22 Comments
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Lee Griffith's avatar

I think 38 was my trial year, it's when I left corporate and started again. I'm now 44 and feeling all the shifts again - personally and in my business. I'm looking forward to seeing where it goes.

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Louise Thompson's avatar

44 is THE year Lee, I tell you!

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Kitari Jalin's avatar

38-41 is another pivotal turning point in a lot of people's lives as well. I called it my mini mid-life crisis lol

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Lee Griffith's avatar

Haha yes, I feel like I had one of those at 30 as well! 😂

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Louise Thompson's avatar

No bad thing Lee - look what you got out of it the first time!

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Stacy G's avatar

Great reminder.

Today is my 50th birthday. The last year has been a tough one for many reasons. I have to force myself to think of things I have accomplished because I easily catch myself dwelling on the dreams that never happened.

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Louise Thompson's avatar

Aaah Stacy, a very happy birthday. And I feel for you, but so much more to come x

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Katherine Hassell's avatar

Happy birthday, Stacy. I hear you on this. It can be hard to reframe things and find a way forward, but we can do it. 💐That’s part of the reason I’m on Substack and writing my newsletter. I hope you’ve had a beautiful day.

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aka Alice's avatar

My older brother died at 44. I’m now 42. It’s certainly one way to get a new perspective on midlife.

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aka Alice's avatar

I went out to a dinner after reading/commenting and was sat at table 44… okay, universe! I’m listening!

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Louise Thompson's avatar

Oooh what a sign! What’s on your vision board?

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aka Alice's avatar

I’m training to run a marathon like my brother did at age 44, and my eldest daughter will graduate high school that year. I already know 44 will be amazing :)

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Suzi Belmont's avatar

44 for me too. Sold my business. Started over. Got my MSc in psychology, mental health and wellbeing and started a new path. Now, at 50 I feel like I am in a completely new era: the era I was made for. And it is a great freeing, feeling (although I have my f*ck it days regularly too!)

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Louise Thompson's avatar

Amazing Suzi, so here for this!

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Wanda's avatar

I went back to university at 42 to finish my degree, then moved overseas to teach English for four years. When I came back to my home country, I got a job as a writer/editor in government and I'm loving it! I'm 60 now and I still love my job. I'm planning to retire within the next 10 years and I look forward to being able to travel, garden, write, sew, read, and spend time with my dog. My 40s were fantastic and really marked the beginning of the life I always dreamed of after raising kids and cooking dinner every night (I like cereal for dinner now).

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Louise Thompson's avatar

How wonderful and inspiring Jinny!

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Pam Vale's avatar

I think every year I go a little deeper into that theme ❤️

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Louise Thompson's avatar

Yep me too! Feels great!

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Diana's avatar

Hmmm. Mine was 68…slow bloomer I guess

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Ellie Whitehall's avatar

I was 43 when I decided to retrain as an aromatherapist (i was a nurse) and then set up my business. Covid changed all that and now at 53 I'm considering what I'm going to do next!

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Kitari Jalin's avatar

haha Wow.... Thank you for letting me know it's not just me!! 44 hit, 3 months later I started a business and had a 2 year plan to develop it while working in corporate world. I was sick and getting sicker, I needed out. Dr's said it was all in my head, it wasn't, but I wouldn't figure that out until 8 months later, a misdiagnosis, and finally tests that eliminated possible issues so I was able to find the culprits myself and heal myself. Backtrack, 4 months after starting my business, layoffs were coming at work so I took a nice severance check and got tf out of there! Today, 1.2 years after starting my business I'm healthy again, energetic, inspired, genuinely and sustainable happy, and starting to put myself out there and get my business running! I had no idea 44 was such a turning point for so many. Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful and resonating story!!

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Louise Thompson's avatar

Yes it really is - it needs to be studied even more I think! Good for you!

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