Passion doesn’t always come easily. Discover your inner drive and find your true purpose in life.
From learning how to be your best self to navigating life’s everyday challenges.
Discover peace within today’s chaos. Take a moment to notice what’s happening now.
Gain inspiration from the lives of celebrities. Explore their stories for motivation and insight into achieving your dreams.
Where ordinary people become extraordinary, inspiring us all to make a difference.
Take a break with the most inspirational movies, TV shows, and books we have come across.
From being a better partner to interacting with a coworker, learn how to deepen your connections.
Take a look at the latest diet and exercise trends coming out. So while you're working hard, you're also working smart.
Sleep may be the most powerful tool in our well-being arsenal. So why is it so difficult?
Challenges can stem from distractions, lack of focus, or unclear goals. These strategies can help overcome daily obstacles.
Unlocking your creativity can help every aspect of your life, from innovation to problem-solving to personal growth.
How do you view wealth? Learn new insights, tools and strategies for a better relationship with your money.
Close Ad
Most of us remember the fixtures at our schools growing up. Sometimes it’s a teacher. Other times, it’s a janitor or cook. And in the case of this elementary school in Abington, Pennsylvania, it’s an 89-year-old crossing guard.
Charles George Courtney worked hard and played hard. In his career, the British man was a manager at a brewery that supplied the Wimbledon tennis tournament. He also loved to drink whiskey and party, according to his longtime friend Terry Aplin, who was interviewed by The Daily Mail.He Lived Life to the FullestPhoto by cottonbro studioWhen Courtney's wife died after 50 years of marriage, he continued to live life to the fullest, traveling to Turkey three times a year to stay at Korumar Hotel De Luxe in the Kusadasi district of Aydin.When on holiday at the seaside resort, he was treated like royalty from the moment he arrived, from being picked up at the airport in a 4x4 to getting his own designated room (401) and his favorite table every single time."Whenever he went to Turkey, he was like part of their family. He had no children of his own and they would call him godfather. They would give him a badge with his name on it," Aplin said.The hotel was like a second home for him and sometimes he would go three times a year because he loved the place and the people.Terry AplinHe Appreciated the ‘Son He Never Had'But Courtney treated the hotel staff like more than just employees. Every time he'd go, he'd pay for extra luggage on the flight to bring them chocolates and gifts. Courtney was especially fond of bellboy Taskin Dasdan who'd worked at the hotel for over 30 years."At the hotel, we treat everyone equally, we treat them as family, not as tourists," Dasdan told the Beyez Gazete.According to Aplin, Courtney, who regretted not having children, treated Dasdan like "the son he never had," and helped the Turkish man pay for his children's education.In return, Dasdan would invite Courtney to dinner at his house to meet his wife and children."They were like his family too," Aplin added.An Unexpected Gift for Hotel StaffWhen Courtney died at the age of 87, he didn't forget his friends in Turkey. As his distant relatives opened up his will, they were shocked to see that the majority of his fortune — earned from his career, his wife's pension from a job at the Bank of England, and by living frugally — was to be given to Dasdan and other staff at the hotel.It's unknown how much money Dasdan received, but it was believed to be £200,000 ($276,000). Enough money that Dasdan said he would never need to work again.But he still chose to return to work. Why? He told the Beyez Gazete he loves his job because it gives him the opportunity to meet people from all around the world. Kind people like Courtney.Back at the hotel, they officially named room 401 "Charlie's Room" after the British man they adored, and who adored them back.Never Stop LivingWhen you're retired, I'm sure (though I don't know yet) that it can be easy to spend the rest of your life looking in the rearview mirror — at the career you had, your travels, and the good times with your family. But what Courtney did was refuse to stop living. He built new friendships and appreciated people that others might overlook. Sure, his distant relatives might have been angry they didn't leave more money to them. But at the end of the day, it's his money and what to do with it is completely up to him. More from Goalcast:Rich Actor Finds Little Boy in Dumpster and Invites Him Over to Her House for Christmas – He Ends Up Completely Changing Her LifeMom Asks Noisy Teens in Hotel Room to Quiet Down – Later, They Slip a Surprising Note Under Her Door
