Welcome to our new blog.  Here you’ll find articles and essays from members of The Transition Network, a community of educated women over 50 who support each other in exploring later life career and other transitions.  They’re putting their energy and skills to good use and have joined forces as they navigate the transitions of life over 50, to whatever is next.

Last week I had a coffee date with a childhood friend last week and we got to talking about our kids growing up and the inevitable question of “what’s next”. So many women that I talk to, both clients and friends, seem to be wanting to put themselves in a new direction rather than go back to their professional life before kids.

Recently, as part of a job search discussion group, an interesting resume question was posed. Should you downplay your resume in these hard times?

At this time of year, everyone talks about their resolutions, or aspirations. I hear people also wishing for things in ways don’t always achieve the feelings they seek.

We’ve all heard the saying “the only constant is change.” However, when change lands on our doorstep we are usually bewildered and uncertain of where and how we will land on solid ground again.

So many of us find new beginnings exciting. Others find them scary. What possibilities are ahead for you in 2010? What ones will come and what ones will you create? So, how are you going to greet the New Year?

This season has been all about shedding and getting rid of, an activity that I’ve traditionally thought of as “spring cleaning”. The key question to ask yourself is, “what am I doing that no longer serves me?”

So, no job. Or you are scared to death as a new retiree because you don’t know where next to move. If you are an introvert, the pressure may be more intensified, since the fear of networking can be as frightening as job loss. Well, maybe not quite as scary as having no job, no but scary enough to render some of you ineffective and, perhaps immobile.

Attitude affects behaviors and if you are thinking that you can never be young again and are too old for the job market, take solace from the research that indicates that young people can never be you! Whatever the job market, and the hard times we are going through, your age can work for you.