Feel Like Something’s Missing After 50? This Might Be Why

Reinvention isn’t about starting from scratch. Perhaps it's about becoming who you were always meant to be.

Have you experienced what I felt? That point in midlife when something starts to just feel... off?

Maybe it happened slowly for you, like a low hum you’ve been ignoring.

Or maybe it hits all at once… with grief, menopause, burnout, or just a deep, soul-level what the f*ck now?

For me, it was all of that.

A heart attack at 43 was definitely the wake-up call that led to my first reinvention.

But then at 50 came more health issues, teen parenting challenges, home educating my youngest daughter, the loss of my dad, my eldest daughter leaving home for university and a full hysterectomy at 52.

I felt broken. The woman I used to be had disappeared, and I wasn’t sure what would take her place.

But what I now know is this:

That moment of feeling so lost definitely wasn’t the end.

I now know that it was the beginning of something much more honest.

We’ve been conditioned in some way to believe that midlife is a winding down. A fade-out.

But over and over, I’ve witnessed people my age embracing their 50s and flipping the narrative. Recognising the power of this turning point. A genuine chance to shed the roles, routines and rules that never really fit, and finally ask ourselves:

What do I want now?

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5 prompts to reconnect with what’s calling you next

These questions helped me get clear when I had no idea where to begin.

Take one per day this week.

1. What do I secretly wish I had the courage to try, even if it feels unrealistic or “too late”?

2. Where in my life do I feel like I’m shrinking, settling, or just going through the motions?

3. What used to light me up that I’ve pushed aside or forgotten?

4. If I wasn’t trying to please or prove anything to anyone, what would I do next?

5. What am I curious about, even just a little bit?

   That last question, follow that. It’s a breadcrumb.

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What Reinvention Actually Looks Like

Let’s be real. Reinvention isn’t always glamorous.

It can look like sobbing in your car after handing in your notice.
Like feeling lost on your first day without the job or routine you used to hate.
Like de-cluttering your entire wardrobe because it gives you something to focus on.

It’s not always bold or dramatic.
Sometimes it’s quiet, messy, and deeply personal.

But here’s the truth:

If you’re feeling restless or stuck, you’re not broken. You’re waking up.

And you’re not behind. You’re right on time.

Gill x

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What part of your life feels ready for a shift? I’d love to hear where you are on your journey. Leave a comment or reply – this space is for you.