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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If you enjoyed this episode, I invite you to join my free weekly newsletter, Encore Living Insider.

That’s where I share reflections like this one, along with what I’m working on next — small ideas, gentle reframes, and prompts to help you navigate this season of life with a little more clarity and ease.

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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.

You can find me here:

Dr. Thor on Instagram @drthor.tv
Dr. Thor on TikTok @drthor.tv

Website: https://drthor.tv/

If you enjoyed this episode, I invite you to join my free weekly newsletter, Encore Living Insider.

That’s where I share reflections like this, along with what I’m working on next — small ideas, gentle reframes, and prompts to help you navigate this season of life with a little more clarity and ease.

👉 Sign up for Encore Living Insider here: https://insider.drthor.tv

When your kid goes back to school, it can stir up more than we expect.

They’re stepping into a new semester — new classes, new routines, new conversations — while you’re left asking a quieter question:

What about me?

In this episode of Encore Living, I explore a simple but powerful idea:

What if, instead of trying to figure out the rest of your life, you thought of this season as your own semester?

Not literally going back to college. No dorms. No degrees. No student loans.

But borrowing the way college actually works — experimenting, changing your mind, learning as you go — and applying it to midlife.

In this episode, I talk about three things college already taught us, and how they can bring relief right now:

• Why declaring a major doesn’t have to be permanent
• Why dropping a class isn’t failing — it’s information
• And why you’re allowed to have at least one thing you love in your life again

If you’re a parent or empty nester who’s feeling stuck, restless, or quietly wondering what’s next — this episode is for you.

As I mention in the episode, your kid isn’t trying to solve their entire future this semester.

They’re focused on the next few months. And maybe you’re allowed to do the same.

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

If the next 15 weeks were your semester… what would you explore?

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

Just what feels worth showing up for.

P.S. If someone came to mind while you were listening to this episode, feel free to share it with them. Sometimes the most helpful thing we can say is, “You’re not late — you’re just in a new semester.”

You can find me here:

Dr. Thor on Instagram @drthor.tv
Dr. Thor on TikTok @drthor.tv

Website: https://drthor.tv/

If you enjoyed this episode, I invite you to join my free weekly newsletter, Encore Living Insider.

That’s where I share reflections like this, along with what I’m working on next — including a free upcoming bonus called “99 Ways to Celebrate You.”

👉 Sign up for Encore Living Insider here: https://insider.drthor.tv

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January has a way of rushing us forward before we’ve had a chance to look back.

In this episode of Encore Living, I talk about why—especially if you’re a parent or empty nester—this might actually be the perfect moment to pause and celebrate what you’ve already lived through.

Not in a forced, confetti kind of way. But in a grounded, honest, “that mattered” way.

If your house feels quieter than it used to…
If your kid just went back to school…
If you’re feeling a little behind heading into the new year…

This episode is for you.

As I mention in the episode, before you decide what comes next, make a list of the most memorable things you did last year.

Big things. Small things. Moments that took energy, courage, or heart.

To give you a sense of what I mean, here’s my list from 2025:

🗽 NYC for my birthday
🎭 Maybe Happy Ending on Broadway
🖼️ NYC museums
📚 Taught an 8-week Let Them Theory class
🌴 Cabo villa (with a chef!)
🇫🇷 Traveled through France for 12 days
🪖 Normandy
🙏 Finished a year-long spiritual program
✍️ Wrote my first novel in 30 days
🔥 Led Whatever It Takes (30 days)
🎓 Ordained as a minister
🚪 Retired after 8 years
🎉 Made it to 2026

When I put it all in one place, I didn’t feel behind anymore. I could actually see what I did. And celebrate it.

After you make your list, ask yourself:

What kind of person does this list describe?

Then finish this sentence:

“I’m the kind of person who…”

P.S. If someone came to mind while you were listening this, feel free to share the episode with them.

You can find me here:

Dr. Thor on Instagram @drthor.tv
Dr. Thor on TikTok @drthor.tv

Website: https://drthor.tv/