This week's blog is a little different. Rather than sharing one particular story, I wanted to introduce you to the foundations that have helped me grow over the last few years and shaped what Tenacious has become.
At 55, life has so many wonderful moments, but I also find it comes wrapped in questions. At least, it has for me.
When I began the journey of rediscovering myself, I had to have some very honest conversations.
Who was I before the labels?
How would I fill my time?
How could I justify doing things purely for me when so many other people had expectations of how I fitted into their lives?
Perhaps the biggest question of all was this:
What does success actually look like for me?
I've never been driven by money, status or possessions. But I realised I had spent much of my life chasing approval. It was a difficult truth to admit, but also an incredibly freeing one.
The fear of disappointing people, of trying something new and failing, had held me back far more than I ever realised.
Then something changed.
I started trying new things.
Some worked.
Some didn't.
But every experience taught me something, and with each step I felt myself moving closer to a life that felt authentic—a life that was right for me rather than one I believed I was expected to live.
I want to pause here and remind you that this is simply my story. There are no right or wrong answers, only the answers that feel right for you.
One of the first things I reconnected with was my creativity.
I've always loved art, books, music and dance. I have no formal qualifications in any of them, but eventually I realised that didn't matter.
One evening, instead of watching another predictable crime drama, I opened Pinterest and followed a simple painting tutorial. The next morning, paints, brushes and a canvas arrived at my door, and I was off.
Nothing I painted was perfect.
That was never the point.
The joy came from doing something I had loved as a child without worrying whether I was any good at it.
That simple decision opened other doors too.
I began writing again.
I joined pottery classes.
I even discovered felting.
With every new skill came a little more confidence, a little more joy and a stronger connection to the woman I had quietly forgotten along the way.
As my own journey evolved, I wanted to create memories with my son and grandchildren too.
Rather than buying more presents for birthdays and Christmas, I began giving memories instead.
A walk.
A castle.
A bike ride.
A waterfall.
A shared experience.
Because years from now, these were the gifts I wanted my loved ones to remember: what we discovered and the laughter we shared along the way.
Then there are the conversations we simply don't have often enough.
Throughout this journey, I found myself asking the same questions again and again, and as I began asking other women, I realised I wasn't alone.
Do you ever feel invisible?
Do friendships change as we grow older?
Who am I when my children no longer need me in the same way?
Am I too old to begin again?
Is it selfish to want a life of my own after years of caring for everyone else?
These aren't easy questions, but I believe they're important ones.
Perhaps they're conversations we've been waiting to have.
As Tenacious continues to grow over the coming months and years, I'd love this to become more than just my voice.
I'd love it to become our community.
A place where women feel seen.
A place where stories matter.
A place where creativity is celebrated.
A place where no one feels they're too old to begin again.
If you've written a poem, a journal entry, discovered a recipe you love, rekindled an old hobby or simply want to say hello, I'd love to hear from you.
This community belongs to all of us.
If you haven't already, I'd love you to join our free monthly newsletter at www.tenaciouswellness.co.uk. As a thank you, you'll receive complimentary access to the Three-Day Mindful Reset, designed to help you pause, breathe and take the first gentle steps towards rediscovering yourself.
Let's build something meaningful together.
Let's share our stories.
Let's remind one another that it is never too late to become the person we've always been.
Until next time...
Stay Tenacious.
With love,
Paula xx