And yet, if you’re anything like me, you’re not feeling “done.” You’re feeling more awake than ever.
Because here’s the thing—we’ve never done anything the way people expected us to. And we’re not about to start now.
I know this because I’ve lived it.
After decades of building businesses, chasing success, living fast, loving deeply, and telling myself I was on track, I hit a wall. A moment of reckoning. I realized that the blueprint I had followed—the one that promised fulfillment if just kept pushing—no longer fit who I was becoming.
Unfiltered The Midlife
by Raad Ghantous
Let’s be honest. No one ever really saw us coming.
We were never the largest generation. Never the loudest. Never the ones getting all the headlines or the cultural fanfare. We grew up in the shadow of the Boomers—too young to be part of the revolution, too old to ride the wave of social media stardom that Millennials and Gen Z seem to surf so effortlessly. We were left to figure things out for ourselves, and in true Gen X fashion, that’s exactly what we did.
We were the ones quietly making our way home to empty houses after school, latchkey kids with microwavable dinners and parents who didn’t always have the emotional tools to meet us where we needed them to. We raised ourselves on MTV, Saturday morning cartoons, and the art of self-sufficiency. We weren’t handed a script for success. We wrote it as we went.
We learned early to adapt, to shift, to survive. We grew up in that strange space between analog and digital—part mixtape, part modem static. We were the kids who pressed “record” on our cassette players, making our own playlists long before Spotify existed. We patiently waited for dial-up to connect us to the world, endured the screeching sound of the internet booting up, and learned to navigate technology as it was being born. We’re the original digital immigrants, bridging the gap between two worlds—never fully native to either.
And now, here we are. The first of us are turning 60.
Let that land for a second. 60.
No one warns you that the greatest shift you’ll face might happen not when you’re starting, but when you realize you’re not finished yet.
It hit me that while the world talks about winding down in our so-called “sunset years,” nobody talks about how thrilling, how liberating, how expansive this next chapter can be—if we choose to rewrite the script.
So I did.
That’s how this movement was born.
Not to look back, but to ignite what’s next—for me, for you, and for all of us standing at this same threshold, ready to claim more life, not less.
Because if there’s one thing our generation has mastered, it’s the art of the pivot. We’ve flown under the radar, played by the rules when we had to, and quietly rewritten them when no one was looking. We’ve built lives, careers, businesses, and families. We’ve won, lost, and rebuilt more times than we can count. And now, we’re about to show the world what 60 really looks like when Gen X takes the wheel.
We’ve been called cynical. Independent. Skeptical. Too sarcastic. But what they didn’t see was the quiet resilience we were building. The creativity we were nurturing. The leadership we were earning through every misstep, every comeback. We’ve become masters at adapting, innovating, and thriving in a world that never provided us with a map.
And now, while others try to sell us on retirement brochures and cruise ship packages, we’re not buying it. We’re buying something far more valuable—time, freedom, and experiences that actually matter We’re no longer chasing titles or status. We’re chasing what sets us free.
We want to wake up and choose what’s next—not because it’s expected, but because it feels right. We’ve done the hustle. We’ve climbed the ladders. We’ve carried the weight. We’ve raised children, built businesses, cared for aging parents, and held communities together—often without applause. We’ve lived through loss, reinvention, and renewal. And we’ve realized the greatest success is living fully on our own terms.
We’re not done. We’re just getting started. We want freedom, not obligation. We want curiosity, not complacency. We want connection, not conformity.
We’re not here to retire. We’re here to recalibrate. To reimagine. To reignite.
And let me be clear: We’re not stepping aside. We’re stepping forward, sharper and more intentional than ever. We’ve lived long enough to know what matters and what doesn’t. We’ve stopped collecting just for the sake of having more. We’re curating what’s essential: experiences, purpose, people who elevate us.
We’re building communities where depth matters more than popularity, where presence beats performance, and where showing up as you are is enough. We want friendships that can hold our laughter and our losses, our triumphs and our fears.
And when it comes to aging, let’s set the record straight. We’re flipping the damn script. We’re not here to shrink. We’re here to expand. To prove that life doesn’t end at sixty. It explodes with new possibilities.
