There’s something strange that happens in midlife that I don’t think people talk about enough.You stop performing.Not all at once.Not dramatically.But quietly.You notice yourself becoming less willing to tolerate things that once felt normal.You stop over-explaining.You stop managing other people’s emotions.You stop shrinking to maintain harmony.And at first, it can feel disorientating.Because so much of womanhood — especially for our generation — was built around accommodation.Being pleasant.Useful.Flexible.Liked.But somewhere in my 50s, I realised I no longer wanted to build my life around being palatable.I wanted to build it around being honest.That shift changes everything.The video I shared this week touches on some of that — but what I’ve realised more deeply lately is that midlife isn’t making me harder.It’s making me clearer.And clarity is a form of freedom. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit beryldingemans.substack.com

Ask this episode

“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

Transcript

Related