It can be nice to dream of retirement, but for some people, that dream is very far from reality. Unfortunately, due to life circumstances, the economy, bad luck, or a series of other events, some people are forced to work well past their retirement age. That can be hard on the body and mind, plus it's heartbreaking to see. Perhaps that's why this story about a family who wanted to help one special pizza delivery woman retire resonates.A Routine Delivery Gone WrongLacey Klein and Kevin Keighron didn’t feel like cooking for their family one night, so they ordered from a Domino's near their home in Berkeley County, South Carolina. However, around the time their pizza was due to arrive, they heard a noise outside. When they checked their front door camera, they saw a woman lying on the ground.Alarmed, they rushed outside to discover that their delivery person, a 72-year-old woman named Barbara Gillespie, had fallen as she tried to climb the front porch step with the boxes in her hands. Keighron, who works for the local fire department, helped her up and asked if she was okay.“I open the door, and there she is, just laying on the ground trying to get up,” Keighron recalled to Good Morning America. “She was more worried about [the food] than anything else. And I was like, ‘I don't care about the food. I care about you.’”Hatching a Plan to HelpKeighron and Klein knew they had to help Gillespie out. It broke their hearts to see her working so hard — and not because she wanted to, but because she had to. So they decided to share the footage of the woman’s fall and her reaction on social media. Then, they asked citizens to help them give her the biggest tip of her life.“Our Domino's delivery driver fell on our front porch today, and my heart just hurts for her,” Klein wrote in her post. “She’s clearly having a hard time. She was so worried about our food, but all we cared about was that she was okay. I’m so sad for her.”The post went viral, with millions of views. Even better? The GoFundMe page the couple set up collected more than $50,000 overnight. Keighron and Klein went to visit Gillespie the next day at work, where they told her about the fund.First, they had their daughters give her some flowers and candy. Then Klein explained what they had done. In another video posted on TikTok, Gillespie was speechless. They added her to the account, and days later, the funds swelled to more than $270,000.“We are so beyond relieved to know that Barbara can now relax,” Klein told Newsweek. “She can spend all the time she wants with her kids, grandkids, great-grandkids and not have to worry about being able to do it.”“I thought I was dreaming,” Gillespie added. “It's nice to know that there are people in this world who care.”Helping Where We CanWhile it’s nice to think that hard work pays off — and it can, depending on the context and circumstances — that isn’t always the case. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the 75 and older workforce in America will grow by 96.5% by 2030, increasing from 8.9% in 2020 to 11.7%. That’s largely due to the economy, a lack of savings, and dwindling pensions.It’s an economic issue, to be sure, but thanks to this story, we’re reminded there are ways we can help. Collectively raising funds for those in our community is a great start. Or if you are in a position where you employ the elderly, try to give them jobs that minimize their risk of a fall or injury.If you’re worried about your own parents or parental figures, it’s never too early to have an open and honest discussion with them about money and savings and to assess where they’re at. Knowing and doing what you can to improve a loved one’s financial situation is the first step. Get other family members on board, look for new sources of income, and use whatever resources you have available to you.Lastly, do what you can to start your own retirement savings plan as soon as you can. Because while this story proves there are kind people in the world, we also need to try and plan for all of our futures.More from Goalcast:Elderly Driver Yells at Kids for Spraying Perfume in the School Bus – Receives $125,000 After Her Rant Is Caught on VideoWoman Notices Her Elderly Neighbor of 20 Years Is Living in a Destroyed House – Decides to Take Matters Into Her Own Hands
They say that if you love what you do, you will never work a day in your life.That is exactly how Melba Mebane felt every day when she went to her job in the cosmetology department at Dillard’s. The store opened daily at 10 AM, so Melba made sure to show up by 9:15 to secure her parking spot and get her day started on the right foot.How One Woman Started Her Career as an Elevator GirlPhoto by Max RahubovskiyMelba started at Dillard's -- although at the time it was called something else -- in the 1940s when she was 17 years old. She was an elevator girl at first, then she was promoted to the cosmetics department where she stayed for the next 50 plus years. Certainly, a lot has changed since Melba first stepped foot in the store, but everything she loves about her job has remained.“Even [with] the changing times, from where she started to where we are now in the modern world, her values and everything still stand.”James SaenzDespite her advanced age -- Melba is just shy of 90 -- she never called out sick or missed a single day of work. After all, her work was the very thing that kept her young at heart and in good shape!