Ten Weeks That Changed My Thinking

This Thursday will mark ten weeks since I published my first ROPHO post.

What began as a small hobby with a vague idea of one day replacing my day-to-day consultancy work, has gradually grown into something much bigger in my thoughts.

During that time, life has continued to do what life does, presenting challenges, unexpected pauses and moments of clarity.

Trying to balance family worries, existing business commitments and my own health has forced me to think carefully about what I really want the next chapter to look like.

ROPHO has gradually worked its way into my daily routine and, if I am being truthful, into most of my waking thoughts.

Ideas arrive when I’m walking the dog, travelling to client meetings, or trying to switch off late at night.

Like many people in their sixties, I am learning how to balance ambition with the realities of life.

There is still my consultancy work to deliver, there are clients relying on advice and support.

There is also the responsibility of being part of a large and close family.

And over the past year there has also been something far more important than work or personal projects.

When Life Presses Pause

Our daughter has been fighting breast cancer.

For many months our lives have felt as though they were quietly on hold.

We tried to stay positive while, in truth, preparing ourselves emotionally for the worst.

Recently we received the news that every family hopes and prays for, she has now been given the all clear.

Relief does not feel like a strong enough word.

The Moment Everything Felt Different

Experiences like this change your perspective in ways that are hard to describe.

They make you reflect deeply on time, purpose, and what you really want from the years ahead.

Rethinking Work, Time and Energy

For most of my working life I have been involved in running businesses and advising, mainly face to face with clients, often travelling and spending long hours away from home.

It has been rewarding and has given me opportunities I am very grateful for.

But it has also been demanding and at times all-consuming.

Over recent months I have realised that I no longer want to structure my life in quite the same way.

I will continue to support a small number of long-term clients, but increasingly in a more flexible way, working online rather than constantly being on the road.

This decision is not about slowing down, It is about choosing how I spend my time.

It is about creating space to build something I genuinely enjoy and believe in.

That “something” is ROPHO.

Choosing Purpose Over Habit

What began as a small personal project is now becoming a clear part of how I want to spend this next chapter.

Sharing experience, learning new skills, staying active, and hopefully encouraging others to make the most of their own time as well.

Starting something new after 60 is not about having perfect conditions or endless energy.

It is about commitment, belief and the willingness to keep moving forward even when life feels uncertain.

Living through the past year has reinforced one simple idea for me:

Contentment does not come from doing less, it comes from doing what feels meaningful and fun.

For me, that now means building ROPHO with purpose and intention.

What Happens Next

As I look ahead, I know that changing direction now is not about slowing down, it is about being more intentional with the time and energy I have.

Building ROPHO will require discipline, patience and belief, but it also brings a sense of purpose that feels increasingly important.

Over the coming weeks I plan to develop the business, health, and lifestyle themes in a more structured way.

I would like to share more of the practical lessons I have learned during my career and personal life.

Because after sixty, the real opportunity is not to drift, but to choose your direction with clarity and confidence.

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We are all still writing our stories.