Yes, t’s harder to dazzle us, but easier to move us – but only if you know where to aim.
We’ve outgrown just the fireworks. Now, the bar for “impressed” sits somewhere between seen it and not buying it. But inspiration? That still resonates.
Now: We’re BetterEDITORS.
We have a few years and many many experiences under our belts now. We are a lot more in tune with ourselves, our desires and what we are now wanting. So it was only a matter of time that we became much better at knowing what truly impresses us – and what’s all for show.
We’ve always been our own ‘editor’ but now – we’ve sharpened our senses to a point that we know how to actually edit life differently.
The bar might be higher, but the joy we crave is deeper.
A NEWThreshold.
Lately I’ve realised my threshold for being “impressed” keeps climbing. But inspired? That can happen in a second – when someone keeps a promise, when something goes from ideation to action, when something moves me. I’ve outgrown things that are just ‘spectacles’ for the sake of it. We see through the BS much quicker now – it’s not being cynical, it’s just knowing in your gut and your head – and trusting it. I want resonance -the kind you feel in your chest. That’s what holds my interest now. That’s what I find inspiring.
So is being hard to impress a bad thing? Absolutely not. It’s discerning. It’s real.
“I like when things give me goosebumps. It means it’s really struck a chord with me. It’s captured not only my attention, but I am intrigued. I feel a flicker of inspiration. I love being inspired more than anything – it creates a certain energy. It’s where my curiosity get’s to roam freely.”
creator of maison 1973, Nic
What inspires you now and
what gives you goosebumps?
Continue to explore our mood boards for inspiration
“I’m definitely not fearless. But I am courageous. It’s not something I wake up with – I have to choose it. Somedays, more often than others. But I learnt long ago, fear doesn’t go away – I just had to find the courage to keep going in the face of grief, doubt, reinvention.”
creator of maison 1973, Nic Tierney
Courage Is Not The ABSENCE Of Fear.
I’ve felt varying degrees of fear in all sorts of situations – airports, boardrooms, hospitals. I’ve felt it in my bones. I’ve felt it before sending the text, the email. Making the call. Starting again. Walking away. Small things, big things – all sorts of things. Over time, I have been fearful of many things – I am human.
And I’ve felt fear when things were good, too. When life was full and love was all around and it scared me because…what if I lost it?
So no – I’m not ‘fearless’. But I try not to let fear ever take over and stop me from doing what I need – or want to do. I also don’t live in a state of fear – something I am incredibly grateful for.
Fear – it visits me.
The word, the context, the emotion and the meaning behind it, truly fascinates me – as often it is just thrown around very one dimensionally without thought or care for what it actually means to some people.
Like you, I have to face things I fear all the time. How do I do that? By finding courage.
I’ve just stopped pretending that ‘fearlessness’ is the goal. But courage? That’s real. That’s lived. And that’s what midlife is asking of us now as we embark on our next chapter.
Fear Doesn’t Mean You’re WEAK.
We’re told from a young age to be brave. To stand tall. To not cry. And often, when we learned how to find the courage and face a fear – we grew as a result. Fear can be one of our greatest teachers. I am not ashamed at all to admit that I have many fears – some I have faced and some that I still have, and continue to face as they arise. There is absolutely no shame or weakness in that whatsoever. In fact, it’s probably saved me in some situations.
Nowadays, however, that messaging has gotten slicker. More forceful.
Be fearless. Be unstoppable. Be more.
It all seems motivational on the surface. And often, for some (and in the right context) – it can be. But quietly, sometimes it can make us feel like we’re somehow lacking if fear still visits us – if we still second-guess ourselves at 45, or 51, or 62.
If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve lived through a few lifetimes within your life.
You’ve done brave things. You’ve done hard things.
You’ve achieved wonderful things. You’ve endured times of heartbreak, change, reinvention, caregiving, letting go.
You’ve had hope and you more than likely, have felt fear – in varying degrees.
You’ve needed to find and trust your courage – quiet, imperfect, evolving – and that it is more than enough.
Because it is.
