top of page
Life After the Fed
Site updates, writing process, book projects, announcements.
The Slow Thinning of Shared Life
We recently had dinner with some friends.
Having dinner with friends is certainly not a new occurrence, but also not what it used to be either.
Although we live fairly close to each other, our schedules rarely seem to align.
The conversation was lively, food was great, the evening was filled with laughter and the usual talk about getting together again soon.
High-level plans of "we should", but nothing concrete.
Later, I found myself reflecting on this all too familiar sc
gmaylone
4 hours ago4 min read
Finding Joy Amidst Materialism: Lessons from Our Cruising Adventures
Cruising has given us unforgettable memories — but it has also shown us something deeper. Beyond the luxury and entertainment lies a powerful contrast: poverty, resilience, and a kind of joy rooted in family and connection. This is a reflection on what really matters, what we’ve lost along the way, and how slowing down helps us see life more clearly.
gmaylone
Jan 226 min read
Listening to the Unknown: Embracing the Journey of Uncertainty
Today is Tuesday.
Christmas has passed, and 2025 is rapidly slipping into the rearview mirror the way years do, even if you think you are paying attention.
2026 is already close, just outside, beating on the door, and the sense that time just keeps accelerating feels more pronounced than ever.
This morning, I did something I almost never do.
I rolled over and went back to sleep.
I woke up much later than usual— 8:00 a.m. — and the time startled me.
It shouldn’t have; But it
gmaylone
Dec 30, 20255 min read
Holiday Gratitude — A Midwestern Reflection
The holidays have a way of pulling us backward and forward at the same time. Growing up in the Midwest of the ’70s and ’80s gave many of us a simple, grounded view of life — one that feels worlds away from today. This season, I’m finding gratitude in the memories, the miles, and the people who shaped both.
gmaylone
Dec 17, 20254 min read
Living at the Crossroads of History, My life of Movement and Momentum!
Living at the Crossroads of History: In the 1980s, I served as a soldier stationed in Germany.
It was a world living in the shadow of the Cold War.
The Berlin Wall was still a scar on the landscape — a reminder of what fear can build and what war can leave behind. I witnessed history firsthand: the wall’s collapse in 1989, the tense days leading into Desert Storm, and the complicated human realities that are never captured in textbooks.
I remember that night the wall came d
gmaylone
Dec 3, 20254 min read
When You Finally Exit the Machine
That’s the part nobody prepares you for — the speed of irrelevance.
You reach out to check in, and people are busy. You were once on speed dial — now you’re on the “get back when I can” list. It’s not personal, but it feels personal.
You see how fast you’re replaced, and it stings. All those years, all that effort, and the second you turn in your laptop and ID card, that door doesn’t close softly — it slams.
gmaylone
Nov 7, 20255 min read
Resilience, Relevance, and Reinvention: Thriving When Life Hits Pause
Shutdowns, layoffs, realignments — they all feel the same when your world suddenly stops spinning. But the truth is, you can’t control the storm; you can control your posture in it. Here’s how to use disruption as a catalyst for reflection, reinvention, and resilience.
gmaylone
Nov 1, 20254 min read
Rethinking the Next Chapter: Mid-Career and Beyond
Mid-career isn’t the end—it’s the pivot point. This is the time to reflect, realign, and choose what the second half of your life will look like with purpose and clarity.
gmaylone
Oct 18, 20255 min read
Memories: Ghosts We Hammer on the Anvil of life.
A reflective walk through time and memory — where an unexpected reunion sparks deeper thoughts about how life and time forge us all. “Forged by Time” explores friendship, change, and the heat that shapes who we become.
gmaylone
Oct 16, 20255 min read
Recharging in Cabo: The Trip That Reminded Me What Matters
We went to Cabo chasing a concert and sunshine. We came home carrying something better — gratitude, peace, and two umbrellas we never needed.
gmaylone
Oct 10, 20256 min read
Planning Your Career Around Your Life (Before It Plans Life for You)
If you don’t plan your career around your life, your career will plan your life for you. Here’s a practical early-career framework: five-year bites, honest trade-offs, and skills that keep pace with the market.
gmaylone
Oct 2, 20255 min read
Retirements bittersweet closure.
