What is a middle-aged woman?

She was innocent as a child. 

Lived through the awkward, invincible teens,

Thinking she knew it all, fearless and bold.

She has endured the insecurities of her 20s,

Questioning herself at every turn,

But daring to dream despite the doubt.

She has survived the whirlwind of her 30s,

Pouring herself into raising children, careers

Navigating chaos and finding resilience and transformation. 

In her 40s, something shifted.

She began to notice herself, to discover who she is.

The layers of 40 years of conditioning fell away.

Society’s expectations no longer defined her.

While her vibrant, smooth skin may have softened,

She has traded it for wisdom etched in wrinkles.

And she is not only okay with that,

She is excited for what the future brings.

For the first time, she feels truly free.

Not the freedom you might expect,

But freedom from her own judgments.

And without those judgments, no others matter.

She stands confidently, certain of her path.

She can regret but chooses to let regrets go, previous choices do not define her.

Knowing that at the time,

She could not have done it any differently.

This knowledge comes from experience,

From living, learning, and growing.

She is not defined by numbers or years,

She is defined by her journey.

She is me.

I am her.

I am ready for what comes next

~Elizabeth