I am re-posting this as part of a midlife BlogHop.
You know that feeling when you wake up in a new house and the rooms are arranged differently and you’re not quite sure which drawer your underwear is in now or where you stored your favorite mug? But you’re still waking up with the love of your life next to you and your email is still full of happy messages from your friends. And then your new neighbors come by to welcome you and bring you flowers from their garden.
It’s new but kind of familiar. Scary but kind of exhilarating.
That’s how I’m feeling.
After four years of blogging on a different platform, I’ve moved here to a whole new site, on my own, without my partners.
At the same time, after fifty four years of living on this earth, including two decades of wouldn’t-trade-it-for-anything hard-core mothering, I’ve moved into a totally different stage, without my kids (one is a college senior, the other graduated last year and is now working in New York) or my dogs (who I imagine playing together on the other side of the rainbow bridge).
It’s new but kind of familiar. Scary but kind of exhilarating.
Surprisingly, I’m really excited about celebrating midlife. I’m convinced it’s the perfect time to find our oasis – that place we want to be, whether literally or figuratively. With our children grown and starting lives of their own, it’s the perfect time to find ourselves.
And I find myself here.
Here’s where we offer support and encourage each other to reach our goals. Please tell me what you need to get to your own personal oasis because I’m working on getting brands to help make those dreams come true. I’ve already gotten Jenny Craig and Jazzercise on board.
So look around, make yourself at home, subscribe and invite your friends. Leave comments, share what you read and keep your brain young by learning something new every day.
I’m so excited about building a strong community of women who are empowered, rather than deterred, by the number of candles on their birthday cake and who are determined to make midlife the most rewarding stage yet.
It’s new but kind of familiar. Scary but kind of exhilarating.
I may be on a perpetual search for my keys and my phone, but I find myself here.
I hope you will too.
I’ll follow you anywhere Lois! Best of luck to you on your new adventure!
Thank you for coming along on this exciting adventure! xo
Go Lois, Go Lois keep us reading and laughing and tearing( not quite crying)
Thanks so much. You may be crying laughing when you see me start Jazzercise next week.
Lois, You did a great job in class. We are a fun bunch and you fit right in! I hope I see you back this week.
Ha ha! I did not do a great job but I did have a great time! Nicest people ever, and you are an awesome Jazzercise instructor! Hey, everyone, head over to La Costa for the low impact class. I went today, too, and will be back tomorrow. See you then, Kristen! Thanks for the support!
Me too Lois. I will follow you wherever. Since we have reconnected I am continuously amazed at the depths of your creativity, love for life, journalistic talents and plain old “wow-factor”. I am excited to travel this mid-life road with you and all the women, and men, who join you. Wishing you so much luck (not that you need it) and success (which I know you will achieve) in this new venture.
It means so much to me to have you here, Rae. Love you.
Oh Lois, where to begin?! I remember first meeting you decades (!!!) ago, and somehow we’ve reunited via cyberspace decades later. Oh, the stories we can– and do– tell! It’s great to build a community of (mostly) women who are celebrating and sharing while learning about life in an empty nest/life in our fifties/ living a worthwhile life while our circumstances continue to morph. All while laughing…You always have brought a huge grin to my face, Lois, and I know you will continue to do so in your — OUR– new Oasis! xoxo
Sally, you are awesome and I can’t tell you how much it means to me for you to say OUR new Oasis. That is totally what makes it an oasis. xoxoxo
Bring it on! I’ll be there with you every step of the way.
Wendy, that makes me feel so great. Thank you! xo
Love the new “room” and you! Looking forward to all of it! xoxo
Oh, Elin, thank you for helping me get here. Love you. xo
Best wishes for huge success and happiness in your new home — a lovely, peaceful place that makes me smile (and wish I had elephant slobber on my head). xoxo
Ha ha! So happy you’re here, Lisa, and wish I could get elephants to slobber on all of our heads. True joy! xo
I am here with you Lois and can’t await your new website. Love you sister friend.
Love you right back, Madge! xo
Welcome home my dear friend. Welcome home.
OMG you just made me cry, Amy. Wow. That says it all, to me. I love you.
It is new and beautiful and exciting and yet so comfortable and you. I am so happy to find you here. Sending you, as always, bunches of love.
Kim, it wouldn’t be an oasis without you. Thank you for EVERYTHING and, especially, for being you. xo
I am so happy for you! Welcome home! 🙂
Thank you for being here with me!
Can’t wait to hear of your new adventures!! Congrats and WooHoo!
Bless your little heart, Connie. xo
Count me in!!!! I need someone to show me this midlife stuff doesnt really suck!!!
I will help make it not suck for you! xo
I’ll be happy to join and follow, Lois, because I like you and it’s wonderful to find people that have so much in common even if they live an ocean apart! xoxoxo
Mary, thank you so much for being here. I like you too! Where do you live? I think I remember you commenting on my Mother of All Storms post — moms are definitely the same wherever they live! xoxo
I’m excited to continue on this journey with you- blessings and many warm hugs,
Melinda
Melinda, love you and can’t believe we’re now sharing midlife together! Weren’t we just tweens?!
Lois, I can feel your excitement. Congrats on stepping out…you’ve obviously laid a strong foundation to build upon. I look forward to following you on your adventures! And I love your mission! I feel the same way.
Thanks so much, Lisa! I think we can do some great things together! xo
You Go Girl!! You know how I feel about you….just post some pictures of Jabu, Marula and Tembe and I will be happy!!
I look so forward to enjoying your new chapter WITH you!!
Love you,
Laur
xoxox
Laurie, we need to go back to Africa and hang out with those elephants together! Love you, and am so happy to have you on this journey with me. xo
so glad you’re continuing on! what an inspiration you are…can’t wait to see what you get into next!
don’t know you…but thru these sites, but wish i could give you a big hug!
~lucinda
That means so much to me, thanks! So glad you’re here, and here’s a big hug right back! xo
Lois, Kudos on this wonderful new site and the adventure you are beginning. I look forward to being part of it. Blessings to you in “the Oasis” and everywhere else.
Thank you so much, Susan! I’m so happy you’re here!
I am ready to make my own oasis to carry me through the next, I hope, long years to come ahead. I need to make positive and rewarding changes after my wake up call.
Happy to be part of your followers.
We will all help each other, Yolanda. So glad you’re part of the community!
You put things so beautifully, Lois! Who wouldn’t want to foolw you?! Ilook forward to every step. Yes, sometimes scarey, but exciting none-the-less~ Much love
Thank you so much, Jill, and I’m so happy you’re here. xo
Congrats on your new adventure and reinvention!
Lois, I read this when you originally posted it. And now look at how far you’ve come! I’m sure it hasn’t been easy, but reinvention never is. Congratulations on this new chapter!
Oh finding one’s way around a new software program can be so disorienting. I get so that it’s muscle memory–zip zoom dash. Having to slow down and deal with a learning curve can be frustrating. But from this side of things, it all looks really slick! All my best in your new incarnation!
You have an infectious positivity that cannot be ignored. I love what you’ve done with the place. Keep up the amazing good work!
Lois, I am signing on and looking forward to following you in this new adventure.
Am loving this post all over again Lois. You are taking the Internet by storm and it is so fun to see! Of course I do find now that I alternate humming and singing the words “send your camel to bed…” every time I see your emails hit my inbox. Very clever! Love you! xo