05/04/2026
Fall in Love With Your Life Again
I was inspired to write my book Love the Life You Live after going through a mid-life crisis when my 50th birthday was approaching. At that time, I fell into a pit of despair at the thought that the life I was living might represent the rest of my life.
Fortunately, I'm not someone who stays down for long, I get fed up with myself and at that time I chose to go in search of a better way to live.
The Internet wasn't commonplace at that time so I searched for answers in my large library of self-help books. Some suggestions I learnt from these books worked, and some didn’t but one day I noticed that I was feeling happy again. Twelve-months later I did some additional training, started a new business as a life coach and fell in love with my life probably, for the very first time.
Like all first loves I expected I would feel this way for the rest of my life, allowing for minor ups and downs and my life was wonderful for 30 odd years, at which time too many changes occurred too quickly that I fell back into that pit of despair.
Firstly, I decided to retire, something I said I’d never do but my daughter Lisa was sick and as I cared for her I was tired. I put my house on the market and Lisa and I planned to move 2 hours up the coast, outside of Sydney. the difference in house prices meant Lisa could retire early, and I'd still be able to have a comfortable retirement, we had plans to travel together when she was well again.
Now I must admit friends suggested I rent first and try out how I felt living outside of Sydney but I have a tendency to be impulsive, and I was sure I was making the right decision so I went ahead. I found the house I bought wasn't right for me, nor the area, so I sold again and moved a little closer to Sydney.
Prior to my second move Lisa’s health continued to deteriorate and eight months after our first move she passed away.
I found myself grief stricken; in an area I didn’t know where my only friends nearby were casual acquaintances.
I don’t remember a lot about that first year, except that my only remaining child Laura, moved overseas to live, four months after Lisa’s passing.
At 77 I started living alone for the first time in my life and even now, just over two years later I can’t say I like it. I'm such a people person. I occasionally find myself thinking, This is not the way I want to live, but that is happening less often than it used to.
It’s took me a while to make the connection that everything that represented my identity and made me happy such as family, friends, community had changed. I have friends I talk to regularly on the phone and I’m so grateful for them, but they are not a part of my daily life.
I miss everything that was familiar that I loved. And most of all I miss my girls.
Starting over isn’t easy but it’s doesn't have to be hard either, it’s just different. I remind myself that the same woman who created a number of successful businesses, wrote best-selling books, inspired others, and raised beautiful children is still in me.
Up ‘til now life I’ve always written about what I’ve gone through and how to turn it around after I've gone through massive change, this time I’m doing things differently. I’m planning to write about my journey to a different life and life stage as it progresses, as well as sharing some my old blogs.
I hope some of what I write will inspire and support you on your own journey as well.
