This short essay is for women in their late 50s and beyond who feel quietly unsettled in ways they didn’t expect.
 
Not lost and not unhappy. Just unsure why the old rules no longer seem to apply.
 
Rather than offering solutions or next steps, this essay explains why this stage of life often feels destabilising, particularly for capable, thoughtful women who have done what they set out to do.
 
It explores:
why certainty doesn’t arrive the way we’re told it will.
why motivation and “what’s next” language can start to feel wrong.
and why unease at this stage is often structural, not personal.
 
There is nothing here to fix, apply, or work through.
The aim is simple: to help things make sense, so internal pressure can ease.
 
Many readers describe the experience as:
“I didn’t realise how much I was blaming myself until I read this.”
 
Format: Downloadable PDF at checkout.
Length: Short essay (3 pages)