Your Magical Midlife

Perimenopause is the gateway. It's a portal. It's the portal between your old self and your new self. And you have to walk through fire to get there.  It's a transformation. There's a reason why they call it "the change". Because it changes you in every way. Spiritually. Emotionally,  physically,  intellectually. It's a total repurposing of your soul. I have been...

Mary Michelle Nidiffer is a Master Style Coach, Life Coach + Founder, StyleFinder Boutique based out of Raleigh NC. She is on a mission to help women in midlife to dress their changing (or changed) body with style, joy and confidence. Feeling good in your skin and how you present yourself in the world is a challenge that many women face once they are upwards of 45 and find that their shape is diff...

When you get to "a certain age" you may be startled when you see yourself in the mirror. One of the things there is so little discussion around is the overall strangeness of aging-and how sometimes your sense of self gets pulled out from under you. More often than not, when I see myself these days, I have a little startle. Is that me ? Me with the crowfeet ? The furrowed brow ? The under...

A year ago, I voluntarily participated in a corporate lay off and ditched my 8-5 for good. I had been at that safe, secure, and (boring) job for almost a decade. It's been scary, challenging but......... ultimately rewarding. Somedays I'm in flow, building my business. Other days, I'm stuck in a panicked spin cycle. Choosing myself has been a big adventure and a huge lesson.  Do you...

Kit Messick is an archivist, horse enthusiast, and world traveling adventurer. She and I met in the early 90s while gogo-ing in some of NYC's biggest nightclubs. We have bonded over the years on our mutual love of goth/industrial and alternative music, alternative spirituality and the our love for The Coney Island Mermaid Parade. I invited Kit on because she is, like me, a woman who has lived...

Baffled by youth culture ? Not understanding "the kids" ? Still under the impression that it's 1998 ? Not knowing when this happened to YOU ? You are not alone ! This week, I'm musing on fully accepting and maybe even embracing that I am wholeheartedly middle aged.  ..............It's okay. I'd rather know that I'll be doing chair yoga to Duran Duran when I'...

When I was 38 years old, already pressured by "time" I took it upon myself to take up burlesque despite the fact that I was well into my more traditional career. It was an adventure to be sure, but it also taught me a lot about agism - including my own. Which was a surprise to everyone, especially me.  Follow me on Instagram @yourmagicalmidlife If you’re ready to explore which archetype...

It's not a fun thing to think about-but we need to. What would happen if you suddenly got ill  ? Did you have a Power of Attorney ? A Medical Proxy ? A Will ? A plan ? Or if you died today would you leave a mess behind for your loved ones to address ?  I admit-I'm 53, I had cancer, I was in a very serious car crash last year and I STILL don't have a will. I have a life insurance pol...

Wendy Perrotti is a master-level Certified Professional Coach, speaker and leadership trainer with over 25 years of experience in helping individuals and groups nationwide to affect positive change in their lives. Her intelligence, easy demeanor, unparalleled ability to listen and hear are just a few of the qualities that allow her to help clients tap into and utilize the insights they gain in wor...

Diana Dunbar Place has a  40-year professional career that spans advertising,  a leadership role at America Online (AOL-Time Warner) and three entirely different entrepreneurial ventures.  Throughout her life, she has taken on mentor/advisor roles to a range of women as well as started several organizations including an angel network to serve and connect women.  For a variety of reasons, she never...

Self doubt creeps in at the most inconvenient times. You can be hopped up and gung ho all excited about your life and BAM self doubt, fear, anxiety rear their ugly heads and all of a sudden.............you question every decision you've ever made. For me-I can go DARK and paranoid. It's not pretty. And it is never productive. What's the way out of this sinister spin cycle ? I'm...

Has technology "gotten out from under you ?" Sometimes, I can't even believe that I am able to successfully record, edit and add music to this podcast. I am not a tech girl. I keep a paper calendar and rely on it heavily. But you have to adapt. Or you become your inept parents who couldn't figure out their VCR clock-and really is that who you want to be ?  Follow me on Instagra...

Over the past decade, but louder in the past 5 years-more and more- I feel called towards spirituality and more specifically to ritual. As an unmarried, childless woman, the last time I was celebrated by community was when I was confirmed in the 7th grade. Why is it that we do not mark the passage of time in a more meaningful way other than the occasional birthday party ? Do you feel that you are...

