I'm glad you found me. I've been looking everywhere.

The Midlife Anti-Hero newsletter is now, simply, AMID LIFE. A home for self-discovery and new beginnings written for (and by) resilient, rebellious, reinventing women.

After a sabbatical from posting regularly on Substack (and straight to your inbox), I’m refreshed and excited to connect with you wherever you may be—amid life.

Thanks to my amazing subscribers for staying around while I took a break to focus on writing my book (and learning about writing and editing, reading books, gardening, playing pickleball, and otherwise slacking off because rest is important).

To the new subscribers who arrived (to my astonishment and glee) while I was away, WELCOME! You can learn more about me here.

This picture is a few years old—those peonies, though….

Why Amid Life and not A Midlife?

Midlife is trendy, but as I’m about to celebrate my 62nd birthday—amongst the last of the Boomer generation—I have to wonder. Will I live to see 124? Probably not. So, haven’t I already whizzed past the midpoint of my life?

The first Gen Z’s are approaching 30, so what generation isn’t amid life?

Self-confessed “Late-Blooming Gen-X Weirdo¹”

Sari Botton

named her publication Oldster Magazine but is adamant that it “isn’t about old people.” Why? Because she says, “Everyone who is alive” is aging. I couldn’t agree more.

If we’re alive. We’re amid life.

My beat is serving up vulnerable stories, cultural observations, and practical life lessons with a side of humor from my particular spot on the map. Which is this: a post-menopausal woman, an emerging writer, an experienced corporate marketer, a mother, a daughter, a needy, awkward, smart but scared, and oh, so sensitive value junkie.

Right-click to save, then share this image.

I left my career a few years ago, setting out on a frantic quest to reinvent myself and find my purpose, but what I really needed was to give myself a break. And I will—as soon as I learn how. For now, I’m delighted to share the road with you.

I’ll continue to use Substack to serve up vulnerable stories, cultural observations, and practical life lessons with a side of humor in hopes of sparking conversations and connections (❤👍❔💬). The goal is to help you (and me!) feel a little lighter, maybe a little less discombobulated or alone—in a word, seen.

A few updates to Subscriber benefits

All subscribers will …

• Be the first to see new posts via email or the Substack app.

• Seize opportunities to comment and connect with other readers.*

• Save and share inspirational quote graphics formatted for social media.

• Find reading recommendations, resources, and links for deeper discovery.

• Receive sneak peeks from my midlife memoir, Typing Lessons. Wherein I, a menopausal mid-level corporate manager, move to rural Vermont, hire a life wizard, and leave my career to embark on a frantic search for purpose. Oh my!

*most posts will be archived behind a paywall after one week

Paid subscribers will:

• Get that warm and fuzzy feeling that comes from supporting women striving to make their voices heard. And my immense gratitude!

• Membership in the Amid Life chat group with discussion prompts designed to inspire new ideas and create meaningful connections. (via Substack chat)

• Access to the complete Amid Life archives, including previous versions of this newsletter.

• Receive occasional downloadable tools and templates for goal-setting and planning a post-professional life.

What I like about writing on Substack is the ability to create a no-comparison, filter-free, no-judgement zone. Thank you for joining me here.

1. AND YOU MAY FIND YOURSELF: Confessions of a Late Blooming Gen X Weirdo, Sari Botton

Support independent booksellers by visiting my Bookshop.org shop for other inspiring book suggestions.