Midlife Crisis? More Like a Midlife Calibration
I’m well past my 40th birthday, and with the big 4-5 coming this August (ACK!!), I’ve started feeling like I’m due for a midlife crisis—or at least a midlife reflection. I don’t need a red convertible or a spontaneous tattoo (yet), but I do find myself looking back, looking forward, and trying to make sense of this wildly beautiful in-between place.
Personal Reflection
Yes, I probably could’ve been healthier. But you know what? [Cliche Alert] I did it MY WAY.
I’ve cried often, loved hard, and found the space that defines me. And that, in itself, feels like a major win.
Things I'd Always Recommend for a Life Well Earned
1. Keep experimenting. Make the big leaps.
I was nearly paralyzed before committing to Vanderbilt for B-school. It felt like if I picked a door, the other would close. And that's not wrong - I'd say it's quite spot on.
The best choice though? Following my gut. I got into “better” schools and even had a full ride elsewhere. But I felt at home with my future classmates, and Nashville just felt like the right kind of adventure.
(Note: I got there well before it became bachelorette central—and I credit my cohort for knowing what cool was before it went pseudo-cool.)
That leap gave me more than a degree—it gave me clarity, courage, and community.
Next up? NYU Steinhardt and a second master’s. LFG!
2. Open Yourself Up to Unexpected Connection and Unshakable Bonds
I couldn’t be luckier to have had friends from all walks of life join me on this ride. I’m grateful for every laugh, every check-in, and every hand that lifted me when I needed it most—because depression is real, and it can hit many of us.
It’s the people and the connections that get you out of bed on the best—and the hardest—of days.
And the thing about friendship? You never really know when—or where—it’s going to find you.
Case Study: HOLLY
I met Holly at a Young Professionals networking night in Pittsburgh. You know the type—awkward small talk, name tags, maybe a drink ticket. Her sister went to Vanderbilt Med, I went to Vandy for B-school, and that was enough for a quick connection.
Usually, that kind of intro means one coffee and a polite fade-out. (And honestly, this introvert would’ve been fine with that.)
But Holly didn’t let the story stop there.
She invited me into her world—on runs (she’s fast) and into her circle. We became real friends. Not the everyday kind, but the pick-up-where-you-left-off kind. The kind who show up, no matter the timezone.
3. Remember where you came from.
I fought it. Then I missed it. Then I came back.
I lived in Altoona for over six weeks and something inside me shifted. What I thought I’d outgrown turned out to be a gift.
Give me a campfire, a beer, my family at the farm —and I’ll laugh all day long.
(Just don’t put me on a four-wheeler with Cousin Chris...that's scary & I like living.)
4. Never let go of the ones who love you.
My dear friend Mandy M used to say, “I only hang out with my high school friends.” It was a joke, but there’s so much truth in it. Mandy has a sixth sense for joy—and she knows where to find it.
My Altoona girls and I still have a book club and take an annual trip. They are woven into the quilt of my life, and I honestly don’t know what I’d do without them. They show up when I need them most—and I hope they know I’m there for them, always.
But it's not just them - they taught me unconditional friendship, so that's what I keep with me. And now I have my Great 08 (My Vandy girls), NYC Book Club Crew, My (4ever) Colpals, Heinzers....I'm extremely lucky to have so many groups that are my core groups. I love them, they love me (despite all of these flaws!) and i am SO GRATEFUL!!
So maybe this isn’t a crisis after all.
Maybe it’s a chance to pause. Recalibrate. Appreciate. And remind myself that life isn’t about checking boxes—it’s about becoming.
Here’s to midlife magic. And to the next leap!
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