To the Older Woman Starting Over

 

You thought your chance had passed.
You told yourself it was too late.
Too late to begin again.
Too late to dream.
Too late to choose yourself.

 

But here you are—brave, trembling, rising anyway.

 

Maybe you left the marriage.
Maybe the career ended.
Maybe the kids are grown, or the map you were following just stopped making sense.

 

Whatever brought you here, it didn’t break you.
It brought you back to the edge of becoming.

 

You are not behind.
You are not past your prime.
You are not foolish for wanting more.

 

You are wise.
You are ripe.
You are powerful in ways younger women can’t even imagine.

 

This isn’t your ending.
This is your return.
To yourself.
To your voice.
To the parts of you that were put on hold for everyone else’s needs.

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Let this place be your reentry.
Let it hold your grief, your fear, your fire.

 

You don’t have to prove anything.
You just have to show up—as you are now.

 

Start over.
Start soft.
Start sacred.

 

You’re not late.
You’re right on time.