“I loved everybody there, and I loved to go to work,” Melba said.Why One Elderly Woman Finally Decided to RetireIf it wasn’t for her health problems, Melba might still be working at Dillard's now. However, after 74 years of being active in her personal and professional life, her body sent her a clear message: slow down!She decided to take the message to heart and has embarked on a new adventure: retirement. Her goal is to travel, rest, and eat good food… sounds dreamy!Melba is sure to have a fantastic retirement, but Dillard's will have to adjust to not having their star employee on the floor anymore. Her amazing morale set the tone for the store and her many years of experience helped her train and mentor all of the store’s employees. Melba is a store staple -- without her, there will definitely be a void. The store realized this and threw their oldest employee a huge goodbye party, recognizing both her efforts and the impact she had on the Texas store. A Happy Life Is One Where You Do What You LoveMelba’s life is an example of how our jobs can give us purpose. Melba didn’t even take long lunch breaks because she knew there was often a lunch rush in her department and she didn’t want to miss her chance to connect with customers. If you find a way to use your talents, do something you truly enjoy and make money -- you will have a great life. Follow Melba’s lead; you never know what you can achieve.More from Goalcast:91-Year-Old Great-Grandmother Can Finally Retire Her Cashier Job – All Because She Took Matters Into Her Own Hands85-Year-Old McDonald’s Employee Responsible for His Adult Grandkids Can’t Retire – But One Customer Changes Everything
Betty Glover dreamed of retiring. And no doubt, at 91 years old she has spent more than 70 YEARS working at least one job. Sometimes two. Born during the Great Depression, she started working at the age of 20 after getting an accounting degree at Fresno State and hasn't stopped.Over the years Glover has worked in a bakery and an ad agency, dealt blackjack, run a restaurant with her late husband, and worked for a roofing company. Most recently, while pushing 80, she got a job as a cashier at the local WinCo grocery store in South Medford, Oregon.“It was back when you filled out the old paper applications. I was already in my 70s, so I figured there was no way they were gonna hire me, but they did,” Glover told the Rogue Valley Times.But now, she's starting to slow down and she'd like to spend her final years watching her great-grandchildren and even her great-great-grandchildren grow up.91-Year-Old Grocery Cashier Starts Her Own GoFundMeBetty Glover/GoFundMeUnfortunately, like so many seniors, Glover didn't have the financial means to retire. That is, until now.Taking matters into her own hands, the nonagenarian, with the help of one of her granddaughters, launched a GoFundMe campaign with an initial goal of $40,000.Titled, "Help me retire please," she wrote: "I am a great-grandmother of almost 92, still checking groceries at WinCo. Although I love my customers and the people I work with, I would like to retire. I really need to retire as my eyesight is failing due to macular degeneration."Glover went on to explain that in order to have enough money to cover her monthly bills, including groceries and medications, she needed to pay off the fifth wheel she lives in. "Anything you can do to help would be much appreciated," she wrote.Nearly 3,000 people answered her plea for help and my faith in humanity has officially been restored.Grocery Cashier Raises Over $80K and Can Finally RetireDonations have come pouring in and as of this writing, the GoFundMe has raised more than double the asking. So far it's at a whopping $86,970. “I never even thought I’d make $40,000. It really is heartwarming, and it makes me want to cry,” she said.“I didn’t even know how to do a GoFundMe. My granddaughter did it for me, but I thought, ‘Nobody’s gonna do anything. Nobody cares about others anymore.’ I think all my co-workers have contributed and a bunch of my regulars,” she added.Glover is beyond grateful. And the best news of all? She's finally able to retire. In fact, she's already given her notice. Her last day will be May 1st. 3 weeks before she turns 92.In an update on her GoFundMe, she wrote:"Thanks to all of your support and generosity, my last day in the check stand at WinCo will be May 1st! I am still amazed at the outpouring of support and kindness. Thank you all so much." Americans are Working Longer and Retiring Later The harsh reality is that Betty Glover is not alone. According to the latest data from the Natixis Global Retirement Index, 59% of Americans said they will have to keep working past 65. While "36% believe that they will never have enough money to be able to retire."Additionally, the report found that roughly 41% said their ability to be financially secure in retirement is “going to take a miracle.” Thankfully for Glover, she found her miracle. And she's excited for what comes next.“When you’re 30, 90 feels like forever. Somebody said to me, ‘Well, you’re always so upbeat.’ I said, well, yes, I don’t sit around and think about dying. I think about living. And I think about what exciting things are gonna happen tomorrow."“I look forward to tomorrow … I always have.”And now, thanks to the power of community and a collective act of kindness, she has even more to look forward to.
