A Midlife Journey Through the Seasons of Life

Today I’m 57! As I celebrate another trip around the sun, I find myself reflecting on the journey that began on March 4, 1968, in Georgetown, Guyana. Little did I know then how many transformations awaited me in the decades to come.

Roots and Wings

At five years old, my family migrated to Canada in 1973, setting down new roots in the suburbs of Toronto. My parents, though loving, approached child-rearing from vastly different cultural perspectives. Between their busy work schedules and contrasting parenting styles, I became a quiet, obedient child who just wanted to fit in and not cause trouble. I learned early to navigate between worlds, to blend in rather than stand out—a skill that would serve me well throughout life, though not without its costs.

Seasons of Change

Life moved quickly after that—marriage, the incredible journey of raising three beautiful children, the painful ending of what I thought would be forever. Divorce wasn’t in my life plan, but sometimes our greatest growth comes from the paths we never intended to walk.

The Spiritual Awakening

Despite my Catholic upbringing, it wasn’t until my late thirties that I finally discovered what spirituality really meant to me. This wasn’t an extension of my religious past, but a more personal, direct relationship with spirit that had been missing in my life. It came quietly, during a period when I needed it most.

The Landscapes of Loss

No midlife journey comes without its share of profound losses. The deaths of dear friends brought perspective, but nothing prepared me for losing my mother two years ago. And now, with my children grown and forging their own paths, I face another kind of loss—the end of daily motherhood as I knew it.

These intertwining losses—both terrifying and liberating—have forced me to answer questions I’d been too busy to ask: Who am I beyond being a daughter and a parent? What dreams did I set aside that might now have room to breathe? The absence of those I love created voids that changed how I view time, legacy, and what truly matters.

Rediscovery and New Love

Midlife isn’t the end of a story—it’s the beginning of a new chapter. I’m rediscovering my relationship with myself, deepening my spiritual practice, and opening my heart to new love that feels richer because of, not despite, the journey that brought me here.

To those of you navigating your own midlife crossroads: there is magic in this threshold space. The second half of life offers us not just wisdom from what we’ve endured, but the freedom to become who we were always meant to be.

Our stories aren’t finished. They’re just getting interesting.