Who Am I?

Who Am I Now?

We all ask ourselves this question at some point, right? But if you’re a middle-aged woman dealing with the “empty nest,” you might be asking even more:
Who am I? Who was I? How did I get here? And most importantly, who do I want to become? What am I going to do with the rest of this one precious life?

I was just your average middle-aged housewife, living the usual small-town routine, when everything suddenly changed. I was happy with my life, but my spouse of 22 years wasn’t. And just like that, I had to face my biggest fear—accepting that life as I knew it was over. I didn’t see it coming, and I tried everything to stop it. But this became my new reality.

It’s been more than a few years since that day. There’s been a lot of healing, learning, and growing. I’ll share my journey through what Brené Brown calls the reckoning, the rumble, and the revolution—how I faced hard truths, found strength, and healed with the help of some incredible people. But that moment is just one small part of my life story. What really matters now is the beautiful life I’m building.

We’ll talk about all kinds of stuff: overcoming childhood trauma, eating disorders, mental health, empty nesting, navigating a global pandemic, divorce, forgiveness, going back to college in midlife, money, and finding a new career. And of course, the fun stuff too—grandbabies, dating, finding new love in blended families, dreaming big, traveling, hiking, and all the good things life has to offer.

My journey is still unfolding—because it is for all of us—and honestly, life is one heck of an adventure. I’m so glad you’re here with me.

If you haven’t heard of Brené Brown yet, you’re going to love her. Here’s something she says about midlife that really hit home for me:

“Midlife is when the universe gently puts her hand on your shoulder, pulls you in close, and whispers: I’m serious now. It’s time. All that pretending, all those coping skills you’ve been using to protect yourself—it’s got to go. It kept you safe when you needed it, but now it’s holding you back from becoming who you really are. Time’s running out. There are adventures ahead. Stop worrying about what other people think. You were born worthy of love and belonging. You’ve got courage and daring inside you. You were made to live and love with your whole heart. It’s time to show up and be seen.”

— Brené Brown