We want more than longevity. We want healthspan—years filled with energy, vitality, and aliveness. We’re investing in our minds, our bodies, and our spirits. We’re rejecting the myth that getting older means fading. We’re here to live louder, love bigger, and show up braver than ever.
If the first 60 taught us anything, it’s that nothing is promised. We’ve lost people too soon. We’ve watched plans fall apart. But we’ve also learned to rise from the wreckage. We’ve learned that legacy isn’t about what we leave behind someday—it’s about how we live today.
So here’s to us—the generation that never fit the mold. The ones who grew up analog, mastered digital, and somehow still know how to write in cursive. The ones who know how to pivot, how to adapt, how to rise again and again.
We are still standing. We are still growing. And yes, we still got it!
So if you’re looking for us, don’t check the retirement brochures. Don’t waste your time scanning the sidelines. Don’t expect us to slip into the background quietly.
We are not done. We are not finished.
And we are sure as hell not asking for permission.
We are claiming what’s next—louder, bolder, freer than ever before. We’ve been overlooked. We’ve been underestimated. We’ve been counted out more times than we can remember.
And here’s the part they’ll never see coming: That’s exactly what makes us dangerous.
We know who we are.
We know what we’ve survived.
We know what’s still burning inside us, waiting to be unleashed.
So let the world brace itself.
Because Gen X is not done writing the story.
We’re just getting started, and this time, we’re not asking for a pen… we’re taking the whole damn page.
The New American Dream
Dispatches from Santa Fe and the frontlines of midlife reinvention
by Raad Ghantous
“In
this issue of The Raad Life, you’ll find stories of others who are starting over, starting again, or just starting to tell the truth. You’ll find playlists, rituals, design inspiration, and reminders that it’s never too late to get curious again.”
What does it mean to grow up—really grow up—at 60?
That’s the question I found myself sitting with this spring in Santa Fe, New Mexico, surrounded by dozens of other Gen Xers. We weren’t there for a typical business retreat. There were no keynotes, no pitch decks, no LinkedIn power networking. This was something deeper, quieter, and, if I’m honest, a little scarier.
It was called Reboot: Leadership and the Art of Growing Up, led by Jerry Colonna and Chip Conley at the Modern Elder Academy. Nearly a week designed not to teach us how to scale, but how to shed.
I didn’t go looking for answers. I went looking for space.
I’ve spent the past few years quietly laying the foundation for something new—what you now know as The Raad Life. Much more than a podcast or a personal brand, it’s a way of thinking about freedom. Reinvention. And what it means to show up as your full, grown-ass self.
This wasn’t about adding more tools to my kit. It was about stripping away what no longer served. Not just in business, but in life.
Becoming Less Afraid
Every morning in Santa Fe began with stillness. Breath. Reflection. Followed by deep dialogue—real dialogue—with a cohort of people who’d led, created, achieved. And who were now asking: What now? What next?
We talked about the stories we inherited. The ones we built our identities on. The ones we’re ready to rewrite.
I realized how much I’d been carrying simply out of habit. Expectations, definitions of success, even aesthetics. And how much freedom there is in pausing—just pausing—to ask if those things still fit.
It wasn’t about becoming more. It was about becoming less afraid to be who I already am.
A Generation in Transition
As Gen Xers, we’ve always lived between the lines. Not quite Boomers, not quite Millennials. We grew up in an analog world and adapted to digital. We were told to be self-reliant, to move on, to keep going.
And we did. But now, here we are—in our 40s, 50s and 60s—checking all the traditional boxes and still feeling like there’s something more. Not more to prove. More to explore.
I didn’t go to Santa Fe because I was burned out. I went because I was ready for a breakthrough.
The Raad Life was born from that feeling. The feeling that midlife isn’t the end of the story. It’s the part where you get to write a new one, on your own terms.
The Free Raadicals
The group I was with became something special. We held space for each other. We asked hard questions. We let ourselves be messy, unfinished, and in process. And somewhere in the middle of it all, we started calling ourselves The Free Raadicals—a name that started as a joke and stuck because it felt like truth.
We were each freeing ourselves from something. And we were doing it together.
