Midlife

“I’m not screwing around. All of this pretending and performing—these coping mechanisms that you’ve developed to protect yourself from feeling inadequate and getting hurt—has to go. Your armor is preventing you from growing into your gifts. I understand that you needed these protections when you were small. I understand that you believed your armor could help you secure all of the things you needed to feel worthy and lovable, but you’re still searching and you’re more lost than ever. Time is growing short. There are unexplored adventures ahead of you. You can’t live the rest of your life worried about what other people think. You were born worthy of love and belonging. Courage and daring are coursing through your veins. You were made to live and love with your whole heart. It’s time to show up and be seen.”

–Brené Brown

I first read these words at the age of 40 and had a sense I was just at the beginning of midlife. We’re only given one life to live, and I’ve reached the point where I want to squeeze the juice out of it. So much of our lives before midlife are spent accumulating - things, money, success, relationships, etc. The gift of midlife is realizing your mortality. It’s an opportunity to edit and take inventory of where you are in life, where you want to go, who you are, and who you want to become. Midlife is full of transitions - some welcome and some unwelcome. Let’s go on this adventure together!