And let’s be real for a second—we’ve worn a lot of different hats over the years. Parent. Worker. Referee. Boss. Cook. Coach. Nurse. Family fixer. Occasional ATM. And—oh yeah—and full-time detective trying to figure out which kid put that dent in the car. (Spoiler alert: it was all of them at some point.)
Anyway, all those roles you’ve played mattered. They gave life meaning, structure, sometimes even a paycheck. But when those roles start fading — uh the kids are grown, career’s done, your knees sideline you from your softball league —it’s like … uh oh!… Who the heck am I now?
And you know what? That’s uncomfortable. Yeah, Change is hard at any age. But maybe especially for us. We’re seasoned. We’ve got our routines now. So asking us to step into brand-new shoes when the old ones are comfy and broken-in? That’s a little scary.
But here’s the thing—and really think about this here —being uneasy about change doesn’t mean you can’t do it. It means you’re alive. It means you may be standing on the edge of something bigger. And if you take one step forward—even it’s a baby step—well, the payoff? I think you’ll find it’s totally worth it.
Now I can relate personally to this. For decades, my main role was “the provider.” Get up, work hard, bring home the bacon. And then one day, poof. That role didn’t fit anymore. And I remember thinking, “Well dang it, if I’m not that guy anymore, who am I?”
And that’s a little scary to be asking yourself that at 65, 70, 80 – whatever. But you know what? It’s also freeing. Because it means the door is wide open. Wide. Open. You can become someone else—heck, someone bigger.
That’s what Zweig’s really getting at: quit clinging to those old, too-tight labels. Step into something wider, freer, and more you right now.
So—okay—how do we actually do that? I gotcha. I’ve got five easy steps for you that can help you find a role that fits you better today. So go ahead, take a sip of your chamomile tea – or something stronger — and let’s go through these.
So, Step 1: Write a Role Résumé.
Take a minute to jot down the roles you’ve played—worker, boss, parent, volunteer, neighbor. Circle the ones that still give you joy. Cross out the ones that just don’t fit anymore. You might be surprised what you’ve been dragging around out of habit. True story: a friend of mine thought she was still in charge of all the family get-togethers …except her daughters had been quietly handling that for years. She’s like, “Wait, what? – I’m off the hook?!” Instant relief.
So here’s Step 2: Create New Titles.
Look, if your old business card doesn’t work anymore, make up a new one. Explorer. Mentor. Resident Jokester. Or maybe you’re the “Ambassador of Belly Laughs.” These titles? They don’t need to impress anybody. They just gotta make you smile…pick a title that really resonates with you…one that feels right.
OK you’ve got a new title you like, so Step 3 is Run Small Experiments.
Want to be Creative Director of Your Life? Draw something. Sing something. Glue popsicle sticks together, whatever. Want to mentor? Offer advice to that neighbor kid looking for a job. Want better health? Start with a five-minute walk after dinner. I know this guy—he’s 77 I think —started with one block. Now he’s doing five miles a day and says he hasn’t felt this good since, uh, the Nixon administration. Point is, test out your new title — do a few simple things in that direction — see if it’s a good fit.
So here’s Step 4: Practice I Am.
Now this one’s pretty powerful. Practicing “I Am” means stop saying, “Well, I used to be…” And replace it with, “I am becoming…” or “These days, I’m exploring…” It’s a little mind-shift that might feel weird at first, yeah. But words shape beliefs. Saying, “I’m becoming a learner again” feels much more empowering than “Well I used to be a teacher.” You get the difference there, right?
And finally here’s Step 5: Make Space for Reflection.
Take 10 minutes a day. That’s it. Set it aside to reflect whether that’s journaling, praying, sipping coffee, or just sitting by the window and watching squirrels fight over a nut. Ask yourself: What matters most to me right now? Keep asking if nothing hits you to start with, and I betcha one day an answer will sneak up on you. Maybe you getting people to laugh more… And before you know it, your new role is: Laughter Coach. Could happen…
And look, if you’re still not convinced, let me tell you some quick stories…
I know a retired teacher who picked up guitar at 67. His hands cramped up, he cursed a lot, he almost quit. But he stuck with it. Now? He’s playing open-mic nights. Loves it. Loves the attention.
I know a woman—late 60s I guess—four kids grown… thought she had zero artistic abilities. She picked up watercolors. Today she’s selling her stuff at farmers’ market. And making good spending money too!
And then there’s this retired military guy I know. He decides, “Screw it, I’m getting back in shape.” Fired up YouTube, let some 30-year-old trainer boss him around on screen. A year later? I’m jealous. The man’s jacked.
All of them were nervous at first. All of them thought, “I’m too old for this.” But they tried anyway. And now they’re living bigger lives.
So here’s the big takeaway, Silver Beasties: you are more than your old résumé. More than your aches, more than your old labels. You’re still evolving.
So here’s your challenge for this week:
Write your New Role Résumé.
Claim one new title.
Try one small experiment to see how that new role feels.
That’s it.
Look, your most fulfilling roles aren’t all behind you. There are more right out there—just a little past your comfort zone.
And remember: you’re not becoming someone else. You’re becoming more fully YOU—just minus the old limiting beliefs that don’t fit you anymore.
So take a chance…go find yourself a new role you can fall in love with. Go full Silver Beast mode on this one, and I think you’ll love the results.
Alright, that’s all I got for today. Thanks for hanging with me. Stay curious, stay playful, and keep unleashing your inner beast.
I will see you next time on the Silver Beast Podcast.