Garden Spot Communities presents: Purpose In Retirement. In this podcast series released in fall 2020, co-hosts Scott Miller and Juanita Fox explore what it means to retire with purpose, to make a difference, to invest in your family and your community, to live to your full potential and explore abundant opportunities to live with purpose in community.
Scott Miller, Chief Marketing Officer for Garden Spot Communities, has more than 30 years of marketing experience. Scott oversees all of the marketing efforts and creates innovative approaches for Garden Spot Communities such as a hot air balloon campaign, Destination Garden Spot Village (a bi-annual, promotional magazine), and the Purpose In Retirement podcast.
Juanita Fox, Director of Media Experiences and Storytelling, has more than 20 years of experience in writing and corporate communications. She shares the stories of the people who live and work at Garden Spot through magazine and blog stories, video interviews and now podcasting through the Purpose In Retirement podcast.
5 Pieces of Wisdom from Crow’s Feet [PDF]
Read these 5 articles that imparted wisdom in our lives.
Frozen in Time: How Skating Connected My Family Across Generations
How Early Retirement Has Improved My Social Life
Read the 5 Ways Beth talks about Reframing Aging: gsc.gl/5WaystoReframe
Thistledown Cooperative Living Featured in the Journal on Active Aging: www.gardenspotvillage.org/news/thistle…ctive-aging/
Purchase – “Caregiving: The Spiritual Journey of Love, Loss, and Renewal” by Beth Witrogen: www.amazon.com/Caregiving-Spirit…wal/dp/1620455846
5 Ways to Reflect on Your Life Story
If you are following along virtually, you will want to draw your constructed world and then write a one to two-page narrative about it. If you are one of the first six people to email [email protected], you can get direct feedback from Scott through 2025. You will also want to read pages 11-86 of The Well-Lived Life by Gladys McGarey and think about how she tells her own story. You will also want to listen to podcast #24 of Purpose In Retirement. In this podcast, Steve Lindsey and Conrad Kanagy talk about the inspiration of the Wisdom Course.
What happens when a lifelong appreciation for people, cultures and service becomes part of your everyday work?
In this episode of Garden Spot Communities Presents: Purpose in Retirement, hosts Scott Miller and Juanita Fox sit down with Duana Helsel, Volunteer and Transportation Manager at Frederick Living. Duana shares how 18 years in children’s ministry prepared her to work alongside volunteers and how she helps residents and community members discover meaningful ways to use their gifts.
Duana also reflects on growing up internationally and attending a school with students from more than 40 countries. Those experiences shaped her belief that our differences give us opportunities to learn from one another and that relationships are at the heart of meaningful service.
The conversation also travels to Kenya, where Duana served alongside Missions of Hope International (MOHI) through Garden Spot Communities. She shares how the experience deepened her understanding of relationship-centered service and why she is looking forward to returning to Kenya as a co-leader for an upcoming Travel with Purpose trip.
00:00 — Learning from one another
Duana reflects on how growing up around people from different countries and cultures shaped the way she sees relationships.
00:40 — Finding her role at Frederick Living
After 18 years in children’s ministry, Duana discovered an opportunity to continue working with volunteers in a mission-driven community.
01:09 — Supporting more than 200 volunteers and team members
Duana describes a typical day of meeting people, introducing volunteers to Frederick Living and connecting their interests with meaningful opportunities.
01:32 — Residents, community volunteers and therapy dogs
From Frederick Living residents to community members—and even therapy dogs—Duana explains how she welcomes volunteers and helps them find the right fit.
02:11 — Keeping Frederick Living moving
Duana discusses the other side of her role: coordinating Frederick Living’s vehicle fleet and working with a dedicated team of drivers.
02:40 — Returning to Africa as an adult
Having grown up in southern Africa, Duana shares how returning as an adult gave her a new perspective on places and experiences that once felt familiar.
04:00 — Serving with Missions of Hope International
Duana reflects on her experience in Nairobi and the importance of Garden Spot Communities coming alongside organizations already doing meaningful work.
04:35 — Relationships before tasks
Inspired by MOHI’s relationship-centered approach, Duana explains why getting to know volunteers is essential to helping them find fulfilling ways to serve.
05:41 — Growing up in an international community
Attending an international school with students from more than 40 countries taught Duana that people can look, speak and live differently while still needing—and learning from—one another.
06:08 — A love of travel and discovery
Duana talks about traveling with her husband, Paul, and their shared love of exploring new cities, foods, architecture and even birds.
06:50 — Returning to Kenya
Duana shares what she is looking forward to most about the upcoming Travel with Purpose trip, including reconnecting with Favor and Favored, twins she and her husband sponsor.
07:28 — Co-leading Travel with Purpose
As a co-leader, Duana will help manage logistics and details while supporting the team throughout the experience.
07:54 — Give volunteering—and purposeful travel—a try
Duana encourages listeners to explore different volunteer opportunities without feeling like the first thing they try has to be permanent. And when it comes to Kenya, she has one piece of advice: don’t let the long flight keep you from an experience built around relationships, service and connection.
“People are different, and it doesn’t matter what you look like. We need each other, and we can learn from each other.”
Duana’s story is a reminder that purpose doesn’t always come from finding one perfect role. Sometimes it comes from staying curious, building relationships and being willing to discover where your gifts can make a difference.
Read Duana’s story:
Learn more about Duana and her work at Frederick Living in the Fall 2026 issue of Destination magazine.
About Purpose in Retirement
Garden Spot Communities Presents: Purpose in Retirement shares stories of people who continue to find meaning, connection, service and adventure throughout every season of life.
Host: Scott Miller
Co-host: Juanita Fox
Audio Engineer & Producer: Austin Gingerich
What We Discuss
Key Takeaways
Notable Quotes
“Life isn’t always about you. I had three children who needed to know that God had a purpose for them.” (Sue Fitzgerald)
“Every child is unique. You have to look beyond the curriculum and look at the child.” (Sue Fitzgerald)
“I don’t like guns, but I said for four years I can do it. I became very good at it.” (Tom Payne)
“His name was Wonderful. And he totally, totally changed my mind right there.” (Tom Payne)
“You just can’t plan this. I thought I was in control.” (Sue Fitzgerald)
Resources Mentioned
Credits