After a big chapter ends, the hardest part isn’t knowing what’s next. It’s giving yourself permission to pause.

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After a big chapter ends, there’s often a quiet moment no one prepares you for.

The kids are grown.
A career chapter closes.
A long season of responsibility winds down.

And instead of relief or clarity, a different question shows up:

What now?

In this episode of Encore Living, I explore that in-between space through an unexpected lens — imagining what Luke Skywalker might have done the day after saving the galaxy in Star Wars.

Not the next movie.
Not the next mission.
Just the day after the big win.

Because chances are, he didn’t immediately try to figure out the rest of his life.

And maybe… you don’t have to either.

In this episode, I talk about three simple, very human things Luke might have done on his day off — and what they can teach us about navigating midlife transitions without rushing ourselves:

• Why rest often shows up after a chapter ends, not during it
• Why celebration isn’t indulgent — it’s acknowledgment
• And why putting the world in “airplane mode” can create space for something new to emerge

If you’re a parent or empty nester who’s feeling unsettled, reflective, or quietly wondering what comes next, this episode is for you.

As I share in the episode, the pause between stories isn’t a problem to solve — it’s a space to inhabit.

Here’s a simple question to sit with after listening:

Which part of Luke’s day off do you need most right now?

Not what would impress anyone.
Not what would make sense on paper.

Just what would help you honor what you’ve already lived.

P.S. If someone came to mind while you were listening to this episode, feel free to share it with them. Sometimes the most reassuring thing we can offer is the reminder: You don’t have to decide everything yet.

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Website: https://drthor.tv/