Making small clay creations embellished with her mother’s Norwegian sayings was an outlet for Kristine’s grief after her mom’s passing. Little did she know her porcelain art would become a business, Beanpole Pottery, with orders from as far as Australia.
When Lisa finally met the love of her life in her early 50s, she found the wedding industry was woefully lacking in services and resources aimed at the midlife bride. That was the impetus for Lisa publishing her first book, Unveiled Wisdom: Wedding Planning for the Mid-Life Bride
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With your company, CoHousing Solutions, you help groups form collaborative neighborhoods. What does cohousing entail?
Cohousing neighborhoods are collaborative communities of 12-35 homes where your really know your neighbors and agree that together you can create more than you can alone.
By clustering the homes (complete homes, each with their own kitchens), building extensive common facilities, and keeping cars at the periphery, people have more opportunities to get to know each other and work together to support a more socially and environmentally sustainable lifestyle.
After careers in journalism, catering, and marketing, Helene went back to her first love: Books. She reviews works of fiction on her blog, Books Is Wonderful, and is finishing up her own first novel.
You are the author of Best Knickers Always: 50 Lessons For Midlife
and coach women who are entering the second half of their life. Why is midlife such a time of opportunity for women?
Midlife is a time of transition for so many of us. We often come up for air for the first time in a very long time. I found myself single and 45. Instead of believing that my life was over, I saw it quite differently, thanks to my son’s words of wisdom, “Mum, you’ve got half your life ahead of you.” And he was absolutely right!
You became a mom at 42 and founded Motherhood Later…Than Sooner. What unmet needs were you trying to fill with this organization?
When I became a mom, I felt the need for support and to be in the company of mom peers, and I was not able to find any group or community for new mothers age 35 and up. I had lost my mom, so I did not have a maternal figure in my life and, as they say, it takes a village to raise a child. By launching Motherhood Later, I have been able to offer that to later-in-life mothers. No one wants to feel alone, and it’s hugely helpful and empowering to share experiences and wisdom, and to connect with others where age is considered an asset not an issue.
When she had to shut down her successful invitations business, Rita discovered a passion for creating photo books and launched her new venture, Photovation, where she helps people tell their stories through their photo collections.
After stints in the military and as an EMT, Stephanie finally made good on her desire to become a police officer. She attended the Academy at age 40 and now serves and protects the San Mateo County area in California.
After establishing movement and music classes for preschoolers, Cara wanted to make a greater impact. She now works with mothers and fathers who want to become the best parents they can be, thereby transforming their family lives.
When she couldn’t find work as a newly graduated psychotherapist in midlife, Kim chose to combine her training in psychology with her love of Zen meditation to help people struggling with excess weight.