The midlife awakening no one talks about

Living authentically after 50: A journey back to self

If you had told me years ago that my favorite chapter of life would begin after my kids were grown and my marriage had ended, I would not have believed you. Back then, I was doing everything “right,” building a career, running a home, and raising three incredible kids. But somewhere between board meetings, after school events, and making sure everyone else was okay, I forgot to ask myself a simple but vital question: Was I okay?

Fast forward to today. I can honestly say I have never been happier, more free, or more curious about the world. My kids are launching lives of their own, and I am in that beautiful season of watching them soar while rediscovering who I am. I am not a grandmother yet (though I cannot wait for that day), and for now, I am savoring the quiet mornings, the open calendar, and the joy of being able to say yes to adventure.

This season of life feels like one long, beautiful exhale.

Letting go to come home to yourself

After my divorce, I thought I was starting over. In truth, I was beginning my most authentic chapter. It was messy, uncomfortable, and humbling. It was also incredibly liberating. When you have spent years holding everything together for everyone else, there is something magical about realizing you get to build again, only this time with yourself at the center.

I let go of old definitions of success. I stopped chasing the next milestone and started chasing sunsets instead. I stopped proving I was strong and started allowing myself to be alive. Somewhere along the way, I discovered a profound truth. Happiness is not something we earn. It is something we allow.

That is when curiosity found its way back in.

Travel as a path to awakening

I began to travel not to escape my life but to return to myself. There is something about wandering through a cobblestone street in a small Italian village or getting lost in a marketplace in Portugal that wakes up parts of your soul you did not realize had gone quiet.

It is in those unplanned moments. Sharing wine with strangers. Dancing in a plaza at midnight. Watching the sun spill over a centuries old cathedral. That is when life reminds you what it means to feel alive.

Travel became my teacher. It reminded me that success is not measured by what you accumulate. It is measured by how deeply you feel. It is measured by your willingness to unlearn, to listen, to laugh, and to be changed.

Creating community through adventure

When I launched my Soul Adventures, luxury group trips for midlife travelers who are seeking connection and purpose, I was not setting out to build a travel business. I was searching for belonging. I wanted to bring together people who were curious, courageous, and ready to rediscover joy.

Every summer, I watch travelers arrive as strangers and leave as lifelong friends. It is powerful. It is healing. It is a reminder that what we truly seek is not a destination. It is connection.

The freedom of midlife

No one tells you how good life can feel after 50. There is a quiet confidence that comes with age. A deep knowing of who you are and what you no longer need to carry. I love the spontaneity of this chapter. Deciding on a whim to fly to Europe. Working from a café in Paris. Taking an afternoon walk without checking the clock.

There is a peace that comes from understanding that success does not come from doing more. It comes from being more of yourself.

For many years, I believed success was about achievement. Today, I define it more simply. Success is waking up excited for the day ahead. It is creating a life that feels as good on the inside as it looks on the outside.

It is coffee with my daughter before her next adventure. It is a message from my oldest telling me they are proud of who they are becoming. It is sitting on the deck of a river cruise, watching the Danube shimmer as I bike through vineyards and smile at the simple joy of being alive.

Choosing a beautiful future

Sometimes success looks like slowing down. Sometimes it means selling the house or booking the ticket. Sometimes it means finally saying yes to something that scares you a little. The best part of midlife is knowing your resilience. You begin to understand that you can handle whatever comes next. Which means you can choose beauty on purpose.

We spent so many years building toward the future. What if this is the future we were building toward all along?

An invitation to begin again

That is why I am grateful to be here at RestlessUrban. This is a space created for exploration in every sense of the word. Together, we will talk about reinvention, curiosity, travel, and designing a life filled with joy, meaning, and wonder.

I want these essays to feel like conversations between friends. The kind you have over coffee. The ones that leave you feeling lighter, braver, and a little more alive.

Wherever you are on your journey, whether you are reinventing yourself, booking your first international trip, or simply trying to remember what makes you happy, I hope you will join me. Follow along as we explore what it means to live authentically, lead with curiosity, and fall in love with life all over again.

Midlife is not the end of your story. It is the beginning of your greatest adventure yet.