This blog came out of many conversations with women who, like me, reached their middle years and felt a bit lost, rudderless. Some of these women have had successful careers but are ready for a change and seeking a more purposeful outlet for their abilities. Others have been focused on child rearing and, with their kids grown, wish to find new meaning outside of their roles as mothers. Still others have never really found their “thing.”
Women of a “certain age” are often self-aware: emboldened by their strengths, accepting of their limitations, and ready to take a realistic approach in the pursuit of new personal goals. Their motivation may come from regrets about paths not taken, an itch to put their energy into more creative outlets, a wish to give back to their community in a more substantive way, or any myriad of reasons.
Yet something may be holding them back. How do they move forward? Where do they get help? What should they expect? Uncertainty and fear can be powerful deterrents that cause us to stay stuck in the status quo.
Next Act For Women hopes to inspire these women to take the plunge toward fulfilling their passions. How? By creating a community where they can read about women who have made this leap, contribute their stories of successes and bumps in the road, share tips and other words of advice, thereby learning from each other as they strive to live out their Next Act.
ABOUT ME:
My name is Hélène Tragos Stelian and I’m 52 years old. I live in Chicago with my husband and twin teenage daughters. After careers in retailing and marketing for large companies, I became a stay-at-home mom when my girls were born. While I was lucky to have this choice, it precipitated a bit of an identity crisis; it was clear that I had to find new creative outlets while taking care of my family.
When I saw a need for a detailed baby planner that could help expecting parents navigate the many tasks and purchases that come along with a new baby, I wrote a book proposal for a pregnancy organizer. I had a lot to learn about the publishing industry but finally found a literary agent willing to take a chance on an unknown, unproven author. We received offers from three major publishing houses.
After 12 years on the market and 80,000 copies sold, and with the meteoric rise of Internet sales, I decided it made more sense for me to self-publish the second edition of my book in 2014, which was a huge learning process. The book launched earlier this year. Learn more by clicking the “My Books” tab on the home page or check it out by clicking on the cover.
As my girls grew, I became very involved in their school and our community, volunteering to run fundraisers, school lunch, author and speaker programs, and launching a parent support group in our suburban village. When we moved back to the city of Chicago, our girls now in high school and much more independent, it was time for me to find my next adventure.
It struck me time and time again, in my conversations with middle-aged women, that many of us were struggling to figure out what’s next. That was the genesis for this blog, which may just be my own Next Act. I’m not sure where it will take me, which is particularly hard for a super-planner like me, but am following the wise advice of a girlfriend who told be to jump in and trust the journey.
I also enjoy mentoring under-resourced high school seniors through the college application process with a wonderful organization called Chicago Scholars, and published a book based on that work in 2015, aimed at helping high school teens sift through colleges to determine which handful they should apply to. Then when my own daughters had committed to their colleges, I researched and published my newest book, with the goal to ease the way for highs school seniors and their parents leaving for college. Learn more in the “My Books” tab or check them out by clicking on the covers.
With my husband of 20 years, Peter
While my family is always my top priority, in my spare time, I love to try new recipes, connect with girlfriends old and new, listen to National Public Radio (I love Fresh Air) and podcasts (Serial, Freakonomics), find fun things to do in Chicago, walk our dog Rocky, read lots of non-fiction, work out (begrudgingly), and watch my favorite TV shows (Scandal, The Good Wife, Modern Family, Nurse Jackie, Downtown Abbey). While my life is not without its share of challenges, I feel truly blessed, and ready for the second half of my life.
Our cockapoo, Rocky
P.S. What’s with my name? In case you’re wondering about the accents on my name, Hélène, it’s the French spelling of Helene. I was raised in Paris, France until I was 13 and went to French school. How is it pronounced? Think of the two letters L and N and say them in a row L-N (emphasis on the N).