I’ve been struggling with this a lot lately, and I thought it was mostly because sickness has snatched the past four years away from me and I feel like awoke as an entirely different person, but it’s also suddenly being dropped into this transitional period of life without warning. I’m learning to make peace with it all, but boy this process is of rediscovery is a hard one.
It sounds like you have been through a lot, Keisha, and I think so many can relate to the way you so succinctly put it- feeling like they've been "suddenly dropped into this transitional period of life without warning." There's so much change converging as we move into midlife, and it can be completely disorienting. I think just knowing we are not alone can be helpful, and that's one of the reasons I am motivated to write and share. I hope you are on the road to recovery and that rediscovery will lead to new and enriching things...
Thanks so much and sorry for the typos. Haha It’s a challenge I am now seeing, through writing such as this post, that I’d be going through this whether being sick or not. It’s just magnified and, as much as I don’t want others to struggle either, there is definitely comfort in knowing I’m not alone. Writing is such a powerful tool for many of us here, really grateful for this community! Thank you for sharing your experience!
This resonates with me - a growing sense of invisibility as we age. On the other hand, we now have the freedom and wisdom to be visible for the things that matter to us. A good tradeoff, but it still stings.
Thanks for sharing, Leslie- I agree, a good tradeoff! I was just having a conversation with a new friend about this very thing- the freedom, the confidence, the wisdom, the expanded perspective- all such welcome gifts of age, but with all that's gained, there is still a sense of loss. It's all so interesting.
Dina, I see you. I see your light. And I'm so incredibly grateful for it. It's an interesting space to be in, isn't it? Not missing the male gaze (I definitely relate to that) but also feeling a certain way about not being seen. These midlife years are full of illuminations and big feelings, that's for sure. Love to you dear friend xx
Means so much to me, Skylar- thank you. Grateful for your big, beautiful light as well, and yes, so interesting (and at times, disorienting!). I have a hard time describing it, but I think you do it well-- "feeling a certain way..." Thank you as always for your thoughtful insights, friend- sending love right back...x
Oh Dina, this is beautiful. Have been thinking of you after all you shared in your last essay, and the significance for you of this month, and all of its layers, as well as capturing how it feels to navigate this stage of life in the kind of everyday moments and experiences you recall here (side note: you look beautiful in that sunglasses photo! 😎). So much more to say, and so much resonates, and THANK YOU, so much, for sharing and, in so doing, walking alongside all of us. 💗XO
Thank you so much for this, Jenni- so grateful that Substack put us in each other's paths. It makes me feel so good that these pieces connect- it is always my goal when I sit down to write (with my hair clip in, ha!). Grateful to be on this midlife journey alongside you...xx
Thank you Dina- I think it's such an interesting topic to explore- the many ways we experience the changes and feelings. So much to talk about, discover, and connect on! x
I’ve been struggling with this a lot lately, and I thought it was mostly because sickness has snatched the past four years away from me and I feel like awoke as an entirely different person, but it’s also suddenly being dropped into this transitional period of life without warning. I’m learning to make peace with it all, but boy this process is of rediscovery is a hard one.
It sounds like you have been through a lot, Keisha, and I think so many can relate to the way you so succinctly put it- feeling like they've been "suddenly dropped into this transitional period of life without warning." There's so much change converging as we move into midlife, and it can be completely disorienting. I think just knowing we are not alone can be helpful, and that's one of the reasons I am motivated to write and share. I hope you are on the road to recovery and that rediscovery will lead to new and enriching things...
Thanks so much and sorry for the typos. Haha It’s a challenge I am now seeing, through writing such as this post, that I’d be going through this whether being sick or not. It’s just magnified and, as much as I don’t want others to struggle either, there is definitely comfort in knowing I’m not alone. Writing is such a powerful tool for many of us here, really grateful for this community! Thank you for sharing your experience!
This resonates with me - a growing sense of invisibility as we age. On the other hand, we now have the freedom and wisdom to be visible for the things that matter to us. A good tradeoff, but it still stings.
Thanks for sharing, Leslie- I agree, a good tradeoff! I was just having a conversation with a new friend about this very thing- the freedom, the confidence, the wisdom, the expanded perspective- all such welcome gifts of age, but with all that's gained, there is still a sense of loss. It's all so interesting.
Dina, I see you. I see your light. And I'm so incredibly grateful for it. It's an interesting space to be in, isn't it? Not missing the male gaze (I definitely relate to that) but also feeling a certain way about not being seen. These midlife years are full of illuminations and big feelings, that's for sure. Love to you dear friend xx
Means so much to me, Skylar- thank you. Grateful for your big, beautiful light as well, and yes, so interesting (and at times, disorienting!). I have a hard time describing it, but I think you do it well-- "feeling a certain way..." Thank you as always for your thoughtful insights, friend- sending love right back...x
Oh Dina, this is beautiful. Have been thinking of you after all you shared in your last essay, and the significance for you of this month, and all of its layers, as well as capturing how it feels to navigate this stage of life in the kind of everyday moments and experiences you recall here (side note: you look beautiful in that sunglasses photo! 😎). So much more to say, and so much resonates, and THANK YOU, so much, for sharing and, in so doing, walking alongside all of us. 💗XO
Thank you so much for this, Jenni- so grateful that Substack put us in each other's paths. It makes me feel so good that these pieces connect- it is always my goal when I sit down to write (with my hair clip in, ha!). Grateful to be on this midlife journey alongside you...xx
💗 to ALL of this!! Me too, and that includes the hair clip! 😄🥰
Dina you are a beautiful writer I really enjoyed this piece.
So kind of you to say, Karen- thank you so much, and I'm really glad you enjoyed it!
All the feelings, absolutely yes. Beautifully articulated for us, my friend.
ALL of the feelings... Thank you so much, my friend xx
invisibility can be a super power....
Ha! Yes it can, Tamara! Thanks so much for reading!
Ooh, this resonates. So good, thank you for this.
Makes me feel good to know that it spoke to you, dear Rachel. Love seeing you here- thanks so much for reading...xx
Great essay Dina and topic - it will resonate with many of us in the midlife space!
Thank you Dina- I think it's such an interesting topic to explore- the many ways we experience the changes and feelings. So much to talk about, discover, and connect on! x