This post was originally published on Substack on February 20, 2025. I’m sharing it here for my blog readers who may have missed it.
The moment everything changes
There comes a point when you realize you’re stepping into a new season of life.
The roles that once defined you—whether motherhood, caregiving, a career, or something else—are shifting.
Maybe your kids are grown, and you’re wondering, “Who am I now that I’m no longer in the thick of parenting?”
Maybe you’ve spent years caring for others—family, aging parents—and now that season has ended, leaving a space you don’t quite know how to fill.
Or maybe you’ve had a career that gave you purpose, but now, whether by choice or circumstance, you’re stepping into something new, unsure of what comes next.
That in-between space can feel unsettling.
You might feel a mix of emotions: relief, grief, excitement, uncertainty, or even fear of the unknown.
This is where Her Second Chapter begins—a space, a community, a home I created for women who find themselves in this season of change.
A place to navigate life’s transitions with faith, rediscover who you are beyond your roles, and step into this next chapter with clarity and confidence.
Because life is a story, made up of many chapters. Some are filled with joy and success, others with challenges and change. But every story moves forward.
And just like in a book, when one chapter closes, another begins.
Her Second Chapter isn’t about starting over—it’s about turning the page. Not erasing what came before, but stepping forward into what comes next.
But stepping forward isn’t always easy.
Because even when you want to embrace what’s next, even when you know a new chapter is waiting, there’s still a part of you that wonders… what happens when a chapter ends and you’re not sure who you are without it?
Lost and found: reclaiming my dreams
That was exactly where I found myself.
For 10 years, I poured my heart and soul into running a successful online business. I built it from nothing, watched it grow, and put everything into making it thrive. And in the process, it became more than just something I did—it became a part of me.
My identity was so wrapped up in it that I didn’t know where it ended and I began.
So when I had to make the painful decision to close it, I wasn’t just walking away from a business—I felt like I was walking away from myself.
But that wasn’t the only time I felt that way.
For most of the last 15 years, I was both a parent and a caregiver—raising my kids while also looking after my grandfather. The two roles were so intertwined that I hardly had time to think about where one ended and the other began.
And then, over time, both roles started to shift.
My season of caregiving ended when my grandfather passed at 101 years old in 2022. And now, as my kids grow older (16 to 26), my role with them is changing too. They don’t need me in the same way they once did. And while I love watching them step into their own lives, I won’t lie…
After years of being the one everyone depended on, it’s been hard to figure out who I am beyond that.
You see, with each of these transitions, I began feeling more and more disconnected from my own dreams.
When I shut down my business, I didn’t just lose the work itself—I lost the part of me that had something that was mine.
And instead of figuring out what came next for me, I put my dreams on hold and poured myself into the people I loved, because I just couldn’t do both.
At first, it didn’t feel like a sacrifice—I wanted to be there for my family. But as time passed, the more distant my dreams felt, and the harder it was to stay connected to them.
I started wrestling with thoughts that so many women face:
- Will I ever have the time to pursue my dreams?
- Is it too late?
- Have I waited too long?
- Do I still have something to offer?
Because let’s be honest—society doesn’t exactly make this easy. We live in a world that celebrates fresh starts in your 20s but treats reinvention later in life like it’s a lost cause. We hear words like retirement and slowing down, as if the best years are already behind us.
And when you hear that message long enough, it’s hard not to wonder if it’s true.
But here’s what I’ve come to realize: It’s not.
The heart behind Her Second Chapter
If there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s this:
God is not finished with my story. And He’s not finished with yours either.
For so long, I believed the lie that my dreams had an expiration date—that if I hadn’t accomplished them by now, they weren’t worth pursuing. But I’ve come to see that God doesn’t put limits on us—we do.
The more I reflected, prayed, and sought wisdom, the more I realized something that changed everything:
I wasn’t starting over. I wasn’t too late. I was stepping into my Second Chapter.
And when that truth finally sank in, something inside me shifted.
I stopped believing that I had lost too much time to go back to my dreams. I started to see how every experience, every challenge, and every sacrifice I had made had been preparing me for what was next.
And that’s when I knew—I couldn’t keep this to myself.
I created Her Second Chapter because I know I’m not the only woman who has felt this way. I know I’m not the only one who has ever wondered, What now? or Is it too late?
Her Second Chapter isn’t about starting over—it’s about stepping forward with all the wisdom, experience, and strength you’ve gained from the life you’ve already lived.
Because this next chapter?
It might just turn out to be the best one yet.
What Her Second Chapter is (and isn’t)
I know that stepping into something new can feel overwhelming—especially when you’re not even sure where you belong.
So before we go any further, let me be clear about something:
What her second chapter is not:
❌ It’s not just about midlife.
Yes, many women step into their Second Chapter around midlife, but this isn’t about a number—it’s about a transition. A shift in roles. A moment when you realize that life as you knew it is changing, and you’re being invited to step into something new.
❌ It’s not just about career changes.
While some women might be transitioning from full-time work to something new, others might be stepping away from full-time caregiving, navigating an empty nest, or even recovering from a season of loss.
❌ It’s not about reinventing yourself into someone new.
You don’t have to become a different person. This isn’t about discarding who you were—it’s about rediscovering who you’ve always been. The version of you that existed before life pulled you in a million different directions.
❌ It’s not about erasing the past.
Your past isn’t a burden—it’s a foundation. Every challenge, every sacrifice, every lesson has shaped you into the person you are today. And it’s those very experiences that will help you step into what’s next.
What her second chapter is:
✔ It’s about rediscovering who you are.
Maybe you’ve spent years—even decades—pouring into others, and now you’re wondering, Who am I beyond these roles? This is about uncovering the parts of yourself that got lost along the way and stepping into the fullness of who you were created to be.
✔ It’s about walking by faith into what’s next.
Transitions can feel scary—especially when you don’t have all the answers. Her Second Chapter is about leaning into God’s plan and trusting that even when the path isn’t clear, He is leading you into something good.
✔ It’s about giving yourself permission to dream again.
The dreams in your heart? They still matter. They were never lost. Maybe they’ve been buried under years of responsibilities, self-doubt, or fear—but they were never forgotten by God.
✔ It’s about stepping forward with confidence.
Not because you have everything figured out, but because you don’t have to. You don’t have to see the whole path to take the first step.
Because this—right here, right now—is the beginning of your next chapter.
Your Second Chapter Is Waiting
I don’t know exactly where you are in your journey right now.
Maybe you’re at the very beginning, just starting to wonder if there’s something more for you in this next season.
Maybe you’ve felt the pull of a dream buried deep in your heart, but you’re afraid too much time has passed.
Or maybe you’re standing at the edge of something new—excited, but unsure—wondering if you have what it takes to step forward.
Wherever you are, you are not alone.
That’s why I created Her Second Chapter—because I know what it feels like to wrestle with these questions. To feel stuck between where you’ve been and where you want to go.
And I also know this:
God is not finished with you.
There is more ahead. There is more for you to discover, more for you to become, more for you to step into.
You don’t have to have it all figured out. You don’t have to know exactly where this road leads.
You just have to take the first step.
With love and belief in you,
