Don't Waste Your Time - It's Never Too Late

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the things we lose in our 50s… and the things we find. 

 

For me, I lost confidence. I lost a clear sense of identity. I lost the structure that came with raising children. After decades of putting others first, I reached a point where I wasn’t sure who I was anymore — or what I wanted next. 

 

And yet, I also found something. 

 

After turning 48, I stumbled (quite literally) into photography. What started as a simple desire to add pictures to my blog about turning 50 turned into something much bigger: a completely unexpected career that lit me up from the inside. I became a professional photographer — something I never thought would happen at that stage of life. 

 

When my children left home and I hit perimenopause, I found myself struggling emotionally. So I did what many writers do — I wrote about it. My blog was raw and honest, and to my surprise, people responded. That connection helped me feel seen, and it helped me start to see myself again. 

 

I decided to interview people in their 50s who were living joyfully and fully — not winding down, but winding up. I wanted to photograph them, too. So I joined a portrait photography course… not realising it was for professionals. I didn't even know how to turn on the camera at first! 

 

But something happened when I looked through that lens. I saw more than just faces. I saw beauty, vulnerability, strength. And in doing that, I started to see myself differently too. 

 

That one decision led me to a new path. I became a portrait photographer. I went on to shoot weddings, brand sessions, and help women see themselves the way others see them. It brought me such joy — and it all started at an age when some people feel it’s “too late” to begin something new. 

 

But I’m here to tell you: it’s not. 

 

You don’t have to leave your job tomorrow. You don’t have to know exactly what’s next. But I encourage you to look left and right. Notice what lights you up. Pay attention to what pulls at your heart. You never know what might happen if you follow it — even just a little bit. 

 

I didn’t waste my time. And neither have you. Everything you've done has brought you here. But that doesn’t mean you have to stay stuck. 

 

You’re not too old. It’s never too late. Don’t waste time staying where you don’t belong. 

 

Let me know in the comments: What have you found in your 50s? 

 

You can watch me talking about this subject on the Midlife and Beyond YouTube channel: