# Reinventing Retirement, Practicing "Do Nothing", and Finding Peace | Mike Bailey

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/behind-the-village-podcast-7047785/reinventing-retirement-practicing-do-nothing-and-finding-peace-mike-bailey
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/behind-the-village-podcast-7047785/reinventing-retirement-practicing-do-nothing-and-finding-peace-mike-bailey.md
Podcast: [Behind The Village Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/behind-the-village-podcast-7047785)
Published: 2025-10-09T09:01:03+00:00
Episode link: https://rss.com/podcasts/behind-the-village-podcast/2261404
Audio file: https://content.rss.com/episodes/341621/2261404/behind-the-village-podcast/2025_10_09_00_11_10_4792eed8-97a6-4173-811a-58d678faefa1.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/behind-the-village-podcast-7047785/episodes/reinventing-retirement-practicing-do-nothing-and-finding-peace-mike-bailey
Duration seconds: 1874

## Resource

In this episode of Behind the Village Podcast we sit down with Mike Bailey, a lifelong learner who spent decades reinventing his working life, moving from grocery clerk and electrical apprentice to corrections officer and HR advisor before retiring into a second act as a full‑time photographer. Mike shares how he recognized when it was time for change, how he rebuilt confidence, and how photography gave him purpose; he explains his pre‑visualization approach to storytelling, the daily "do nothing" practice that reduced stress and sharpened focus, and offers practical advice on midlife career change, retiring into creative work, photography as therapy and income, overcoming self‑doubt, slow living, and balancing family and work. A Shoebox of Memories Website: https://ashoeboxofmemories.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AShoeboxOfMemories/ The Villager Magazine Website: https://villagermagazine.ca Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheVillagerCommunityNews/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thevillagermagazine/ Newsletter: https://villagermagazine.ca/subscribe/ Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:10 Life After Retirement 03:21 When is it Time to Make a Change 05:09 Self-Confidence is the Secret 07:55 Finding Balance 09:52 Photography as a Creative Endeavour 17:05 What Does Success Mean 19:13 The Effects of Negativity and How to Combat it 27:14 A Look Back - What Would Mike Change

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## Transcript

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