From soldier to machinist to Deputy Assistant Secretary — today I close out a 40-year journey of service. My career has taken me from the fall of the Berlin Wall to the halls of Congress, but the real story has always been about the people I served alongside.
gmaylone
Oct 1, 20254 min read
The Acorn Ambush, Nature Fights Back!
After a long ride on the Indian Head Rail Trail, a routine cool-down turned into a squirrel-led acorn ambush. What started as falling nuts quickly became a showdown with a vindictive gray squirrel armed with Olympic aim. Another chapter in the absurdly normal saga of my life.
gmaylone
Sep 28, 20253 min read
Our Aging Parents, the Unwinnable Battle with Time.
Watching our parents grow older is one of life’s hardest truths. Their steady hands once guided us, and now we steady them. This reflection from Getting Older: Field Notes explores time, perspective, love, and the responsibility to cherish every moment with those who matter most.
gmaylone
Sep 24, 20253 min read
The Day’s Campaign Report
Some days just come at you sideways. From crunches and a 16-mile rail trail ride to a surprise parking lot encounter and a broken mower mid-lawn, the day was equal parts battle report and comedy. With repairs made and the backyard secured, I ended the day reminded that all you can do is laugh, roll with it, and be grateful for the time you’re given.
gmaylone
Sep 23, 20253 min read
Second Chances, Finding a Lost Joy Again.
Because that’s the trick of aging. Freedom doesn’t disappear with age, and you don’t always need something new.
Sometimes it’s just two wheels waiting at the end of the driveway, and you just need to dust it off, oil the chain, and take it for another spin.
gmaylone
Sep 22, 20255 min read
Bowling Alleys, and Rekindling Fun from the past:
Bowling won’t turn back the clock, but it does remind me: staying active isn’t about being perfect, it’s about showing up, laughing at the gutters, and rolling again.
gmaylone
Sep 21, 20254 min read
Gratitude & Disingenuous Complaining. Growing Older, Gratitude and Complaining.
I complain more than I used to—about my knees, traffic, and the way everything cracks in the morning. But the truth is, most of my complaints are disingenuous. They’re noise layered over a life that’s been deeply blessed.
gmaylone
Sep 21, 20253 min read
Cover Letters: Stop Writing Snooze Notes!
A good cover letter doesn’t rehash your entire resume. It connects the dots between you and their problem. Think of it as your 30-second elevator pitch in written form.
gmaylone
Sep 15, 20255 min read
The Female Memory Archive: Why You’ll Never Win a Trial at Home
Gentlemen, let me break it to you: women are born with a biological black box recorder. It captures everything — words, tone, facial expression, the shirt you wore, and even what brand of beer was on your breath.
gmaylone
Sep 13, 20254 min read
🦅 Welcome to Fed to Freedom
This is where my next chapter begins—and maybe yours, too.
✍️ Writing My Story
After years in federal service, I’m building something new. Fed to Freedom is part journal, part resource hub, part blueprint for reinvention. Whether you're a retiree, still in the grind, or dreaming of what's next—you’re in the right place.
📰 The Blog
Read. Laugh. Think. Repeat.
🔗 Resources & Links
Looking for help transitioning out of federal service?
I’ve curated guides, official links, and must-know content:
-
OPM tools
-
SES & ECQ guidance
-
Acquisition, FAR/DFAR resources
🤝 Services
Need help with your ECQs, resume, interviewing skills. or just want to talk shop?
I offer:
-
Writing & editing support
-
SES coaching & federal consulting
-
Speaking or collaboration for events
🎯 Join the Journey
No hype. No hustle. Just honest stories, shared lessons, and real work.
Follow along as I figure out what freedom looks like—one cup of coffee, one story, and one step at a time.
bottom of page