Why This Began
Retirement is often described as a finish line.
A date.
A number.
A milestone circled on a calendar.
But when the working years end, something quieter begins.
A shift in identity.
A change in structure.
An expansion of time.
A redefinition of connection.
This space began because those emotional shifts were not being talked about openly.
We were living them.
The Early Conversations
This Is Our Retirement started as a simple YouTube channel.
Tina and Norm sat down together and spoke honestly about what this season of life felt like. Not just financially, but emotionally.
There were conversations about purpose.
About routine.
About adjusting to slower mornings and longer afternoons.
About rediscovering meaning when the structure of work was no longer there.
What began as shared reflections slowly became a gathering place.
Over time, more than 120,000 people joined the conversation resulting is millions of views. The community became a place where retirement was discussed gently.
Without performance.
Without pretending everything was fine.
It grew because the conversations were honest. Because they were imperfect. Because they reflected real mornings, real doubts, and real love.
A Season of Change
August of 2025, Norm passed away. After Norm passed, those conversations deepened. What began as reflections on retirement became reflections on grief, resilience, and learning how to carry love forward.
What had once been reflective became lived.
The questions around identity, time, purpose, and connection were no longer theoretical. They were present. Immediate. Personal.
Grief brought clarity.
It revealed how fragile life is.
How quickly seasons change.
How important it is to speak honestly while we can.
And so the conversations did not stop.
They changed.
From Conversation to Framework
Over time, four questions kept returning.
Identity
Purpose
Time
Connection
These are not financial categories.
They are emotional anchors.
The Four Emotional Pillars of Retirement were not invented in a boardroom.
They were observed in lived experience.
They continue to shape the conversations shared here.
Why This Work Continues
Retirement is not a single moment.
It is a transition.
Sometimes peaceful.
Sometimes uncertain.
This space exists to explore that transition with honesty.
To create language around what many people feel but struggle to name.
To provide structure without pressure.
Reflection without noise.
Connection without performance.
The work continues because the season continues.
And because the conversations still matter.
A Final Word
If you are here because you have watched the channel, welcome.
If you are here because you are navigating this season quietly on your own, welcome.
You are not late.
You are not behind.
You are not alone.
This began as a conversation.
It continues as a framework.
And it remains, at its heart, an invitation to live this chapter with clarity.
Related Pages
Explore the other emotional pillars of retirement:
Together, these themes form the emotional framework of life after work.
Private Resources:
If you would like a more structured and personal way to reflect on the emotional side of retirement, Tina has created a small collection of private guides designed to support you at your own pace. Explore the available resources below: