One day, you’re just living your life. The next, your knees start sounding like a bowl of Rice Krispies, your metabolism goes MIA, and suddenly, you need reading glasses to check your phone.
Welcome to middle age.
But here’s the thing—we don’t have to fear this stage of life. What if we reframed it as a time of growth, power, and self-acceptance?
That’s exactly what I tackled in my latest podcast episode with branding expert and midlife truth-teller, Cari Kaufman. We got real about aging, expectations, and why middle age is actually the most freeing time of our lives—if we let it be.
For both Cari and me, hitting midlife wasn’t just about gray hairs and weird aches—it was about a mental shift.
💡 Cari’s “aha” moment?
Turning 50 and realizing, “Wait…I actually don’t care what people think anymore. And it feels amazing.”
That shift is liberating. When we stop trying to fit into expectations that don’t serve us, we finally step into who we really are.
And that, my friends, is the real magic of midlife.
One of the most powerful conversations in this episode was about letting go—of relationships, obligations, and roles we’ve outgrown.
As moms, professionals, partners, and friends, we spend so much time wearing different hats that we sometimes forget: Who am I, outside of these roles?
👉 Lesson from Cari:
“I used to make scrambled eggs every morning for my kids. Turns out, I hate scrambled eggs.”
So, what’s your version of scrambled eggs? What have you been doing just because—without stopping to ask if it’s actually what you want?
Midlife is the perfect time to start asking, What do I actually like? What do I want now?
Now, let’s talk about the part of middle age that really sneaks up on you: your body suddenly stops cooperating.
🚩 Your knees hurt just from standing up too fast
🚩 Your body decides sleep is optional, but stress is mandatory
🚩 Hormones? A full-on rollercoaster ride
And let’s be honest—the healthcare system is not built for midlife women. We’ve been told to just deal with it, but we’re calling BS on that.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been demonized for years, but newer research shows that for many women, it’s a game-changer.
Cari and I both had to fight to get the right treatment, and it shouldn’t be that hard. If you’re struggling with perimenopause or menopause symptoms, find a doctor who listens—and don’t be afraid to advocate for yourself.
🔥 Midlife Lesson:
We don’t have to just “deal with it.”
We deserve care that actually supports our health.
In one of the best moments of our conversation, Cari shared how hiking became a game-changer for her.
🚶♀️ Balance issues? Hiking made her more sure-footed.
💪 Feeling out of shape? She stopped waiting for “someday” and just started.
🧘♀️ Mental clarity? There’s nothing like the grounding power of nature.
Her motto? Train for the decline.
We spend so much time preparing for the climb—but no one trains for coming back down. And in midlife, that’s where we need strength, grace, and resilience the most.
Middle age isn’t a crisis. It’s an opportunity.
✨ To stop caring about things that don’t matter.
✨ To figure out what actually brings you joy.
✨ To take care of yourself—mind, body, and spirit.
If you’re in this season of life, embrace it. Let go of the guilt, reclaim your time, and step into who you were always meant to be.
💛 Biggest lesson from this episode? “Who I am is enough. And that feels damn good.”
🎧 Listen to the full conversation with Cari Kaufman here!