What happens when a career you expected to continue for years suddenly ends?

Bruce spent more than 35 years with the same organization. He loved his work, valued the relationships he had built, and expected to work another five to seven years. Then an unexpected layoff changed everything.

In my conversation with Bruce from Porch Therapy, we talk about much more than losing a job. We talk about the anger and the “Why me?” that followed, the loss of identity that can come when a long career ends, and what it feels like to suddenly find yourself retired while your spouse is still working.

But what I enjoyed most about our conversation was hearing where Bruce is now.

YouTube became an unexpected form of therapy and connection. He’s volunteering, spending time with his family, traveling, and even rediscovering an old dream of writing—something perfectionism had kept him from pursuing for years.

Bruce’s story is one I think many Gen Xers will recognize. Sometimes we don’t get to choose exactly how or when our working years end. The bigger question may be:

What are we going to do with what comes next?