What COURAGE Has Looked Like in My Life
It didn’t always look bold. And sometimes it did. Most of the time though, I was vulnerable and had no idea what to do.
Somedays it looked like crying in the car, pulling it together, and walking into the meeting anyway.
Other times it was hearing news that you never want to hear and facing something that was indescribable, but there was no other option but to deal with it. Often, it looked like saying “I’m not sure yet.” Or “I’m sorry, I was wrong.”
Sometimes, it looked like silence. And sometimes, it looked like speaking the truth that made my voice shake. None of that was fearless.
Point was – I felt the fear and then had to find the courage to face it. Time after time.
The Courageous MIDDLE
We’re not in a season of proving. We’re in a season of choosing. And that, takes courage.
It can be messy and quiet. Hard and rewarding. It’s where we:
Reclaim our voice.
Make peace with our body.
Stop apologising for our ambition – or our rest.
Let go of roles – and people – that no longer fit with our life.
Begin again, even when it’s not guaranteed to work.
Learn to be vulnerable in life, in relationships and in leadership.
I believe, one of the great shifts that happens as we age, is the ‘shedding’ of the need of ‘performance’. We’re far more interested in being true.
And fearlessness? Often, nowadays that’s become a performance. Just a bunch of words thrown at us to make us pretend we are something we are not. Some of the most incredibly strong, courageous people I know – who have faced insane adversities in life – still openly admit that they have fears, to this day. But they lived through it with courage and bravery – and continue to do so.
Courage is a choice and a practice. It’s often deeply private. It’s often unseen. And it doesn’t demand (or require), applause.
So now more than ever, I consciously choose to just be present in life. And that means welcoming in the full range of emotions – including fear.
But it doesn’t sit in the drivers seat – it’s just a passenger in my car of life.
Rippling waves create a soothing rhythm as the sun dips low on the horizon, casting warm hues over the water’s surface in a captivating display of nature’s artistry.
Acknowledge the fear. Walk anyway.
maison 1973
Courage doesn’t have to be loud. Just real.
Continue to explore our mood boards for inspiration
Just because you said it, doesn’t mean you’re right.
“This is a fascinating topic to me. I feel that dogma is when opinion gets so loud, it forgets how to listen. It’s the moment belief becomes a rulebook, and curiosity gets kicked out of the room. It’s the end of the conversation – not the beginning of one. There is a time and a place for everything. And not everything is dogma. And not every opinion is fact. The art of dialogue is crucial in our everyday lives.”
creator of maison 1973, Nic Tierney
Agree to disagree? Is that even a thing anymore?
Welcome to the age of the mic drop. Where certainty on everything and everyone – is now our currency, and anyone who dares to disagree is instantly dismissed, dissected, or digitally obliterated. We seem to not want to really talk anymore? Instead, it feels as if everything is a declaration. And if you’re not clapping, you’re clearly the enemy.
Somewhere along the way, we lost the art of respectful disagreement. We lost our appetite for nuance. We became afraid – or even allergic? – to not being right.
What does this mean and what is going on? Let’s explore.
It’s Everywhere Now
It lives in social captions and podcast rants. It masquerades as moral superiority. It seems to punish curiosity and curious people?
Dogma says, “I’m right. You’re wrong. End of story.” Dialogue, on the other hand, says, “Here’s what I think. What about you?”
As Gen X women, we remember a different kind of conversation. One where people could sit across from each other with totally opposing views and still share dessert. We weren’t so threatened by contradiction. We knew that opinions didn’t define the person – or at least, they didn’t have to.
But now? Opinions are treated as identities. And any challenge to your viewpoint is seen as a threat to your entire sense of self.
But here’s a truth: just because you make a point, doesn’t necessarily make it right. And just because someone doesn’t agree with you, doesn’t make them wrong. It’s a harsh truth for some, but it is a truth nevertheless.
We’ve confused having a platform with having the last word. We’ve mistaken confidence for correctness. We’ve equated volume with value.
