A Boulder, Feather or a Tree?

We have a lot of choices as we step into our Act3 (entering retirement, newly retired or simply aware of aging and how that has an impact on our lives).

I heard someone on a podcast recently ask "are you a Boulder or a Feather?" I LOVED THIS METAPHOR!

Both are shaped by nature.
Both are moved by forces outside themselves.
And both offer a way of entering Act3.

Are you a Boulder?

A Boulder enters Act3 with force and momentum. It rolls downhill heavily, quickly and decisively. Once it starts moving, gravity takes over.

The Boulder communicates:

• I’m done waiting.

• I know what I want.

• Let’s go.

For many people, this feels exhilarating. After years of schedules, expectations, and constraints, charging forward can feel like freedom.

But once they start rolling, Boulders don’t steer very well.

They just go. They are fast but not reflective. They are carried forth on momentum. It can be exciting but might not be the best way to plan your next phase of life.

Are you a Feather?

A Feather enters Act3 very differently. Light. Wispy. Responsive.
It floats where the wind carries it.

The Feather communicates:

• I’m open.

• I’m watching.

• I’ll see where this takes me.

There can be wisdom here too. The Feather respects uncertainty. The Feather needs time to acclimate.

But Feathers, like Boulders, surrender direction. The wind decides. Drifting replaces choosing.

And over time, the Feather can land somewhere without quite knowing how—or why.

A healthy way to enter Act3 is to incorporate elements of both the Boulder and the Feather.

You can borrow from the traits of the Boulder and the Feather—but infuse intention, rather than being guided by nature alone.

Entering Act3 as a Tree

An intentional Act3 enters like a Tree.

A Tree is rooted, but not rigid. It doesn’t roll forward or drift away.

It grows—deliberately and over time.

A Tree communicates:

• What matters to me now? Roots that anchor it (values, experience, non-negotiables)

• Where do I need firmness, and where do I need flexibility? A trunk that provides strength and direction

• What am I ready to move toward—and what still needs exploration? Branches that reach, adapt, and respond to the environment

A Tree doesn’t let gravity or wind take charge.
It responds—but from a place of grounding.

A Question to Leave You With

So the question isn’t simply:

Are you a Boulder or a Feather?

The question is:

Do you want to be a Tree? And how are you going to do that?

How are you choosing to enter your Act3—and who, or what, is directing the movement?

Let's be curious together! All the best to you, Melinda