Michele HeffronA powerful reflection on what women in midlife are really carrying—and the questions they rarely get to ask out loud. Based on heartfelt conversations with women ages 50–70+, this post explores identity, connection, health, purpose, and the invisible weight of it all.
Michele HeffronOn my 21st birthday I found myself sitting next to my brother in the backseat of a police cruiser somewhere in Montana. Apparently, we’d had just a smidge too much fun celebrating my coming of age. We had been skiing all day with college friends when we connected with a bunch of Canadians who thought it would be real fun to show us Americans what true celebration really looked like. It was a night to remember, though I recall very little of it. I’ll leave the details of what I do remember out; but suffice to say—it all seemed like a good idea at the time.
Michele HeffronHave you ever made a choice, a decision to act upon an impulse only later to be haunted for years by the consequence of that choice? We like to think the big moments in life are what define us. The day we say “yes.” The moment we walk away. The instant we know we can’t live like this anymore. But more often than not, it’s the quiet choices—the ones we barely notice—that shape who we become.
Michele HeffronLately, in my conversations with women, a pattern has been emerging. These are smart, capable, generous women who have carried so much—decades of working, raising families, showing up for everyone else. On one side, there’s gratitude for the privilege of being able to care for others. On the other, there’s a deep undercurrent of resentment that no one dares to admit out loud. Because how do you say, I’m tired of being needed, without drowning in guilt?
Michele HeffronLife isn’t about staying in the same gear forever. I still remember learning to drive a stick shift—jerky starts, wrong turns, even a little crash into the house (oops). But eventually, I found the rhythm. That’s what change feels like at first: awkward, messy, uncomfortable. And then one day… smoother. Stronger. Forward. September always carries that energy of transition—the air shifting, the days shorter, a natural invitation to reset. Maybe this is your moment to shift, too.
Michele HeffronAs summer winds down, I’m reminded how reunions—big and small—stitch our lives together. From belly-laugh stories to quiet moments of remembrance, this season brought both joy and ache… and a deeper gratitude for the people who’ve walked beside me.
To return to love.
And to live the life you’ve quietly dreamed of, with courage and grace.