You’ll meet some of them in this issue. Flip to our inaugural “Free Raadicals” column, where they share what they’ve had to unlearn to live more freely after 50. Trust me—you’ll want to read every word.
That week in Santa Fe sparked a new practice for me. I started something called Raadar—a dispatch series where I share field notes from this journey. It’s not advice. It’s reflection. What I’m noticing, what I’m unlearning, who I’m becoming.
One entry reads:
“I’ve designed hundreds of spaces for clients. Now I’m redesigning my own life—and realizing how much of the blueprint was inherited, not chosen.”
That’s the work now. Not just designing homes, but designing a life that reflects the truth of who am—and who I’m still becoming.
The New American Dream
The old American Dream doesn’t speak to me anymore. It never really did. Career, house, retirement? Sure, that might work for some. But for me—and maybe for you—it’s about something else now.
Freedom over frenzy. Meaning over milestones. Creativity without compromise.
We’re not done. We’re just getting started. That’s the new dream.
This is what I believe: growth doesn’t stop at midlife. That’s when it gets interesting.
Thanks for being here. And if you’re in the middle of your own reinvention, come find us. You’ve got Free Raadicals waiting.
Raadar: Notes From the Field
Follow my Raadar Dispatches on The Raad Life
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Raadar The
A Pulse Check on What’s Trending Now
What’s catching our attention lately? From soul-shifting reads to luxury spa rituals, The Raad Life curates the goods, the gear, and the game-changing ideas worth knowing. Consider this your cheat sheet for what to try, gift, or get into next.
a This isn’t your average leadership book. Jerry Colonna, the executive coach behind some of tech’s most brilliant minds, pulls no punches as he explores the intersection of leadership and emotional maturity Reboot is part business memoir, part spiritual guide, and part therapy session—packed with raw truth and questions that crack you wide open. The thesis is simple but brave: to lead well, you must do the inner work. Whether you’re a CEO or just trying to be the leader of your own life, this book invites you to grow up, show up, and lead with heart.
2. a
Step into a scent story that evokes wanderlust, elegance, and comfort all in one. This signature candle from Jen Ayres Home blends salty oceanic notes with dark musk and amber, creating a scent that feels equal parts jet-set and grounded. Housed in a sleek matte black vessel, it’s moody in the best way. Light it when you need a moment of calm, or when you want to feel like you’re writing your next great novel from a sea-facing suite. It’s a small luxury with big ambiance.
Once the Phoenix touches you, you are never the same. Created a, The Phoenix Game is the first board game designed to explore life’s most profound questions through the lens of personal insight and symbolic interpretation. It’s not about winning or strategy—it’s about reflection. Played solo, with a partner, or in groups, this elegant game uses 26 beautifully illustrated cards, a minimalist board, and an accompanying guidebook to spark philosophical inquiry. Whether you’re in a season of reinvention or simply curious, it’s a meditative tool disguised as a game—and a companion for anyone seeking meaning beyond the everyday.
3. The Phoenix Game
Objects of Freedom
What Raad Ghantous Reaches For When He Needs to Feel Alive
From a rare convertible to an underwater escape, these are the tangible touchstones that unlock a sense of liberation, nostalgia, and pure presence.
Freedom isn’t just a concept—it’s a feeling you can touch, drive, breathe in.
For Raad Ghantous, that feeling lives in the details. In the purr of a vintage Thunderbird. In the quiet weightlessness of a scuba dive. In a log cabin frozen in time. These objects aren’t just possessions— they’re portals. To the past. To clarify. To the truest version of yourself.
Here, Raad shares three personal favorites that evoke a raw and undeniable sense of freedom—moments, machines, and memories that remind him what it means to be untethered.
1. 1964 Black Thunderbird Convertible Freedom has a growl. And in Raad’s world, that sound rumbles from a 1964 Thunderbird Convertible in classic black and white—a car that defined an era and still turns heads. It’s the only year “Thunderbird” was spelled out across the hood like a statement piece. Only 92,000 were made that year. Just 10% were convertibles. Today, fewer than 500 are still on the road. Raad’s love for it is partly personal—his name in Arabic means “thunder,” and his late father always dreamed of owning one. This car is a tribute and a thrill. With its long, swooping lines and understated elegance (it made cameos in Goldfinger and Highlander), it’s not just a vehicle. It’s an identity. An escape pod. A rumbling declaration that sometimes freedom doesn’t need to be fast—it just needs to feel like you’ve arrived.
2. Scuba Diving in Key Largo
Freedom doesn’t always roar. Sometimes it exhales. You land in Fort Lauderdale just after sunrise, pick up a Mustang convertible, roll the top down, and hit the road with a cup of coffee and egg bites in hand. Two hours later, you’re submerged 40 feet under the sea off the coast of Key Largo. At Amoray Dive Center, the visibility is crystal clear, the ocean calm, and the silence total—except for the sound of your own breath bubbling to the surface. Raad describes it as a complete reset: two dives Saturday, two dives Sunday, and back to real life by Monday. For those few hours underwater, nothing else exists. It’s a floating meditation, suspended in neutral buoyancy where time slows and the mind lets go. For Raad, scuba isn’t a hobby. It’s a portal. A way to come back to himself. A silent rebellion. A pressure equalizer. Pure, personal freedom.
3. The Big Bear Log Cabin
Nestled in the San Bernardino mountains, Raad’s Big Bear log cabin is less a getaway and more a time capsule of stillness. He found it by chance—on a lark with his dad, they pulled into a repurposed drive-in theater and met a local named Bill Henderson, who showed them cabins around the valley. One stood out: a full-log 1985 kit with no drywall, no room divisions. Just space. Like a giant bunkhouse that sleeps seven comfortably. Inside: a deer head over the mantle, a Coca-Cola mirror, an RCA TV on legs, a wood-burning fireplace, and a California king-size bed with a gold swan faucet in the bathroom. It’s kitschy, yes. But also sacred. During the isolation of COVID, it became Raad’s fortress of solitude—a sanctuary in a citadel. When the world shut down, the cabin opened up. And in the middle of the noise, it gave him the rarest gift: silence.
The Free Raadicals
Midlife misfits. Wisdom seekers. Identity shedders. Here’s what we had to unlearn to live more freely after 50.
Something beautiful happened in Santa Fe, New Mexico. A group of strangers—leaders, creatives, founders—gathered to explore what it means to grow up without growing old. Somewhere between soul dives and sagebrush walks, we dubbed ourselves The Free Raadicals. We weren’t trying to brand a moment, just name a feeling.
Each of us came carrying something. And each of us left lighter.
We asked our cohort: What’s one belief, expectation, or identity you’ve left behind to live more freely after 50?
Here’s what they said—in their own glorious, growing-up voices.
“The biggest thing I’ve shed since turning 50 is the fear of looking foolish. When we reframe our lives as an epic ‘sometimes you win, sometimes you learn’ adventure, even the misses become illuminating, teachable moments. recently devoted the better part of a decade to an entrepreneurial project that ultimately didn’t get funded. But I learned how to generate a five-year cash flow projection. I took meetings with some of Hollywood’s most revered storytellers. I even pitched a German billionaire in his Malibu mountaintop aerie.
So when I tell people what happened—indeed, when I explain it to myself—I realize the journey is far more compelling than the destination. Besides, the more rakes you step on in life, the more laughter you leave behind when you’re gone.”
— John Loken
“When my inner child takes the wheel, I would often tell him, ‘It’s ok, I don’t need you anymore — I’ve got this!’ Learning to love myself fully and deeply means loving and honoring the child within who stands guard with his rifle full of skepticism and fear. Now I practice a nurturing tone: ‘Thank you for keeping me safe.’ hold a parade for him! I gently inform him that the war is over and he can lay down his arms. His heroism is integrated into an emergent wholeness, one that embraces agency and peace. Rinse and repeat.”
— Tom Schurman
“This special MEA retreat with a group of beautiful human beings helped me reconnect with what really matters. Letting go of the stories I am telling myself that create unnecessary worries, insecurities, fears and be living fully by tracking what contributes to my quality of life, is aligned with my values and bring me Joie de Vivre. There are so much wonderful possibilities to enjoy, meaningful relationships to cultivate and fun adventures to create. Embracing a Free Radical spirit with a group of compadres is so uplifting!”
— Hélène Rodrigue
The Decade of Doing it
Differently
An Interview with Brian Coakley, Still Making Noise—and Meaning
Brian Coakley
Why the punk scene veteran believes the best songs—and the boldest moves—are still ahead.
As told to Cara Stewart for The Raad Life
At 62, Brian Coakley isn’t just still playing music—he’s redefining what it means to live and create freely after 50. Best known as the guitarist and songwriter for the Cadillac Tramps, Coakley helped shape Orange County’s punk rock roots—Madonna even signed his other band, Rule 62, to her label, Maverick Records.. These days, he’s fronting a new band, Razing Jane, embracing dark wave sounds and emotional songwriting—and still chasing the perfect song.
We sat down with him for The Raad Life’s debut feature, The Decade of Doing It Differently, to talk reinvention, raw emotion, creative freedom, and why he’s not done yet.
How would you describe this chapter of your life?
A wild adventure. It’s scary, fun, erratic—all at once. Honestly, it feels like jumping in a van with a band and no roadmap and no GPS. The unknown keeps it exciting.
What does “doing it differently” mean to you?
It means wearing blinders—on purpose. don’t care what anyone else is doing. I’m making music that makes me happy. used to chase trends. Now, I just want to please my inner fan.
What feels like unfinished business versus legacy?
The Cadillac Tramps—that’s legacy. We still play reunion shows, but that chapter’s closed. Razing Jane, though, is full of untapped potential. That’s what’s ahead.
If someone only knew you from the Cadillac Tramps era, how would you describe what you’re doing now?
I’m coming home to sounds I loved before the Tramps even started. Razing Jane pulls from new wave and dark punk. It’s emotional, not political. And I’m singing now, which changes everything.
Do you think about reinventing midlife, or are you just doing your thing?
Once I stopped caring what the industry wanted, I found clarity. I’m here to make music I love. A love that moves the soul. Whether that reinvents midlife or not, I’m good with it.
Has your creative process changed?
Definitely. I used to be all energy on stage. Now I’m more focused on musicianship—learning new skills, refining what I do well. It’s about intention now.
What’s pushing you into new sounds with Razing Jane?
Grace [Parris]—my partner on and off stage—and I built this band around music we love listening to. Deep, danceable grooves, dark wave. It’s more emotional. It’s also more honest.
What’s your mission these days?
Just showing up can be powerful. With the [Cadillac] Tramps, people told us we inspired their sobriety. Now, I see Grace inspiring young women to pick up instruments. That’s impact. Just being who we are.
What would younger Brian say if he saw you now?
He’d say, “Wow, that did not go as planned.” And I’d say, “We’ll see.
“ I used to be political. Now I’m shifting toward heart and emotion. The world’s noisy. I’d rather amplify connection than conflict.”
The story’s not done yet.”
Does society get midlife wrong?
Yes. We glorify success and ignore reinvention. Getting older brings wisdom—and freedom. still believe something big is ahead for me. That belief keeps me going.
Are you still sending a message with your music?
I used to be political. Now I’m shifting toward heart and emotion. The world’s noisy. I’d rather amplify connection than conflict.
What does freedom look like to you now?
It’s a mindset. Life can feel like a chain—or a punk rock collar. I’m choosing to turn the hard stuff into something meaningful.
Complete the sentence: I’m living proof that you can __________ after 50. Rock the fuck out.
Brian Coakley’s band Razing Jane is performing across Southern California. Keep an eye out for upcoming shows in Long Beach and beyond.
Want more music, upcoming dates, and band updates? Visit razingjane.com and plug into the next chapter.
The Wealth of
Time
How Gen X Is Reclaiming Purpose Through How They Spend Their Days
by Cara Stewart
When Raad Ghantous suited up, polished a vintage 1966 Cadillac Deville convertible, and drove the mayor of Huntington Beach, California, through the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride this spring, he wasn’t just participating in a global motorcycle event. He was reclaiming time.
That may sound lofty for a Sunday cruise, but for many Gen Xers, the way we volunteer, connect, and show up in our communities is less about checking a civic duty box and more about integrating joy, identity, and meaning into every hour of our lives.
“The ride combined everything I care about: classic design, a great cause, local community, and just enough flair to feel like an experience,” Raad says. “It wasn’t about doing good in a vacuum. It was about doing something that felt like me.”
That sentiment is increasingly echoed across Gen X.
We were raised in the analog age and forged careers in a digital world. We grew up as latchkey kids and became independent, and now we’re raising kids, managing aging parents, and reimagining what life looks like at 50 and beyond. And for all our reputation as the forgotten middle child between boomers and millennials, Gen X is quietly rewriting what it means to use time well.
Time as Currency, Volunteering as Investment
According to Civic Champs, Gen X is one of the most loyal and dependable volunteer groups in the country. Nearly 29% of Gen Xers volunteer their time, compared to 23% of millennials and 25% of boomers. And while millennials are often lauded for giving digitally, Gen X leads in donating both time and money.
But don’t mistake our loyalty for formality.
“Gen X values efficiency, clarity, and relevance,” Civic Champs notes. “We want our time to matter—and we want to know how it’s being used.”
Whether that means organizing a neighborhood cleanup with your kid’s scout troop, or showing up to advocate at a city council meeting, Gen X isn’t looking to retire from life—we’re designing our second acts with intent. Our time isn’t just spare; it’s strategic.
The Shift: From Time-Starved to Time-Rich
This generation was once defined by being too busy, racing from soccer practice to startup pitch meetings, fitting in workouts between spreadsheets. But that story is shifting.
What we’re seeing now is a cultural pivot: Gen Xers aren’t just seeking balance; we’re seeking alignment. We’re learning to say no to hustle culture and yes to high-impact living—even if that means working fewer hours and spending more time walking, writing, riding, or wandering.
“A rich life now looks like time with supportive friends and family, good food and travel. My core group of friends support and cheer each other endlessly, said Cynthia Gibbs, 51, who works as an aviation project manager. “Anyone not supportive isn’t part of the conversation. And gone is the dated mantra ‘a moment in the lips is a lifetime on the hips!’ Eat the good food, go for a walk, enjoy.”
When Giving Back Looks Like You
Events like the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride strike a chord with Gen X. It’s not just a fundraiser for men’s health; it’s a curated experience that allows people to show up as themselves. With dapper dress codes, classic motorcycles, and a shared mission, the event reflects what many Gen Xers want out of their “spare time, ” like fun, purpose, identity, and some damn good style.
We’re no longer looking for anonymous volunteer shifts. We want to give back in a way that reflects our lifestyle, our creativity, and our values.
From local nonprofits to global movements, the most effective organizations are those that offer this kind of integration: experiences that feel relevant, self-directed, and emotionally resonant.
“Dedicating time to an organization like the Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride serves a higher purpose. It’s about giving back, raising awareness, and connecting with like-minded individuals who often become lifelong friends,” says Eric Morley, Orange County host of the ride for the past decade.
Time: The Luxury Gen X Finally Learned to Spend
More than money or status, the ultimate symbol of success for Gen X may now be control over our calendars.
What are we doing with it?
We’re finally making time for the things that got put off during the decades of overachieving and overcommitting. We’re building passion projects. We’re reconnecting with friends. We’re saying yes to long lunches and no to meetings without agendas.
We’re spending time in ways that make us feel wealthy, not in dollars, but in depth.
“I no longer waste time on people who do not value me. I would rather spend my time on my family or my own wellness,” reflected 56-yearold Diane McCard, an online retailer.
Call It a Comeback (Because It Is)
Gen X isn’t going quietly into midlife. We’re going full throttle, sometimes quite literally—behind the wheel of a restored T-bird, en route to a local fundraiser, dressed in tweed, and making it count.
We’re not just reclaiming our time. We’re redefining what that time means. And if we’re lucky, we’re finally starting to spend it like it matters.
Because it does.
Want in? The next Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride is coming in May 2026. Whether you ride, volunteer or donate, there’s a place for you. Learn more and join the movement at www.gentlemansride.com.
