i find myself here

Lois Alter Mark relaxes in a hammock at the Lake Austin Spa

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.

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50 thoughts on “i find myself here

      1. 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.

        1. 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!

  1. 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.

  2. 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

    1. 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

    1. Ha ha! So happy you’re here, Lisa, and wish I could get elephants to slobber on all of our heads. True joy! xo

    1. Kim, it wouldn’t be an oasis without you. Thank you for EVERYTHING and, especially, for being you. xo

  3. 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

    1. 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

    1. Melinda, love you and can’t believe we’re now sharing midlife together! Weren’t we just tweens?!

  4. 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.

  5. 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

    1. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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.

  8. 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!

  9. 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!

  10. 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

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