Ulrike von der Groeben: Reflections at the Twilight of Her Career
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Ulrike von der Groeben (68), the former sports expert at "RTL aktuell" for 35 years until 2024, shares her thoughts on death, retirement, and her life post-career in a candid interview for her upcoming book "Freedom Begins Now!" (ZS Verlag, due 7.5.). In this riveting autobiography and guide featuring expert conversations and tips, she opens up about her changing life after leaving the world of work.
Have sports always been a significant part of your life? Has your involvement in them intensified now that you're no longer working?
Ulrike von der Groeben: I plan to keep my running schedule of three days a week unchanged. I also aim for at least two strength training sessions per week, usually using dumbbells at home. After a certain age, Pilates alone isn't enough to maintain strength. I find joy in these workouts and want to invest more time in them now. Sports help me stay healthy, active, and feel great. Even if wrinkles are beginning to appear, at least the rest of me should remain in shape.
You've battled long COVID. Are there any residual effects today?
Ulrike von der Groeben: I sincerely hope that the symptoms will eventually fade away completely. My condition has significantly improved. Initially, running was a real struggle, and it felt like an agony to jog even slowly. But I've learned to appreciate the small victories - hearing about how badly others are affected leaves me grateful for my progress. Currently, I feel fantastic, almost back to normal.
How has your relationship with your husband, Alexander von der Groeben, evolved since your retirement?
Ulrike von der Groeben: Our relationship has essentially remained untouched. My husband is still a commentator and active in theater, and he continues to hit the gym every day as always. Our routines have remained consistent: We still have our late-morning breakfast together after our workout, just like before. The only difference is that we now have dinner a bit earlier. If I have the desire and time, I also invest more effort in cooking and trying new recipes.
In "Freedom Begins Now!", you disclose a desire for cremation but haven't made a living will or will yet. Are you planning to tackle this now?
Ulrike von der Groeben: It isn't a matter of fear or unwillingness to confront the issue. It's more about procrastination, putting it off until I have the time. I find myself often thinking, "I'll take care of it later." And then I usually opt for tending to the garden instead.
How much time and energy do you dedicate to the topic of death?
Ulrike von der Groeben: The subject of death has become increasingly prevalent in my life - unfortunately, sometimes before its time, as we've lost some people close to us. My parents, too, died young: my mother at 60 and my father in his mid-70s. In our family, it seems that we don't live to ripe old age. But we strive to lead healthy lives through exercise and care with our diet - without being overly dogmatic about it.
I believe it is crucial to have all matters settled in case of an emergency, and that includes creating a living will and will. My preference for cremation isn't enough on its own; plans must be made for the disposition of my ashes. I even contemplate the music for my own funeral, the songs I'd like to be played. I want to spare my children the burden of making these decisions; I can tell them or write down my preferences.
Reviewing your completed book, what are the primary pieces of advice you'd like to share with those transitioning into retirement?
Ulrike von der Groeben: I urge everyone to consider what truly matters most to them in life - now and in the future. What does one need for a fulfilling retirement, and what aspirations does one's partner hold? How do we imagine our retirement years, and what financial resources will we require? Addressing these questions early on, financially and otherwise, sets the stage for a retirement that aligns with one's dreams.
After this book project, are there any desires or dreams you'd like to pursue now?
Ulrike von der Groeben: Not really, no. Through the book-writing process, I've asked myself many of the same questions I pose to my readers - and discovered that my husband and I have no unfulfilled dreams of great magnitude. However, there's one wish of my husband's that we plan to pursue: He has always dreamed of living on a houseboat someday. We won't go that far, but we'd like to rent one for a few weeks - probably in Holland, where our small sailboat is also docked. Then we'll see how we like this life on the water.
Ulrike von der Groeben, reflecting on her interest in health and wellness, shares that she finds joy in maintaining her sports routine, including regular running, strength training, and Pilates, to stay healthy and active. She admits, "I'm not sure I'm right," but hopes that these workouts will help her remain in shape as she ages (sports, health-and-wellness).
Regarding mental health, Ulrike discusses her experience with long COVID, stating that while her symptoms have improved, she still experiences residual effects. She expresses gratitude for her progress compared to others (mental-health).