Playlist for Freedom
The music of Gen X hits different—raw, rebellious, and real. This playlist showcases the anthems that shaped a generation raised on mixtapes, MTV, and a quest for meaning. These songs weren’t just background noise—they were the soundtrack to finding ourselves.
Welcome to The Raad Life: where the music still matters, and always will.
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Designing a Free Life
How Gen X is reshaping home, work, and wellness on their own terms
by Raad Ghantous
Freedom in midlife isn’t about escape—it’s about expression. It’s about designing a life that fits the complexity, beauty, and contradictions of now. For Gen X, that means spaces that work as hard—and feel as intentional—as we do.
At my own interior design atelier, Raad Ghantous & Associates, we’ve seen a powerful shift in how our Gen X clients approach design. They’re not chasing trends or downsizing for the sake of simplicity. They’re right-sizing. Rebalancing. Reimagining what their homes, and lives, can hold.
We’re designing spaces that don’t just look good. They mean something.
Right-Sizing: Living with Intention
Forget the notion of “downsizing.” Today’s Gen X homeowner is asking deeper questions: What do I actually need? Who will care for? And what kind of life do I want to build next?
Many are trading square footage for smarter space—open layouts that accommodate aging parents, boomerang kids, or new chapters altogether. Step-free entries, wider doorways, and layered lighting are becoming design staples—not because they’re clinical, but because they’re compassionate.
In one recent project, a Laguna Beach couple opted to convert their top floor into a dual-purpose suite: guest quarters by summer and a caregiver space when needed. That’s the kind of foresight—and flexibility—we’re seeing more and more.
Designing Through the Middle Gen X often lives in the tension of caretaking both up and down the family tree. It’s emotional. It’s logistical. And yes—it’s architectural.
We’ve helped clients integrate ADUs for aging parents who crave independence. Others have carved out shared kitchens that allow for both connection and autonomy. One client, a single mother with a teenage son and a recovering parent, required a bedroom that could serve as both a home classroom in the morning and a peaceful retreat by night.
Design here isn’t just aesthetic. It’s survival with grace.
Work-Life, Rebalanced
We are the generation who hustled hard, and now want to work smarter. As hybrid work reshapes how we use our homes, the lines between professional and personal have blurred. The answer isn’t more space. It’s better space.
Think acoustics that soften stress. Backgrounds that reflect personality, not pretense. Seating that holds you for a 90-minute board call without a second thought. In one Beverly Hills project, we created a “Zoom pod” that doubled as a private reading nook—a client favorite for both meetings and meditation.
NEED SPA COPY
Designing for work at home isn’t about performance. It’s about self-respect.
Wellness, Embedded
Wellness is no longer an afterthought—it’s a baseline. After years of burnout, Gen X is designing homes that restore.
That might mean spa-like bathrooms with aromatherapy and steam. Quiet corners built for breathing and nothing more. Sleep sanctuaries stripped of clutter, noise, or even blue light.
In one recent build, we embedded a hidden meditation alcove just off the primary suite, complete with a sound dome and aromatherapy venting. The client—a high-level creative—calls it her reset button. That’s what design can do.
Soulful, Not Showy, Tech
We’re not dazzled by gadgets. We remember life before the internet. So for us, smart home tech has to mean something.
Integrated lighting, music, climate, and security? Yes. Talking fridges and tech-for-tech’s sake? No, thank you.
Our atelier focuses on technology that disappears into the background, serving the life being lived. Simplicity, not spectacle.
In one Newport Coast home, a single control system adjusts the mood of the entire house, from morning coffee to evening dinner party, with one tap. Smart should be soulful.
The Home as Memoir
At this life stage, we’re thinking more about what we leave behind—and what surrounds us while we’re still here. Home becomes a living document of our story.
That might mean a gallery wall of travel photography. A reclaimed wood dining table passed down and passed forward. A ceramic collection, a favorite artist, a worn-in reading chair.
We recently helped a widower redesign his space to reflect the full arc of his life, not just the loss that had occurred. Every room became a chapter: joyful, quiet, layered, alive.
That’s the heart of our practice. Designing not just where you live, but who you are.
