You will find your way. You are on a long road at night and your headlights aren’t bright enough to see comfortably.
I’m 20 years down that road. You are so much braver and smarter than I was then. I have no doubt you will come over a rise at sunup and your path will be clear.
I agree. Smarter than I ever was. I’m about 25 years further down. And I have found there is no new map that feels like the first map. It’s more like wandering down roads that look interesting, staying where you find yourself rather than making a reservation and getting to it. The map helps you know where you are, a idea of where you are heading, but a lack of goal posts along the way. A different type of travel.
1. I love reading your thoughts about the stage of life you are in. I love hearing you and Sarah talk about being in your 40s on the podcast. It is so helpful for me in my 30s.
2. Imma need that chocolate chip cookie recipe pretty please. Nothing I love more than to tinker with a good cookie recipe and compare notes.
Jessica, truly I begin with just the Nestle recipe. I triple the vanilla extract. I keep everything so super cold through the whole process (I put my cookie sheets in the freezer before they go in the oven). I use kosher salt. They’re perfect.
I feel this. I’m firmly planted yet so much adrift. I’m turning 60 on Sunday. This bday is hitting differently. Thank you Beth for always putting feelings into words in such a beautiful way
It made me smile to see your poem included in Modern Mrs. Darcy’s Links I Love email. I found my way to Pantsuit Politics when I heard Sarah on the What Should I Read Next Podcast and it makes my heart happy to remember that the people who bring so much good into my life know each other.
My 40’s were tumultuous and tectonic plates shifted in ways I neither expected nor wanted. At 52, I like where I am and most days I can feel my feet planted firmly on the ground. Your poem was a needed call to pause and look around.
Ah I appreciate this. I am about to have baby #3 and will turn 36 around that time. It sort of feels like by the time I am done with pregnancy, nursing, and postpartum, I'll start hitting perimenopause. I've felt a bit sad and anxious lately about that wondering when or if I'll ever feel like things aren't shifting in my body or emotions. I keep coming back to trying to find a healthy sense of surrender.
You will find your way. You are on a long road at night and your headlights aren’t bright enough to see comfortably.
I’m 20 years down that road. You are so much braver and smarter than I was then. I have no doubt you will come over a rise at sunup and your path will be clear.
I agree. Smarter than I ever was. I’m about 25 years further down. And I have found there is no new map that feels like the first map. It’s more like wandering down roads that look interesting, staying where you find yourself rather than making a reservation and getting to it. The map helps you know where you are, a idea of where you are heading, but a lack of goal posts along the way. A different type of travel.
Yes! Staying where you find yourself. I love that and it’s so true.
I want to print this and hang on my wall. The messy middle feels so untethered but exactly where im supposed to be.
1. I love reading your thoughts about the stage of life you are in. I love hearing you and Sarah talk about being in your 40s on the podcast. It is so helpful for me in my 30s.
2. Imma need that chocolate chip cookie recipe pretty please. Nothing I love more than to tinker with a good cookie recipe and compare notes.
Jessica, truly I begin with just the Nestle recipe. I triple the vanilla extract. I keep everything so super cold through the whole process (I put my cookie sheets in the freezer before they go in the oven). I use kosher salt. They’re perfect.
Amazing, I will be trying the triple vanilla asap. My recommendation is a splash of almond extract in cookies too makes everything sing
Continental drift—-yes. I love that—kind of hits the same way the “days are long but years are short” thing does. Each shift is slow but all at once
This really spoke to me today. Thank you for sharing with us all 💙
Wow, Beth. This is so beautiful and poignant. My map these days is more like a kaleidoscope.
A kaleidoscope — I can totally see getting from here to there!
So much truth! Thank you for always putting into beautiful words the things that I am thinking but can't vocalize.
Everything, everywhere, all at once. This is lovely,
Beautiful Beth!
🥹
I’m 53. This is the best midlife musing I have ever read. I’m saving it. Thanks!
And we're going to keep moving!
I feel this. I’m firmly planted yet so much adrift. I’m turning 60 on Sunday. This bday is hitting differently. Thank you Beth for always putting feelings into words in such a beautiful way
It made me smile to see your poem included in Modern Mrs. Darcy’s Links I Love email. I found my way to Pantsuit Politics when I heard Sarah on the What Should I Read Next Podcast and it makes my heart happy to remember that the people who bring so much good into my life know each other.
My 40’s were tumultuous and tectonic plates shifted in ways I neither expected nor wanted. At 52, I like where I am and most days I can feel my feet planted firmly on the ground. Your poem was a needed call to pause and look around.
I really identify with this too. Midlife is throwing me on a new road but one I hope will be filled with more than I can hope.
Ah I appreciate this. I am about to have baby #3 and will turn 36 around that time. It sort of feels like by the time I am done with pregnancy, nursing, and postpartum, I'll start hitting perimenopause. I've felt a bit sad and anxious lately about that wondering when or if I'll ever feel like things aren't shifting in my body or emotions. I keep coming back to trying to find a healthy sense of surrender.