Rachael Lancaster is a wellness coach who ditched NYC for a life of wild adventure. She is a professional house sitter who has traveled the Pacific Northwest, South West  and California over the past 2 years taking the most breathtaking photos along the way.  She  went from novice camper to full-blown solo adventurer- let her bravery and her badassery inspire you ! She's also a nutrition expe...

Sometimes we just get stuck and paralyzed with fear. What's at the root cause of this paralysis ? For me, it's always the fear that I am being judged.  When I examine it further-whose judgement do I fear the MOST ?  How do we put it down-for good ? Today I discuss some of my personal methods for finally finally FINALLY putting down my fears and allowing myself to step fully into the pers...

Retirement may be going the way of the dodo bird. Are Gen X-ers ever going to be able to afford to retire ? Do we even WANT to retire ? Can you build a life from which you never want to retire from ? I am working on building my life's work-and these days 65 is still young. What if you could build a life that feels vital, exciting and expansive at 60, 65, 75 80 and beyond ? Put THAT on your vi...

Season 2 opens with the question: Are you ready for massive expansion ? Sometimes life shakes you sideways and you realize: it's time to grow. It's times to step into yourself. It's time to stop hiding, to stop playing safe, to stop playing small. It's go elfin time. The experience of going to perhaps, the most life altering retreat/conference/summit/gathering for women 50+ cha...

Welcome back to Season 2 of "Your Magical Midlife," This podcast is for women who are seekers, dreamers and out-of-the-box thinkers. If you are a Gen X woman who never quite fit in-(and probably never will)-listen up.  Kate Higgins, your host, I’m a licensed clinical social worker and coach and I’m here to guide you through the expansive, exhilarating and sometimes exhausting crossroads...

Midlife is a time of re-assessment and re-evaluation. You've lived a good portion of your adult life, you've had your ups and your downs. But what's next ? Do you ever feel that you are standing in the crossroads, waiting for the sign that will tell you which direction to head in ? You are not alone.  This is the last episode of season 1 of the pod-but fear not-I have lined up some...

The onset of dementia can be subtle and happen over time. What you've been writing off and mom or dad's "senior moment" could be normal aging or it could be cause for concern. This week, we got an official diagnosis. It's heartbreaking. Have you faced something similar with your parent ? Shoot me a DM on Instagram or email me. As midlifers, we are all in this together.  Ju...

If you live, it is inevitable that you will fail. And at times, fail hard. It's okay to try things and be bad at them. Don't let perfectionism get in the way of an adventure. Who knows ? You might just have fun.  Reminder: there are just 3 episodes left of YMM the podcast before I take a 6 week hiatus to record new episodes which will include interviews with some of the coolest midlife w...

The way that we present ourselves in the world affects the way we feel. Many women in midlife struggle with dressing their body as it changes or their identity as it's shifted. I think there is so much magic in putting on clothes that we feel good in.  The energy we put out into the world when we feel good is distinctly different. What would it be like to present ourselves with joy every day...

I'm releasing this on 2/29-Leap Day ! It begs the question-what is your relationship to taking big risks. Are you safety minded ? Avoid coloring out of the lines ? Safe (possibly stuck ?) in a pattern ? Stuck at work ? Stuck in your marriage ? Stuck in general ? Maybe 2024 is the year you place all the bets on yourself and your own abilities. Listen in and lets talk about it  Follow me on Ins...

Menopause gets so much negative press. If it's spoken about AT ALL. Thankfully, Gen X is changing that. In my late 30s and early 40s-I had so little information about what to expect when I would no longer even be eligible to be expecting. Not even from my tried and true Our Bodies Ourselves. Certainly not from my mother. Not even really from my doctor. Can we change the conversation around th...

I thought I was in total self acceptance about my aging face and body. But, seeing a photo of me next to a much younger friend gave me a reality check about how time, experiences and health concerns have left their mark on me. It's so WEIRD to age-and we don't talk about that nearly enough. Can you learn to love your grays, your crows feet or your newly crepey hands ?  Follow me on Insta...