You spend the majority of your life working hard and saving moneyfor that moment when you no longer have to worry about setting an alarm for thenext day -- retirement!The idea of finally having the time to enjoy everything you’vepostponed for years sounds great. Yet you know what they say, old habits diehard, and some people find it difficult to adjust to this new phase of theirlife.They’ve probably developed a routine over the last 30 years and theirjob meant everything to them. But no matter how much you loved your job, youcan still find new and exciting activities to fulfill you. There’s so much moreto life than working for a paycheck. Youshould see your retirement as an opportunity to take a step back and take pridein everything you’ve accomplished. For many, the word ‘retirement’ automatically brings up to mind animage of a happy grandparent reading a story to their grandkids. For others itmeans traveling the world worry-free, gardening or simply enjoying everythingthey’ve ignored due to their busy schedule. Whatever that image is, it shouldbe about happiness. Here are 25 retirement quotes for the next phase of your life:Retirement is like a long vacation in Las Vegas. The goal is to enjoy it the fullest, but not so fully that you run out of money. JONATHAN CLEMENTS Retirement's the most wonderful thing. I get to enjoy all the things I never stopped to notice on the way up. After an extraordinary life, it's time to enjoy my retirement. PATRICK MACNEE Retirement: That's when you return from work one day and say, Hi, Honey, I'm home forever. GENE PERRET You are never too old to set a new goal or dream a new dream. C.S. LEWIS (more C. S. Lewis quotes)There is a whole new kind of life ahead, full of experiences just waiting to happen. Some call it ‘retirement.’ I call it ‘bliss.’ BETTY SULLIVAN Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter. MARK TWAIN (more Mark Twain quotes)Living each day as if it were your last doesn't mean your last day of retirement on a remote island. It means to live fully, authentically and spontaneously with nothing being held back. JACK CANFIELD We work all our lives so we can retire so we can do what we want with our time and the way we define or spend our time defines who we are and what we value. BRUCE LINTON Retirement, a time to do what you want to do, when you want to do it, where you want to do it and how you want to do it. CATHERINE PULSIFER Don't act your age in retirement. Act like the inner young person you have always been. J. A. WEST Don’t simply retire from something; have something to retire to. HARRY EMERSON FOSDICK Retirement is a blank sheet of paper. It is a chance to redesign your life into something new and different. PATRICK FOLEY There’s one thing I always wanted to do before I quit… retire! GROUCHO MARX Often when you think you're at the end of something, you're at the beginning of something else. FRED ROGERS (more Mr. Rogers quotes)I found out retirement means playing golf, or I don't know what the hell it means. But to me, retirement means doing what you have fun doing. DICK VAN DYKE For retirement brings repose, and repose allows a kindly judgment of all things. JOHN SHARP WILLIAMS You don't stop laughing when you grow old. You grow old when you stop laughing. GEORGE BERNARD SHAWI SEE RETIREMENT AS JUST ANOTHER OF THESE REINVENTIONS, ANOTHER CHANCE TO DO NEW THINGS AND BE A NEW VERSION OF MYSELF. WALT MOSSBERG Retire from work, but not from life. M. K. SONI NOW, GOING FORWARD, CAN BE THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF YOUR LIFE, WHEN IT ALL COMES TOGETHER YOUR EXPERIENCE, WISDOM, AND SUCCESSES. MICHAEL JEANS For many, retirement is a time for personal growth, which becomes the path to greater freedom. ROBERT DELAMONTAGUE Dare to live the life you have dreamed for yourself. Go forward and make your dreams come true. RALPH WALDO EMERSON (more Ralph Waldo Emerson quotes)AND IN THE END IT’S NOT THE YEARS IN YOUR LIFE THAT COUNT. IT’S THE LIFE IN YOUR YEARS. ABRAHAM LINCOLN (more Abraham Lincoln quotes)Retirement is a new beginning, and that means closing the book on one chapter in order to begin the next. SID MIRAMONTES As in all successful ventures, the foundation of a good retirement is planning. EARL NIGHTINGALE