Here’s a thought to ponder – if your belief system can’t handle being questioned, maybe it’s not a belief system – it’s a performance?
It takes strength to hold space for views that challenge your own. It takes grace to say, “I see it differently – but I still respect you.” It takes maturity to let the moment pass without needing to win it.
This is happening everywhere: families divided over dinner, 24/7 with virtual strangers online, some people are just opting out of conversation altogether because it’s just not worth the backlash. People’s general interest in just simply seeking to understand – being stifled by those with louder opinions.
But silence isn’t the answer. And neither is shouting louder.
So What is?
It’s curiosity. It’s emotional maturity. It’s being okay with not being right. It’s knowing when to walk away, not to prove a point but to preserve your peace. It’s understanding that some things in life hold a lot of uncertainty and with that, there needs to be some understanding.
It’s becoming so rare (particularly online) to find and meet people where you feel completely at ease with sharing a thought, an opinion, a viewpoint, a question – and you know that it will be met with a considered response, not a defensive one. A dialogue. We can remember a time, where this was how we just functioned in life – what happened?
At maison 1973, we believe in deeper conversations, challenging the ‘status quo’, asking and really listening. There will always be discomfort in our paths to growth – always. We never stop growing and evolving – regardless of our age. We believe you can disagree with someone and still love or respect them (or both). We like to learn and embrace change. And with change comes uncertainty – and that’s part of life. We’ve lived through many decades, we know that change is inevitable.
You don’t need to shout to be sure of what you believe. You don’t need to be right to be worthy. And you don’t need everyone to agree with you to lead with confidence.
Let’s bring back nuance. Let’s bring back listening. Let’s bring back the beauty of I see it differently, and that’s okay.
Because disagreement doesn’t need to mean the end of the conversation. Sometimes, it’s where the real one begins.
THE maison 1973 Takeaway
Not every differing opinion is an attack. Sometimes it’s just… another point of view.
Not every opinion needs a rebuttal. Not every point needs a mic drop. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can say is simply: “I hear you.”
What do you think?
Certainty is trending. But curiosity? That’s timeless.
maison 1973
Your curiosity is waiting.
Continue to explore our mood boards for inspiration
What midlife teaches us about strategy, sacrifice, and finally playing by your own rules.
“If you know (or learning) chess, you will really get where I am coming from here. It’s such a complex ‘game’, yet life is sort of no different. It all depends on the player and the circumstances we find ourselves in. One thing it has definitely taught me – patience!”
creator of maison 1973, Nic
STRATEGY And Sacrifice
There’s a moment somewhere in midlife when the ‘board’ comes into focus. Not just the ‘pieces’ in play, but the patterns. The moves we keep making. The strategies that no longer serve us. The times we gave up the ‘queen’ to keep the peace.
Chess is a metaphor for life, that’s for sure.
Sometimes life is a journey, sometimes a game. Not in a trivial sense. But in the way that every move matters. That nothing is random? That timing is everything? And that, at some point, we get to choose whether we keep reacting or start directing.
So is life a chess game? Maybe. But we’re no longer playing by someone else’s rules.
So let’s play.
Opening MOVES: The Game We Didn’t Know We Were In
In your twenties, you’re the pawn. You move forward because that’s what you were told to do. Get the job. Date the person. Be agreeable. Stay small. Fit in.
You think you’re making progress, but you’re just following the board. You’re not taught to see the game. You’re taught to play your part.
And then one day something breaks. A job. A relationship. A belief. And you start to ask:
We give up comfort to protect our ambition. We give up softness to survive in male-dominated rooms. We give up time with people we love, to prove ourselves.
We’ve played defensively. We’ve waited. We’ve overthought the next move. We’ve stayed still because risk felt reckless.
But the longer you’ve been on the board, the more you start to see: The only way to win is to play your own game.
And maybe to redefine what “winning” even is.
Endgame Energy: When You STOP Playing to Be Liked
Midlife is the endgame energy you didn’t know you needed. You stop trying to charm your way through. You don’t wait for permission to move. You’re not trying to be the knight or the queen or the bishop – you’re the damn board now.
