Courtesy of Susan Teresa
- I ran a successful brick-and-mortar store for decades.
- I decided to shut down the business in my 50s, turning my back on an identity I had built.
- I'm reconnecting with what lights me up and reinventing myself at 56.
In 2024, I woke up to a difficult truth: I was unhappy. A solopreneur since the early 2000s, I'd built a six-figure business while raising three boys.
My workaholic drive meant giving my all to every client. It paid off: the photography studio I ran earned flawless five-star Google reviews and a long roster of loyal clients. I even earned industry recognition (including a book deal and invitations to speak on stages at national events).
But around me, things had been changing. The market had grown more crowded every year. The unique approach I'd brought to the marketplace had become common practice. And I — at 55 — was not the same person as the 30-something who'd started the business.
I slowly found myself quietly wondering whether and how to unravel a business that had taken 20 years to build. Friends and family wondered if walking away made any sense. But deep inside, I felt a yearning for change. I'd lost touch with the parts of myself that once felt creative and inspired. I was ready to grow and evolve. The life I'd built no longer fit.
Leaping into the unknown
In October of 2024, I closed the business for good. It wasn't easy. It meant stepping away from an identity I'd carefully built, and from the financial security it provided. I needed space to figure out what I wanted next as I entered the second half of life.
When I locked the doors for the last time, I felt happy. Relief washed away any regret I thought I'd have. I felt lighter — free from the burden of a business I no longer enjoyed, and that no longer fueled my own growth. I'd been stagnant, and now I was free to move forward, to find new ways to express myself, to do work that felt meaningful again.
Having connected with lots of other women my age, I've learned I'm not alone in making a midlife leap.
Rediscovering purpose in midlife
After giving myself space and settling into a slower pace with no more 48-hour workweeks, I dove into learning. I signed up for a few courses, curious to see where inspiration would lead.
I reflected on all the iterations I'd experienced in the past: corporate professional, career coach and trainer, and small-business owner. I then crafted a list of my skills, knowledge areas, and natural abilities. Then I repeated the process from the inside out, reflecting on where I felt excitement and expansion.
Suddenly, I saw all the unwritten books I'd placed on the "someday" shelf. I saw myself speaking from stages to women struggling with menopause and midlife transitions. And I understood why it had been time to move forward.
I'm not done working. I'm redirecting my talent and life experiences. I'm choosing a new path that feels meaningful given the stage of life I'm in and the challenges I face as a menopausal woman.
This year, I enrolled in a coaching certification program tailored to address the needs of menopausal women. I've learned that although many midlife women might be rethinking their lives and seeking a renewed sense of meaning and purpose, the pressures of career and caregiving hold many back from leaning into the shifts they feel called to make. The obstacles are both emotional and practical.
A mentor once told me: You are what you spend your time doing. As I step forward with renewed purpose and energy, I'm confident that with each step, I'm building a life that fits the new version of me I'm growing into. I spend mornings writing my books and pitching essays. My afternoons involve learning, building a network, and following through on my commitment to a daily wellness activity. In the evenings, I spend quality time with my husband, who's now retired, and we plan trips to exciting new places.
And for the first time in years, I feel like myself again.