Your Life Calling: Reimagining the Rest of Your Life

Former NBC news anchor Pauley shares stories of mid-life personal reinventions, many from people featured on her eponymous Today show segment. Paul Giannone worked in information technology before realizing his dream to open a pizzeria and now feels that, despite spending seven days a week there, he does not “work” at all. Gid Pool began his career as a stand-up comedian at age 61, while Kirk Rademaker quit a stressful job to be a full-time sand carver. Some find their calling helping others, like Jan Erickson who used her experience as an elder-care minister to launch a wellness clothing line. Jan remarks, “everybody comes to this planet with something to give.” Jenny and Richard Bowen wanted to help abandoned baby girls in China so they adopted one. Later, feeling she had to do more, Jenny established the Half the Sky Foundation for training child-care professionals to nurture children in Chinese institutions. Pauley also shares her story of taking over for Barbara Walters on Today at just 25 years of age, and the “guilt and self-doubt” she experienced as a working mother. She addresses the controversy surrounding her replacement by Deborah Norville and her struggle with bipolar disorder. Readers seeking new directions will find a wealth of inspiration. (Jan.)