You’re not here to prove anything. You’re here to move with intention.
You’re not scrambling for checkmate.
You’re playing for peace.
“In business and in life, you’re not always the queen. Sometimes you’re the pawn. What matters is how well you know the board.”
creator of maison 1973, Nic
The Rules You Were GIVEN vs. The Rules You Now Write
Remember when the goal was to make it to the other side? To climb the ladder. To get the title. To own the house. To tick the box.
No one told you the game keeps resetting. That you can win by quitting. That you can gain by letting go. That you can love the game and still choose not to play it like everyone else.
Midlife gives you the luxury of rewriting your rules:
You can opt out of performance for performance sake.
You can prioritise presence over perception.
You can stop moving just because everyone else is.
You can take your time and still get to where you want to be.
You can move left, when everyone else moves right.
You can start a new game all over again.
You can analyse all the moves you’ve made so far and decide which direction to take next.
You can become better than you’ve ever been.
You can play the long game. Or a quick one. You choose.
You can set up the board yourself – you don’t need to wait for someone else to do it.
What They Never TOLD You About the Game
They told you it was about being smart. But they never said wisdom would come from mistakes.
They told you it was about staying ten steps ahead. But they never said stillness could be a strategy.
They told you to be tactical. But they never said intuition could be your most powerful move.
They never said you could change the board entirely. That you could burn it down and build something better. That you could play in a way that honours your energy, your values, your version of a good life.
But now you know.
THE maison 1973 Takeaway
Maybe life is a chess game. But at midlife, we stop playing to win by their definition. We start playing with joy, with clarity, and with the full awareness of every move we’ve made to get here.
And that changes everything.
You’re not just another piece on the board. You are the player. The strategist. The whole damn table.
Play wisely. Play freely. And above all, play your game.
Now let’s play.
Get on the board.
Continue to explore our mood boards for inspiration
Creativity is oxygen. You might be holding your breath?
“I wasn’t exhausted. I was underfed — creatively, emotionally, spiritually. It took me a litle while to realise the difference.”
creator of maison 1973, Nic Tierney
Where Has Our CREATIVITY Gone?
There’s a particular kind of fatigue that doesn’t come from overwork. It comes from underfeeling. Underimagining. Undercreating.
And if you’re a Gen X woman waking up each day wondering why the spark is gone, wondering why a full night’s sleep still leaves you feeling flat—you might not be burnt out. We spend so much of our time reading, talking thinking and worrying about navigating through all of our midlife hormonal and ‘life shifts’ – but sometimes it’s not about any of that.
You might just be creatively underfed.
Let’s dive into this interesting space a little more.
The Myth of BURNOUT (And Why It’s Not Always True)
We’ve been sold the idea that burnout means we’ve worked too hard, too long, for too little reward. And sure—that’s part of it. But many women in midlife are doing less than they did ten years ago, and yet feel more emotionally depleted than ever.
We’re not broken. Our inner world is hungry. We know the feeling all too well.
“Midlife didn’t dull my ambition. It just redirected it. Now I crave doing what I do best – creating. Not busyness.”
creator of maison 1973, Nic Tierney
Competence Isn’tCREATIVITY
If you’re a Gen X woman, you were more than likely raised on grit, efficiency, and survival. You’ve spent decades holding everything together, knowing what to do, and doing it well. You’re probably damn good at your job, your calendar, your life…and everything in between.
But somewhere along the way, being competent became the enemy of being curious. Of being lit up. Of not knowing, and playing anyway.
And here’s the kicker: a life full of function without imagination becomes… beige. Not bad. Just blunted.
This isn’t about quitting your job to become an artist (or absolutely it could be if that’s what lights your fire). This is about asking yourself: Where am I letting the spark go dim, because I’ve convinced myself I don’t have time to feel it?
Whatever it is—your spark can re-ignite.
maison 1973
How to Tell if You’re Creatively UNDERFED
You might not be aware it’s happening. But here are some signs:
You’re consuming more than you’re creating (even if creating just means journaling or arranging flowers).
