Isolation can creep in like fog from the ocean or strike like a ton of bricks. Years ago, a lady came to see me about her struggles adjusting to retirement. A teacher, she was fine during the summer, but when her friends returned to the classroom, she felt completely alone.

Parents face life without children as they go to college and enter adulthood. Many baby boomers are entering retirement without a spouse or companion, they assumed they'd have. Spouses can become incapacitated and are no longer partners.

You can even have people in your life and feel isolated and alone. That is what has happened to me. Two years ago, my friend and I decided to create the RLM website. It seemed the natural progression to the workshop that was being delivered.

Creating a website of the magnitude of RetirementLifeMatters requires a tremendous amount of time and effort. There are articles to write and experts to find to contribute their knowledge. It took me four solid months to identify the keywords for the original one hundred articles. As you know, it doesn't matter how wonderful the website, without traffic, it's pointless. I wasn't naïve and knew it was going to involve an incredible about of work.

A few months ago, I was offered the chance to help unemployed individuals find work. I get to work from home and I love the freedom to manage my time, as well as help people through this very challenging period.

Unfortunately, I find myself sitting in front of a computer screen eight, ten and sometimes twelve hours a day. Except for art two times a month, I have eliminated most of my professional and personal relationships.

I like all of the activities I'm engaged, but can't tolerate feeling alone and removed from support, creative energy and community. It was a slow progression, but here I am feeling stuck. This feeling of isolation is killing my spirit. I'm short tempered, impatient and often sad. I know I'm not alone in this feeling.

I've been here before where I've started down a path only to find it wasn't what I thought or not what I wanted. There are going to be changes.

For starters, it's time to take a look at what's in my life and what's not. Next, I'm going to make a list of what's missing. Am I getting enough exercise? Am I being mentally and creatively stimulated? Am I connecting to others in a meaningful and positive way? Do I feel like I have a sense of purpose? Am I adequately taking care of the maintenance aspects of life, or do I need help?

Creating a meaningful retirement or life requires the willingness to adapt, experiment and change what's not working. I'm getting to work, I hope you will too.