Are you ready for some midlife magic?
I’m writing this from my childhood bedroom, home for a few days to see my parents. They’re in their mid-80s now—still active, still living a good life—but their world has become smaller. Dad has relinquished his passport. Mum only drives locally. Many of their friends and siblings have passed, and their weeks are punctuated by GP appointments, scans, and blood tests.
They are content. And yet, I can’t help but sit with the fact that this stage of life—where routines shrink and adventures fade—is just 30 years away for me. And realistically, not all of those 30 years will be filled with energy, health, and possibility.
Which makes me ask:
What will I do with the time I have left?
Midlife Has a Way of Waking Us Up
One moment, we’re caught up in work, family, and responsibilities. The next, something shifts—a career change, a friend’s diagnosis, an empty nest, the loss of a loved one—and suddenly, we see time differently.
The question becomes:
What are we going to do with it?
For so long, we’ve been meeting the needs of others—partners, family, employers. We’ve kept the plates spinning, often at the expense of our own dreams.
But midlife isn’t too late. In fact, it’s the perfect time to dust off those dreams and start saying yes to yourself again. And it doesn’t need to be a dramatic reinvention. It might be as simple as picking up a paintbrush, running again, or joining a book club.
The key? Momentum.
The Magic Portal: A Way Forward
A few years ago, I learned a simple yet powerful exercise from Genevieve Davis called The Magic Portal. It’s a practice I’ve returned to, and I invite you to try it too.
It’s about moving from stuckness into possibility, one inspired action at a time.
Here’s how it works:
- Write down what you want – Big or small, practical or wild.
- Ask: How can I…? – Shift from passive wishing to active exploring.
- Brainstorm ideas – Write every option, even the unlikely ones.
- Take one inspired action – Choose the step that feels most exciting or doable.
- Let go of the outcome – Trust that the next step will reveal itself.
- Track your progress – Each day, ask: What moved me closer today?
This simple framework helps shift your focus from what’s missing to what’s already unfolding.
A Camper Van Adventure Wilder Than My Dreams
Let me share what happened when I tried it.
After COVID, I had this deep yearning for a camper van adventure. I had no idea how to make it happen, but I committed to the Magic Portal process.
I brainstormed ideas—buy one, rent one, win one, borrow one, steal one? (Just kidding!). I entered competitions, rode in friends’ campervans, even hired one for a weekend.
I didn’t win or buy one. I didn’t steal one either.
But something magical happened.
Out of the blue, a friend called:
“I need someone to drive a camper van around the North Coast 500 in Scotland for a week—do you want to come?”
At that point, I hadn’t even heard of the NC500, but I said yes—and it turned out to be one of the best experiences of my life.
It reminded me of something important:
If you take action, life meets you halfway.
Your Invitation: Begin Your Own Adventure
In writing this, I’ve decided to restart this practice—and I’d love for you to join me.
Today, ask yourself:
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What’s one thing I’ve sidelined that still calls to me?
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How can I…?
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What’s one inspired action I can take today?
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What happened today that moved me closer?
Then trust. Say yes to yourself.
You don’t need to know the whole path.
You just need to take the next step.
A Love Note From Your 80-Year-Old Self
Trust yourself more.
You always find a way.
Stop waiting for certainty—because you’ll never feel fully ready.
The best things in your life happened when you stepped forward before the path was clear.
Keep doing that.
Say yes to what excites you. Take the trip. Start the thing. Write the words. Dance with life while you can.
Your body, your energy, your capacity to explore – they won’t last forever. But regret lasts.
And remember: you’ve never been ‘too late’ for anything. You’ve always been right on time.
What would your 80-year-old self say to you right now?
