From data to dancing — Christine’s return to herself

Christine, 64, spent over three decades working as a financial analyst. She loved it more than she expected to. The spreadsheets, the patterns, the sense of control. It fit her personality and gave her a clear sense of purpose. But after retiring, she started to feel an unfamiliar emptiness.

"I didn’t feel lost," she told us. "But I felt flat. I didn’t know how to feel fully alive in this new version of my life."

Like many retirees, Christine had always thought she’d ease into the next chapter with ease. She had her finances sorted. She had travel plans. But structure and stimulation were missing, and it caught her off guard. She began trying new things: joining a book club, enrolling in online courses, even planning a solo holiday. “I liked all of it,” she said, “but I didn’t love any of it.”

Then one afternoon, while walking past a local community centre, she noticed a sign for adult beginner dance classes. “I hadn’t danced since I was in my teens,” she said. “It was completely outside my comfort zone. But something about it made me pause.”

She signed up. After the first class, she cried in her car. Happy tears. “It felt like I had turned the volume back up on my life.”

Now, Christine dances twice a week. She’s taken up sketching as well, using a YouTube series to learn the basics. “I never used to think of myself as creative,” she said. “I think work made me efficient, not expressive. But now that I have time, I’m learning to play again.”

She’s also started hosting small dinners with neighbours, something she never had time for during her working years. “I feel like I’m rewriting how I show up in the world,” she reflected. “Not to impress anyone. Just to feel more like myself.”

Christine’s story isn’t unique, but it is powerful. Many retirees go through this process: moving from productive careers into a space where creativity, rest, curiosity, and social connection take priority. For some, it’s a slow return to long-forgotten interests. For others, it’s the thrill (or of discovering new ones. The key is experimentation—with no pressure to get it right.

At LivOn, we believe that retirement isn’t about stepping back. It’s about stepping inward. Christine’s path—equal parts tentative and brave—is a reminder that joy often comes from following your curiosity, one small yes at a time.

We’ll be sharing more stories like Christine’s—real people, real transitions, and the deeply human process of reconnecting with parts of yourself you didn’t even realise you missed.