Realigning my midlife journey

If you’d told me a few years ago that I’d be revisiting some of the biggest decisions of my life, I probably would have rolled my eyes.

After all, I’ve shared openly about how I blew up my life piece by piece. My marriage, my career path, old habits, even my identity.

And it’s true: so many of those changes saved me.

Leaving my marriage gave me space to breathe, heal, and figure out who I am outside of the roles I’d played for over two decades.

Changing my career path from nursing to project management felt like a step forward, a way to reclaim my sense of competence and strength during a time when everything else felt like it was falling apart.

Quitting drinking, prioritizing my health, learning to tune into my own needs? Those changes have stuck. They’re non-negotiables now, part of who I’ve become.

But here’s the truth I’ve been sitting with lately:

Not every change automatically means you’re living authentically.

Some choices felt aligned at the time, but as I’ve evolved, I’m discovering that a few may have been more about escaping discomfort than connecting with my truest self.

Revisiting My Career

When I stepped away from nursing after 20+ years, it made perfect sense. I was burnt out, emotionally drained, and desperately craving something different.

Project management offered me a new challenge and a fresh start, and I genuinely enjoy the work. But the more I’ve leaned into my own personal growth, the clearer it’s become:

Coaching is my true calling.

It brings me back to the core of why I became a nurse in the first place—to help, to support, to walk alongside people in their hardest moments. Coaching feels like the purest expression of who I am now.

And while I don’t regret shifting to project management, I’m realizing it might have been a bridge rather than my destination.

Revisiting My Marriage

And then there’s my marriage.

If you’ve been following my journey, you know that 18 months ago, I left a marriage of nearly 22 years, certain I was never going back.

And at the time, leaving was the right decision. We were both stuck, disconnected, and living separate lives under the same roof. We needed space.

But something unexpected has happened over these months apart: we’ve both grown.

My husband has been doing his own work. I’ve been doing mine. And the conversations we’re having now are deeper, more honest, and more vulnerable than any we’ve ever had.

I’m not considering going back to the same man—or the same marriage—I left 18 months ago.

We’re working on beginning a completely new relationship, built from the people we’ve each become, not who we were.

And while I used to see reconciling as “going backward,” I’m starting to realize it could actually be another step forward because it’s coming from a place of authenticity rather than fear or obligation.

When Growth Means Realignment

So yes, I’m revisiting some of the biggest changes I made.

Not because I was wrong to make them.

But because growth doesn’t stop once you’ve blown up your life.

Growth keeps asking:
“Is this still true for me?”

And sometimes the bravest thing isn’t making a change. It’s being willing to look at the changes you’ve already made and ask whether they’re still aligned with who you’re becoming.

Some of the decisions I made were perfect for who I was then, but might not fit who I am now.

Others—like my health habits, my commitment to authenticity, and the way I show up for myself—are more solid than ever.

What I’m Learning Now

Here’s what I know today:

  • Change for the sake of change doesn’t bring peace.
  • Authentic change means knowing who you are and choosing from that place.

It’s okay to re-evaluate even the biggest decisions of your life.

Going back doesn’t always mean going backward. Sometimes it means moving forward in a new way.

An Invitation for You

If you’re standing at your own crossroads—wondering whether to stay, leave, go back, or pivot—I want you to know this:

You’re not broken. You’re evolving.

It’s not a failure to question your past choices.
It’s a sign you’re paying attention.

And it’s never too late to become the woman you were always meant to be.

Thanks for being here and letting me share what I’ve been sitting with. Midlife isn’t about having it all figured out. It’s about having the courage to keep checking in with yourself.

We’ve got this!
🧡 Amanda