Maybe you’ve found yourself wondering lately: “Where am I on this map of life? What do I call this phase? And—does a name for it really change anything?

Sometimes, naming our experiences offers comfort and clarity, providing language for transitions that can otherwise feel isolating or confusing. Research in psychology suggests that having a framework for change can enhance resilience and self-efficacy, especially during life’s uncertain chapters. Yet, no single word or category can fully encompass the richness—or contradictions—of this season for women. Sometimes, it’s the living—the anxious, hopeful, daily figuring out—that matters more than any roadmap.

A client in her 50s recently told me about her “lifequake” — a marriage breakdown followed by a major shift at work. It was confronting and exhausting. But as we talked, she realised she had been doing something powerful: getting clear on what truly mattered to her now. Not what mattered in her 30s, or even last year — but in this season of her life. The lifequake had cracked open an opportunity to reset her compass, pointing her toward a truer version of herself — and she was becoming. She wasn’t simply finding a “new normal.” She was experiencing movement, transformation, and the beautiful process of evolving into who she is at this point in her life. She was becoming.

If you’re a woman in your fifties or sixties, you may be standing at the threshold of a quieter home. Maybe you’ve watched your children pack their bags for university, a new job, or an adventure in another city. Maybe, like me, you still have adult children living at home, but the rhythm of family life has changed. The reality of the “empty nest” is rarely as simple as the label suggests—but the feelings it brings are real, layered, and sometimes unexpectedly intense.

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to focus on what you can’t do, or what you think you “should” improve? For so many women in their fifties and sixties, years have been spent honing skills, juggling roles, and meeting expectations, often without pausing to celebrate what makes us truly shine. But what if the key to a more purposeful, joyful life after fifty isn’t about fixing weaknesses, but about embracing your unique strengths?

There’s a moment in every woman’s life when things feel… stuck. Not broken, not hopeless—just as if you’re standing at a crossroads, unable to take the next step. I know this feeling intimately. In my late fifties, after years of juggling family, career, and caring for loved ones, I found myself staring at my calendar and wondering, “What now?” I wasn’t unhappy, but I was restless—craving movement, but unsure where to begin.

Many women imagine they will experience freedom and relief in retirement. After years, often decades, of work, responsibility, and showing up for others, retirement promises time for yourself to do whatever you want. But for more women than we often talk about, retirement doesn’t feel like a relief at all. It feels like a void. I call this the “Empty Desk Syndrome.” And if you’re experiencing it, you are not alone.

Stepping outside your comfort zone can feel daunting, especially when you’re navigating one of life’s big transitions. Maybe you’re winding down a career, stepping into retirement, juggling part-time work with family or grandparenting, or exploring new passions and friendships. Change at this stage of life is both exciting and unnerving.

And then there’s the quiet voice of internalised ageism whispering, “You’re too old for this.”  Let’s be clear — you’re not. That voice isn’t the truth. It’s a story we’ve been told for too long, and it’s time to rewrite it.

Bravery, at this stage of life, doesn’t mean leaping off a cliff or reinventing yourself overnight. It means being “one shade braver” — taking small, intentional steps toward a fuller, more aligned life.

Life is full of milestones—big and small—that mark our journey. Some are our own, like career achievements, birthdays, or personal breakthroughs. Others belong to those we love, yet they carry deep significance for us as well. This week, I am celebrating a milestone that belongs to my son: his university graduation. He has worked hard to earn his degree, and I am incredibly proud of the man he is becoming. But as I take in this moment, I realise that this is also a milestone for me. His graduation is not just a reflection of his effort but of mine, too.

As you navigate life beyond fifty, you may find yourself reflecting on what truly contributes to a fulfilling and long life. Amidst the myriad factors that influence happiness and longevity, one crucial element stands out above all others: social connectedness. This blog shares both the science behind strong relationships and my own journey of rediscovering connections, enabling you to find an approach that resonates with you.