You feel uninspired by the things that used to excite you.
If any of these sound familiar, you’re not alone. And you’re not failing. You’re just a little creatively underfed.
What Creative NOURISHMENTActually Looks Like
Let’s be clear: this isn’t about being productive. This isn’t about monetising your hobby or learning to paint so you can open an Etsy shop.
Creative nourishment is about doing something for the sheer joy of it. It’s doing something you don’t need to be good at. It’s about creating energy, not output.
Here’s what that might look like:
Putting on music and dancing alone in the kitchen.
Re-reading a novel you loved at 22.
Drawing.
Doodling
Art – in all forms. Admiring it.
Start a blog
Take beautiful pictures
Wander without intent.
Daydreaming.
Making something – anything.
Cooking something new. Or something old and comforting.
Wandering in nature.
Writing a letter
Creating a mood board
Playing – with a guitar, an instrument, a new gadget.
Rearranging your shelves by colour.
Lighting a candle at 3pm, just because.
Creativity isn’t always grand. Sometimes it’s just giving yourself permission to care and be playful and letting your mind just wander. Get lost in our thoughts.
Why Midlife Is a Creative PORTAL
Most people think of creativity as youthful: the domain of 20-somethings and start-ups. But midlife? Midlife is actually one of the richest, most potent portals for creative reinvention—if we choose to walk through it.
And creative expression is the exact antidote to the ‘grey fog’ of modern life.
THE maison 1973 Takeaway
This isn’t about doing more. It’s about doing different.
At maison 1973, we believe:
Creativity isn’t a luxury—it’s a life source.
Midlife isn’t a crisis—it’s a privilege.
You don’t need to be good. You just need to be willing.
Just start – do, change, repeat
And when we create (whether it’s a dish, a sentence, a feeling, or a space), we re-enter our world with fresh eyes.
If you feel like you’re stuck in beige… If you can’t remember the last time something lit you up… If you’re craving something more, but unsure what…
This is a call back to your creative self.
It’s not always ‘burnout’ – maybe you just need to feed your inner creative. Sometimes it’s not about the five-year plan. You just need a spark. And maybe it starts with a messy doodle, a walk without your phone, or a playlist you haven’t heard since 1996.
Whatever it is, let’s find it. Because it’s wonderful.
Midlife isn’t an ending- it’s an invitation. You in?
maison 1973
Your creativity is waiting.
Continue to explore our mood boards for inspiration
Because wanting the same things as everyone else was never the point was it?
“Some of my wants arrived quietly. Some took their time. The important part I’ve now learnt at this stage in my life – is just letting them belong—without needing to make sense to anyone else.”
creator of maison 1973, Nic Tierney
What We Had To AskOURSELVES
There’s a quiet question that can change everything in midlife:
What do you actually want?
Not what you were told to want. Not what looks good on paper. Not what other women seem to be chasing.
But you—here, now.
What do you want?
We ask this not as a throwaway prompt, but as a radical act. Because to want differently in a world of sameness is to reclaim your agency, your intuition, your truth. And we have done it and continue to do it.
And that, maison woman – is a kind of freedom most people are too busy to notice.
Let’s explore this further.
The MYTH of the “Right” Want
We’ve been subtly taught that there’s a hierarchy of wants:
A successful career (but not too much success).
A beautiful home (but don’t flaunt it).
A partner, kids, travel, glowing skin, a side hustle, toned arms, a purpose, a plan…oh geez the list goes on.
But so much of that was performance.
What happens when the applause dies down and the to-do list is done? When you finally have the space to sit with your own mind—unfiltered, unscrolled, unprompted?
Wanting differently begins there.
Not with the noise, but with the noticing. Not with the next thing, but with the stillness between things.
“Not everything has to be big. Some of the most important wants barely make a sound.”
creator of maison 1973, Nic Tierney
Wanting WithoutSHAME
The problem with wanting in midlife isn’t desire. It’s judgement.
We’ve been conditioned to judge our own cravings:
Too much.
Too late.