Freedom isn’t the absence of obligation. It’s the presence of clarity. Design, done right, gives you the room to breathe, to pivot, to evolve. It holds your past and makes space for your next act. And that’s what we’re here to create: not just beautiful spaces, but a blueprint for living freely.
Explore the work of Raad Ghantous & Associates at raadghantous.com and discover how thoughtful design can help you live more freely, beautifully, and intentionally—on your terms.
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Vanishing Point
One man, one helicopter, and the kind of freedom you can’t find on the ground.
by Raad Ghantous
The first time I took the controls of a helicopter, I didn’t expect to feel like I was reclaiming a piece of myself. But that’s what happened. Somewhere between lifting off and hovering over the California coastline, I found a sense of calm and command that I hadn’t realized I’d been craving.
I’ve always been drawn to the sky. As a child growing up with desert horizons and distant mountains, I’d watch birds cut across the air and wonder what it felt like to break free of the ground. But life has a way of keeping your feet firmly planted—until you decide otherwise. So when I learned about Rogue Aviation’s Pilot Experience, something in me stirred. Not as a bucket list item, but as a test. Could I step outside the daily rush, the meetings and strategy decks, and learn something entirely new? Could fly?
The experience starts on the ground, but the shift begins the moment you arrive. The team at Rogue Aviation doesn’t treat you like a passenger. You’re a participant, a pilot-in-the-making. My instructor, calm and focused, walked me through the principles of flight, the mechanics of the helicopter, and what we’d be doing. No fluff. No tourist spiel. Just the real thing.
Then came the moment: climb in, buckle up, and put on your headphones. The rotors kicked up a fury. And then, somehow, we rose. Hovering in a helicopter is like nothing else. There’s no runway, no taxiing. You lift. You’re up. It’s power and precision in its purest form. Every movement of the cycle, every nudge of the pedals—it all requires you to be present. Fully.
As we flew over Los Angeles and other points of Southern California, the world below felt both vast and strangely quiet. I saw roads I’ve driven a hundred times, buildings I know by name, all recast in a new perspective. There’s a moment when the coastline emerges into view—blues stretching endlessly, light bouncing off the Pacific—and it hits you: This is freedom. Not metaphorical. Not aspirational. Actual, literal freedom.
I took the controls. My instructor, James Baker—Rogue Aviation’s co-owner and chief pilot—coached me gently, guiding my movements, correcting my instincts. At first, I overcorrected. My grip, too tight. But soon, I loosened. I listened. I felt the machine and responded. And for a few breathless moments, I wasn’t thinking about work or the headlines or the next pitch or plan. I was flying.
Back on the ground, I felt different. Lighter, maybe. More awake. The Rogue Pilot Experience isn’t just a thrill—it’s a reset. It reminds you what it feels like to learn again, to trust yourself, to let go and take the controls anyway. That feeling has stayed with me.
We all need vanishing points—places where the noise drops away and we see clearly. For me, I found one at 1,500 feet, chasing the horizon in a helicopter, rediscovering what it means to rise.
Ready to Take the Controls? If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to lift off—not just physically, but mentally—book the Rogue Pilot Experience. Trust me, this isn’t about crossing something off your bucket list. It’s about stepping into a new version of yourself. I did it. You can too. Go fly. www.flyrogue.com/pilot-experience
Reclaimed Freedom
The Beauty of the Rebuild
by Cara R. Stewart
Freedom isn’t always loud. Sometimes it’s a whisper.
A quiet decision to leave the room. To walk away from what no longer fits. To start again—not with a bang, but with a breath.
After caregiving, after divorce, after building and selling a company, I found myself stripped of the roles that had once defined me. I wasn’t broken; I was bare. And in that raw space, I chose reinvention.
I’m launching Rings to Wings to normalize starting over after divorce or the loss of a spouse. It’s a space for people, especially women, navigating the messy, magnificent middle. We help them reclaim the eight dimensions of wellness—from emotional to financial to spiritual—and rebuild a life with agency, beauty, and joy.
Freedom isn’t a destination. It’s a daily choice to bet on yourself.
If you’re standing at the edge of a new chapter, I hope you jump. There’s a whole generation of us here—unapologetically rebuilding. Writing new rules. Living on our own terms.
