Life

I never thought I’d be starting over at 57.I imagined this phase of life a little differently — maybe traveling, maybe slowing down, maybe finally reaping the rewards of all the years I gave to everyone else. But here I am: almost divorced, living with my 91-year-old dad because the house hasn’t sold. Retirement funds still tangled in red tape. Three daughters — two in university, one in high school — still needing me to show up and be strong.And I just moved back to Canada in March 2025, after 17 years in the U.S. Because honestly? I knew I couldn’t afford to pay for healthcare in the U.S. So here I am, with a suitcase full of tangled emotions, loose ends, and a deep knowing in my gut: it’s time to rebuild my life — on my own terms this time.This isn’t the glossy “new chapter” narrative you see in magazines. This is real. Raw. And, yes — really damn hard some days.But it’s also the beginning of something powerful.Because even though my life doesn’t look “secure” on paper right now — no house of my own, no retirement fund I can touch yet, no steady job — I’m finally living in truth. I’m no longer shrinking myself to fit a life that didn’t fit me. I’m no longer pretending things are okay when they’re not. I’m no longer living by someone else’s timeline or expectations.And that’s where freedom starts.Right here — in the uncertainty, the limbo, the “now what?”Why I’m Writing This BlogI’m not sharing all this because I think I have it all figured out. I’m sharing it because I know I’m not the only woman starting over in midlife — unsure, tired, scared, but still hopeful.Divorce in your 50s is a particular kind of earthquake. It shakes loose all the roles you’ve played — wife, partner, homemaker, caregiver — and asks you: Who are you now?If you’re here reading this, maybe you’re asking that too.So I want to take you with me on this journey. Not as some kind of guru, but as a woman walking beside you, learning in real-time how to rebuild, re-claim, and re-ignite her life. Together, we’re going to talk about:Finding identity and power after divorce Navigating the chaos of starting over (emotionally and financially) Creating a style that feels like you, not what the world expects Aging without shame — no apologies, no filters Building independence in your 50s and beyondWhat Comes NextI don’t have a perfect ending to this post — because I’m still in the beginning.But what I do have is a vision. I see a life that’s lighter, freer, and more mine. I see a woman (me, and maybe you too) standing in her truth, even if her legs are shaking. I see a community of women who are ready to stop apologizing, stop pretending, and start living — boldly, messily, and beautifully.This isn’t the end of the story.This is the beginning.Let’s start over, together.💕Tracey Add Your Heading Text Here