I've Got The 61 Year Itch

Is it time for a change? I think it might be.

Last week when I was unwell and horizontal I read a lot of stacks here on Substack.

One that really resonated was the ‘59 Year Itch’ from Jane at

Britishbeautyblogger

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The 59 Year Itch

She wrote about how she was figuring out her next moves after being a beauty blogger for 15 years.

It stopped me in my reading stacks tracks because it’s like it had my name on it.

I am at exactly this point.

I usually arrive at this point much quicker than Jane’s 15 year mark, mind.

I’m really, really proud of myself that I’ve set up and grown a successful small business.

I set it up in 2018 aged 54.

Never let anyone tell you age is a thing when it comes to starting something new.

In fact, I never consider my age when I’m making plans.

Never have and hope I never will.

So there it is. I’ve had over 6 years of not wanting to scratch any itch until the itching started earlier this year.

I know some of the lifelong itching is down to my ADHD and I’m proud that I’ve lasted this long to be honest. It’s one of the longest times I’ve ever stuck at anything so it’s obviously given me reliable and regular doses of dopamine.

I did have a bit of an itch last year and so I took myself off and up skilled myself and did something new to compliment the services we offered within the business.

I wrote and had officially accredited a digital sustainability course.

Off the back of this I now train individuals and businesses how to understand and reduce their Scope 3 digital emissions in their sustainability plans.

But now I want to change things up again.

I still want to do what I do. The knowledge I’ve acquired to do what I do has taken almost 20 years to achieve but I realise at this stage of my life - what they call the third chapter ages 50-75 - I need to start making plans for doing things I love even more than this.

I don’t even know what they are … yet.

I still want to achieve and do things that keep me curious.

I still want to earn money.

I’m not retiring.

Not that sort of slowing down.

Like Jane I’m still trying to figure out what ‘this’ looks like.

I have some ideas and I’m currently mapping out a plan.

I’m going to do some manifesting this week now I feel a bit better and hopefully on the road to recovery after my chest infection.

Resilience and being able to adapt to change at any age are powerful skills.

Do you have these skills?

I’d love to know how you feel about change.

We hear about so many women fearing change and not knowing what to do with their lives especially as they reach midlife and beyond.

As I said earlier, change and adapting to change doesn’t frighten me.

I am the Queen of a good pivot!!

One thing I have realised is that I always come back to writing. It’s been a constant in my life ever since childhood.

Substack has re-ignited my love of writing content on the internet.

It’s such an intuitive platform to use.

Most of all I love that I am growing the tiny shoots of a community here.

Oh and for the record why it’s never too late and you’re never to old to start something new, here’s a list of some things I’ve achieved since I turned 50:

• I completed a half Iron Man in California for a TV show when I was 50

• I took a job that meant I had to fly regularly .. ON MY OWN …when I was 50. This was a real biggie for me to beat my anxiety

• I overcame my life long fear of public speaking when I was 59. I was sexually harassed in my 20s while speaking and put the fear of god into how men perceived me and my breasts.

• I won a social media and digital marketing award when I was 52

• I was shortlisted for Digital Woman of the Year Awards 2021 aged 58

• I set up this blog and won a blog award for Best Newcomer Blog 2017 when I was 54

• I set up a campaign called #ThisNorthernGirlCan in the North East of England where I live to champion gender balance and promote female role models when I was 55

• I encourage 50 plus women to tag their photos on Instagram with #NotPastMyExpiryDate since I was 58

• I co-founded a digital magazine and set up a web and software agency with my eldest son when I was 54

• I set up a social enterprise when I was 59 – Shout Louder CIC

• Digital sustainability course creator and author age 60

• I applied to be a TedX speaker 2024 age 60 now 61 and was successful. It happens in October. Stay tuned.

I think one of the things I might be good at is helping women achieve more. Maybe.

I usually take great big, fast giant steps of change once I’ve made my mind up to do something.

Maybe I can figure out a way to help women take their steps, too. Steps that are small or big, fast ones or slower ones. They all matter.

Here’s another thought before I go on why I think we must embrace change and never settle for the status quo »»

Grief and the journey it takes you on makes you realise that we truly don’t have a lot of time.

Why punish ourselves by forcing ourselves into boxes we don’t want to inhabit?

Oh and by the way, being ill the last couple of weeks sort of forced me to disconnect from social media quite a bit. As the weeks have passed and I realised I didn’t have FOMO I decided to take a break from posting altogether especially on Instagram.

I’m over the moon to report that my Substack readership has not been affected at all.

Lots to think about hey and needing to un jumble my head?

If ever there was a time it’s now.

What about you?

As always, ciao for now,

Hitting the Like 💗 button and re-stacking is the most massive help in getting the word out on Substack about my newsletters.

ANNNNDDD .. I love conversations so the comments is good place to start a chat with me.

I’m massively appreciative of any support tbh - glad you’re here with me 💗