“It’s important to follow your passion. I don’t care what age you are. And the earlier, the better.”
This was one drop in the sea of wise words Shirley Hirschberg, Life Transitions and Bereavement Counselor, shared with the Palisadian-Post during an interview over tea and coffee on a cool morning in mid-January.
Hirschberg, 76, a 43-year resident of the Huntington, went back to school in her 40s and started her second career in her 50s. Hirschberg now works 20 hours a week with a handful of clients who came to her during a time of transition, like the loss of a loved one, divorce or career change.
Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer
In addition to being self-employed, Hirschberg facilitates five groups, including a gay and lesbian support group at the world’s first lesbian and gay synagogue, Beth Chayim Chadashim in Los Angeles. She also works with families caring for their aging parents, is in two book groups, hosts groups in retirement facilities, is a member of a woman’s group called Magnificent Seven and she and her husband Jack are part of a group of couples called The Gang of Eight.
“I want to be this busy,” Hirschberg said. “I really do feel very fortunate that I’m doing what I love,” she said in reference to her second career between sips of her hot tea.
Hirschberg, however, did not feel so satisfied with her first career.
At 19, the Canadian native came to L.A. for the summer with a friend and ended up staying, taking a job at the Democratic National Committee for a year. Later, she met her husband Jack and married at 28.
Following her short stint in politics, Hirschberg found a job in aerospace with TRW Inc. where she said she had top-secret clearance in a top-secret library.
“I got caught in it,” she said of the career she ended up in for 20 years, admittedly lured by the benefits and security.
Once in her 40s, Hirschberg realized that “if I wanted to have a real quality of life, I needed to do something for another human being. Working on missiles wasn’t personal enough for me.”
Hirschberg said she had always wanted to be a social worker, inspired by her own feelings of grief, loss and loneliness when at the age of 15 she experienced the death of her 19-year-old sister who was killed in an accident. Hirschberg said her parents were understandably heartbroken and she felt unable to go to them for consolation. Hirschberg said she needed somebody to talk to but had no one.
“It was a big turning point for me,” she said of the devastation that would inspire her eventual career as a counselor for others going through bereavement.
In her 40s, Hirschberg returned to school and obtained a social work degree in addition to certification to be a Life Transitions and Bereavement Counselor at California State University-Northridge.
“My husband ate a lot of peanut butter sandwiches when I returned to college,” she said of Jack whom she credits with always being extremely supportive of her.
Hirschberg has been working as a life transitions and bereavement counselor for more than 20 years and wants the community to know she’s available.
“One of my greatest joys is to be part of one’s journey of healing,” said Hirschberg who also experienced the loss of her brother due to complications with spina bifida when he was 23.
“Professionally I’m the happiest I’ve ever been,” Hirschberg said. “I’ve learned so much from the people I’m dealing with. You’re always learning at every age.”
What advice does she have for others who may be hesitant to begin a new career or try something new at an unconventional age?
“Give yourself permission. Don’t allow age to be a factor,” she said.
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