Too selfish.
Too frivolous.
So we dial it down. Make it smaller. Tuck it away.
But Maison isn’t here for small wants. It’s here for honest ones. Expansive ones. Strange, wild, brave ones.
The want to start over. The want to disappear for a while. The want to take up painting. Or silence. Or space.
The want to live less urgently—and more deliberately.
It’s where clarity lives. Where self-trust is built. Where your voice gets loud enough to hear again.
But it’s also a tender space. Because when you start clearing away the external noise, you might find a gap—a space where you’re not sure what you want yet.
That doesn’t mean you’re lost. It means you’re listening.
You don’t owe anyone an explanation for your longing. You don’t need to wrap it in strategy or make it Instagrammable.
It’s enough to know what pulls at your soul.
And to trust that that’s worth following.
But What If It’s NOTBig?
Wanting differently isn’t always dramatic. Sometimes, it’s subtle. We’ve learnt this over the years and we’re sure you have too.
Wanting:
More mornings without noise.
More books. Less buzz.
A different rhythm.
A deeper friendship.
Time away from urgency. Time closer to the ocean. Time with family.
Just simple thing
There’s nothing wrong with wanting less. There’s something very right about wanting real.
Some wants whisper. Others stir quietly for years before surfacing. Both matter. Both count.
The Role of CURIOSITY
Wanting differently also invites a shift in how we relate to our own desire.
Instead of chasing answers, we start asking better questions:
What am I drawn to lately?
What have I stopped pretending to enjoy?
What would feel like relief—not just reward?
These aren’t checklist questions. They’re invitation questions—open-ended, evolving, and generous. We’ve become so accustomed to hacks and tips and everything being in bite size, that we have almost become afraid to seek insight, ask questions, let the answers sit with us awhile. In midlife this becomes more powerful than ever before.
Sometimes, just asking is the breakthrough. Being curious is such a lost art nowadays.
We created this space because we saw it: the women quietly craving more—but also craving differently.
Not louder. Not shinier. Not faster.
Just…truer.
Maison 1973 is for the woman who wants with intention. Who’s ready to tune out the noise. Who trusts that her path may look different—because it should.
Because insight is more powerful than instruction.
THE maison 1973 Takeaway
Start by asking yourself: What do I want now? What no longer fits? What have I been scared to say out loud?
And then give yourself permission to want differently.
Because when the wanting is real, it’s already enough.
For women who’ve stopped performing—and started becoming.
maison 1973
Let’s ask the questions.
Continue to explore our mood boards for inspiration
The question isn’t whether you want to work. Of course you do.
The question is: how do you want to work now?
The maison 1973 woman isn’t retiring. She’s refining.
Let’s explore this new terrain we find ourselves in as the women of Generation X today.
And if you find yourself still standing at the edge of change, you might also like to read “You’ve Earned This Room” — a manifesto for the woman who’s done proving herself, and is ready to own the space she built.
“I’ve worked hard all my life. Led teams, built brands, fixed businesses that were failing, navigated health issues and yet still held it all together — often at the same time. What I care about now is building something that feels good — not just looks good on paper. Work has to mean more. It has to fit. And that’s the shift no one prepared us for.””
creator maison 1973, Nic Tierney
Part I: What No One TOLD Us About Work (And What We’ve Learned Anyway)
For many Gen X women, work was never optional. It was expectation. Necessity. Identity. A structure we learned to operate inside, even when it didn’t serve us.
We were told to have it all. So we tried. And while we were working hard (often invisibly), the world kept shifting the rules.
We got degrees. Promotions. Kids. Titles. Fatigue. We made ourselves indispensable, adaptable, responsible. We worked through pregnancies, sick days, and grief. We worked when we weren’t paid fairly. Often, we worked twice as hard for half the recognition. We worked in heels, in uniforms, in flats on concrete floors, in after-hours silence, in crowded classrooms.
And we’re still working. But now? We want it to mean something.
“We were the first generation told we could be anything. But no one taught us how to stop, shift, or say no without guilt.”