Have you ever reached the end of the day and wondered where your time went? You had pockets of free time, but they seemed to disappear into emails, scrolling, or small tasks. Instead of feeling rested or productive, you end up drained. That’s time confetti—those tiny, fragmented bits of time that seem insignificant on their own but add up to a lot of wasted potential.

If you’re navigating a major life transition—retirement, a career shift, or redefining your purpose—learning how to reclaim these moments can be the key to feeling more present, energized, and in control of your time.

Many women over 50 find themselves at a crossroads, facing significant life changes that can feel overwhelming. These transitions can be exciting and daunting, whether it's contemplating retirement, adjusting to an empty nest, considering a career shift, or dealing with some other significant change. But what if there was a way to navigate these changes more easily?

Enter transition coaching ….

As we journey through life, we often find ourselves at a crossroads, particularly in midlife as we head toward retirement. The concept of a "midlife atrium," introduced by anthropologist Mary Catherine Bateson, offers a fresh perspective on this transitional phase. Rather than viewing midlife as a crisis, Bateson encourages us to see it as an opportunity for growth, reflection, and reinvention.

Living with purpose is a journey that takes on new dimensions in our fifties and beyond. As we start to shift our gaze from careers and raising young children to other parts of our lives, a sense of purpose can act as a spearhead to inform the directions we might take. This blog explores three distinct perspectives on purpose and offers practical ways to cultivate it in your life after fifty. Remember, there's no right or wrong way to find purpose – it's about discovering what resonates with you and enriches your life in meaningful ways.

As Ageism Awareness Day approaches on October 9, I’ve been reflecting on how language around ageing often fails to capture the true strength and value of women over fifty. Terms like “seniors” and “older adults” are more than just labels — they are powerful concepts that reinforce outdated narratives and diminish women, pushing us toward invisibility. But there’s a different way to view ageing — through the lens of the ‘Modern Elder’.

This week, I sat down with my two adult children and partner and announced that I was retiring! “I am retiring as House Manager”, I continued. “I will no longer take responsibility for weekly grocery shopping, cooking most of the meals, putting the rubbish in the bins, putting the bins out, reloading the dishwasher….”

Lately, I’ve been contemplating what it means to be courageous in life after fifty. This theme often resurfaces for me during times of significant change or when I need to summon inner strength. Preparing for an interview on the Courageous Me podcast recently prompted me to rethink my understanding of courage. In this blog, I share my insights on courage, its importance, and strategies for navigating career and life transitions after fifty.

This blog introduces a new framework for navigating career and life transitions, born from the inspiring journeys of the many women I've supported at Flourish After Fifty. Over the span of the last two years, I have witnessed women who, by embracing their present selves (BEING), charting bold new paths (BECOMING), and forging a strong sense of identity and connection (BELONGING), have actively created their flourishing futures.

‘Re-invention.’ It sounds radical, doesn’t it? Yet when I ask women how they experience life after fifty, most describe it as a time of re-invention, and the same has been true for me. After a successful career and years of raising children, I reached a new life stage where I had more time and opportunities than ever before. However, stepping into this new phase with confidence and clarity required knowing who I was and what I wanted. This self-knowledge was hard to access after years of focusing on others and little time or opportunity to imagine my life beyond the current one. If this is your experience too, you will enjoy this blog, which focuses on different strategies to help your journey of self-discovery.  Specifically, this blog is about the concept of life scripts and how to rewrite yours as you navigate your transition after fifty.

Have you found yourself longing for deeper connection and a vibrant social circle after fifty? If so, you are not alone. Life can be a whirlwind time of rediscovery as women carve out new paths, embrace independence, and experience more freedom. Yet, amidst this exciting transformation, many of us find ourselves ‘light on’ in the friendship department. Here are a few ideas to support you in growing your friendship group.

Life after fifty can be accompanied by a whisper in the soul, a yearning for something just beyond the familiar horizon. A yearning for a pause, a breath, a chance to rewrite the narrative and reclaim the rhythm of their own lives. For many women, this is the call of the career break.