Sometimes I wish we had better words for the transformations we go through.

It's not a crisis. It's a revolution- or at least a revelation.

The language we inherit often feels like hand-me-down clothing that doesn't quite fit anymore.

Take "midlife crisis." Please. Take it far away from me and the women I know.

I've been watching them – my friends, my coaching clients, my podcast guests, my colleagues – as we navigate these middle years. There's something electric happening, but it's not the kind of electricity that destroys. It's the kind that illuminates.

Here's what I see:

A friend who stopped dyeing her hair, letting her silver streak shine like a badge of honor. "It's not just about the hair," she told me over coffee last week. "It's about finally feeling like I don't need to apologize for taking up space in the world."

My client, who after 20 years of corporate life, walked away from her VP position. Not because she was running from something (the old crisis narrative), but because she was running toward something. "I finally know what I want," she said, "and more importantly, I finally believe I deserve it."

The transformation isn't always dramatic. Sometimes it's subtle – a woman at my book club who used to apologize before sharing her opinions now speaks with quiet certainty. The neighbor who started taking dance classes at 52, not to "get back in shape" but simply because her body craved movement.

What's happening isn't a crisis. It's an awakening.

It's as if we've been playing a complex piece of music all our lives, trying to follow someone else's sheet music. Then suddenly – gradually – we realize we know the melody by heart. We can improvise. We can change the key. We can even write our own damn song.

The shift feels like:

1. Clarity replacing confusion

2. Authenticity trumping acceptance

3. Wisdom drowning out worry

4. Creation overcoming criticism

This awakening comes with its own challenges, sure. Relationships shift. Some friendships deepen while others fade. Family members might struggle with our new boundaries. The workplace might not know what to do with a woman who's stopped saying sorry for having opinions.

But here's the thing about this "crisis" that isn't a crisis: it's contagious. In the best possible way. When one woman starts speaking her truth, it gives permission for others to do the same. When one woman claims her joy, it creates a ripple effect of possibility.

We're not having a crisis. We're having a revelation.

And maybe that's why the old language doesn't fit. Because this isn't about losing something (youth, relevance, whatever society says we're supposed to be mourning). It's about finding something. About becoming more ourselves than we've ever been.

There's power in that. Not the kind of power that comes from climbing corporate ladders or accumulating achievements (though those aren't bad things). But the kind of power that comes from finally – finally – trusting your own voice.

The kind of power that knows when to whisper and when to roar.

Aransas

P.S. Mark your calendars for March 13th - Uplifters Live Event, Round Two is coming! More details soon, but trust me, you won't want to miss this!

P.P.S. Our listener survey is still open. It’ll take less than 5 minutes to complete and you’ll have a hand in shaping the future of The Uplifters Podcast and Substack. I have some big changes to the pod coming soon- all thanks to valuable feedback from listeners.

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Your Next Uplifter

Our next episode of The Uplifters Podcast is headed your way on Thursday (or maybe Wednesday to get it in your playlist before you hit the road— if I can get my act together in time). This one features Gisela Sanders-Alcántara, a 13-time NY Emmy award winner for her work as a TV producer. After discovering in midlife that she has both neurodivergence and Anxiety, she’s shifted gear from traditional TV roles to creating platforms that celebrate and share the stories of mental and physical differences. Like so many of us, Gisela is determined to embrace her whole self in the second half of her life. Her story is a celebration and an inspiration, and I can’t wait to share it with you.

Gisela was nominated by Lovisa Brown. Click below to hear her story.

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✨ As always, all of my writing is free and you can listen to every episode of the podcast for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Substack, or wherever you get your podcasts. For those of you who are more visual or want to take a deeper dive with our guests and who want to support this work with a paid subscription, you’ll find the extended-cut video of my conversation with Regina below.