For some, work meant financial independence. For others, it was about survival. Many of us navigated single parenting, redundancies, restructures, or re-entry into the workforce after time away. We juggled part-time contracts, freelance work, multiple jobs, or unpaid care labour alongside it all.
We built side hustles before the term existed. We said yes when we didn’t want to. We said no far too late. And we carried the mental load through every single version of it.
Midlife brings clarity—but also confrontation. You start to see what you’ve outgrown. You notice how much you’ve tolerated. And you begin to feel the cost of staying small, invisible, or overextended.
We hear it all the time here at maison:
“I’m good at this job. But I’m done being treated like I’m lucky to be here.”
“I don’t want to climb anymore. I want to create.”
“I feel like I missed my chance…but I also know I’m just getting started.”
“I love the idea of starting something new. But I’m scared shitless.”
“I can’t keep doing it like this. Something has to change.”
There’s no roadmap for this chapter. Only instincts, hints, and the quiet urge to claim something more honest.
According to a 2023 study by Women in Work, over 60% of Gen X women reported feeling “unseen” or “undervalued” in their current roles. And yet, they are starting new businesses at a higher rate than any other female demographic.
We’re underpaid, overqualified, and underestimated. But we’re also waking up. The dreams that used to feel frivolous now feel essential.
And it’s not about ambition fading. It’s about ambition evolving.
Part III: A Working Life, REIMAGINED
Here’s the truth: Work is not just what we’re paid for. It’s the labour of care. Of showing up. Of reinvention. Of navigating burnout while pretending we’re fine.
It’s doing the job and thinking ahead to dinner. It’s mentoring younger colleagues while booking appointments for aging parents. It’s logging off at 10pm, then logging back in for your kids. It’s waking up tired and still doing it all over again. We do this – every single day.
And now? We’re rewriting the rules. For some of us, that means:
Leaving toxic environments
Negotiating flexibility without shame
Launching that side idea we’ve carried for years (hellomaison 1973!)
Deciding that a smaller life might actually be a richer one
Saying no to the meetings, the guilt, the mental clutter
Some are returning to study. Some are opening shops. Some are finally allowing themselves to rest. Some are rebuilding after layoffs or leaving industries they no longer trust.
“I finally realised I didn’t need to ask permission to want more. Or less. Or different. I just needed to ask myself what felt right.”
And that’s the question we keep coming back to: What feels right now?
Part IV: The COST Of Staying The Same
There is a cost to doing work that doesn’t honour you.
Sometimes it’s subtle: irritability, disconnection, a low-grade sense of dread. Other times it’s more severe: burnout, illness, collapse.
Midlife is often the moment you realise: the old version of work is unsustainable. It’s not about dropping everything and moving to the country (though for some, that’s the dream). It’s about recognising what’s no longer working — and having the courage to imagine something new.
Because your nervous system, your time, your creativity, and your energy deserve care.
“What I used to tolerate now feels impossible. That’s how I knew I was ready to change.”
Part V: A Self Check-IN (The maison Way)
As we have (and still continue to do), ask yourself:
What kind of work energises me now?
What have I been afraid to admit isn’t working?
Where am I undervaluing my experience?
What’s calling me that I’ve been avoiding?
What version of success actually excites me?
What would I do if I weren’t trying to prove anything?
What would I try if I weren’t afraid of failing?
These questions don’t demand a life overhaul. But they might just start one. Quietly. Sustainably. On your terms.
Explore our complimentary downloadable journals which are designed to effectively capture and assist in planning out your thoughts and goals.
Part VI: What Work Looks Like NOW
It looks like you, taking the reins.
It looks like confidence without performance.
It looks like boundaries without guilt.
It looks like slowness without fear.
It looks like ambition that has nothing to prove.
It looks like walking out of a role you’ve outgrown.
Or finally sending that email.
Or rewriting your LinkedIn bio to sound like you.
Or just saying, “This matters to me.”
You don’t owe the world your exhaustion. You owe yourself a life that fits.
This isn’t about starting over. This is about starting on purpose.
