You Are NOT To Old to Become Someone New: After 50

Hi everyone, welcome to another episode of The Hope Midwife. I am your host, Necie Edwards. Tonight we're talking about you're not too old to become someone new, especially for women 50 plus and older who think they've missed their calling. 

Even if you are younger than 50, you still haven't missed your calling. You know, that occurred to me because I remember and I hear it all the time from women who are dealing with, you know, chronic illness, life changes, or the job they used to have, they've been laid off, or you know, they've relocated, they've retired. And we get so wrapped up sometimes in our titles, you know. 

But this is what I want to share with you. Your title does not define whom you are, because here's the thing your title you can't take to the bank, right? The title is not writing you the paycheck, it's the wholesome of what you bring to that role. It's your skill sets that you have developed, your special sauce that you use to perform that job. 

So you're not too old to become someone new because when things change, situations develop, whether it's illness, job changes, relocations, divorce, empty nesters, whatever. You're not too old to become someone new. In fact, I have reinvented myself a couple of times, and I've learned something about myself along the way.

Transcript

You’re Not Too Old to Become Someone New

The Hope Midwife Podcast

Hello, friend, and welcome to another episode of The Hope Midwife. I’m your host, Necie Edwards.

Today’s message is simple, but I hope it speaks deeply to your heart:

You’re not too old to become someone new.

Whether you’re in your fifties, sixties, seventies, or beyond, you have not missed your calling. And if you’re younger than fifty, this message is for you too.

I hear from women all the time who are navigating chronic illness, job loss, retirement, relocation, divorce, becoming an empty nester, or simply feeling stuck. Many of them ask the same question:

“Where do I go from here?”

If that’s where you are today, I want you to know you’re not alone.

One of the biggest mistakes we make is believing our job title defines who we are.

“I’m the manager.”

“I’m the director.”

“I’m the executive.”

We become so attached to those titles that when life changes, we begin to wonder who we are without them.

But here’s the truth:

Your title is not your identity.

Your title doesn’t write the paycheck. It’s your character, your experience, your gifts, your wisdom, and your unique abilities that create value.

Those things never disappear.

Life may change, but your purpose doesn’t.

I’ve had to reinvent myself more than once.

For decades I worked in corporate America. Then I developed an autoimmune disease, and everything changed.

Technically, I could still do the work I’d always done.

But I realized something important.

Just because I could do it didn’t mean it was healthy for me.

When you’re living with a chronic illness, prolonged stress can take a tremendous toll on your body. For me, the career I once loved eventually became something that was hurting me.

That was difficult to accept.

I had to admit that there were things I simply shouldn’t do anymore—not because I wasn’t capable, but because I needed to protect my health.

That led me to ask a very honest question:

Who am I now?

To answer it, I had to slow down.

I had to listen to my body.

I had to pay attention to what my spirit was trying to tell me.

Your body speaks to you every day.

Sometimes it whispers.

Sometimes it shouts.

Ignoring those messages can be costly.

I’ve learned something else along the way:

Not all money is good money.

Years ago, I earned a very good income.

But I also spent a great deal of that money on doctors, medications, and medical appointments because I was constantly stressed.

Eventually I realized my health was costing me more than my paycheck was giving me.

Something had to change.

So I took inventory.

I grabbed a sheet of paper and drew a line down the middle.

On one side, I listed everything I loved doing.

On the other side, I wrote down everything that drained me.

Then I looked for patterns.

I also took personality assessments like the Myers-Briggs to better understand how I was wired and where my natural strengths lived.

Most importantly, I gave myself permission to experiment.

I stopped worrying about getting everything right.

I simply started trying new things.

That’s when I discovered painting.

I joined creative communities online.

I bought a few inexpensive supplies.

I started practicing.

And somewhere along the way I realized…

I love this.

Then I began learning digital design.

I explored AI tools.

I learned how to create journals, mugs, canvas designs, stickers, and printable products.

Again I thought,

“Wow…I’m actually good at this.”

If I hadn’t experienced illness…

If I hadn’t gone through workplace bullying…

If I hadn’t been forced to start over…

I may never have discovered that I’m a creative person.

Today, creativity has become part of my healing.

It brings me peace.

It helps quiet my mind.

It reconnects me with who God created me to be.

Through The Hope Canvas Method, I invite women into a creative wellness experience where there are no perfect paintings and no mistakes.

There isn’t a right way or a wrong way.

You simply create from what’s already inside of you.

Sometimes it’s paint.

Sometimes it’s words.

Sometimes it’s color, texture, symbols, or collage.

It’s less about creating beautiful artwork and more about releasing what you’ve been carrying.

That kind of creativity is healing.

People often tell me,

“Necie, I didn’t know you were an artist.”

“I didn’t know you designed journals.”

“I didn’t know you did any of this.”

The truth is…

Neither did I.

Until I gave myself permission to become someone new.

And here’s another lesson I’ve learned:

You’re never too old to learn something new.

I immersed myself in AI.

I learned new technology.

I took classes.

I experimented.

I failed.

I tried again.

Growth didn’t stop because I got older.

If anything, it accelerated because I finally stopped trying to fit into a life that no longer fit me.

Can I ask you a question?

If nobody needed anything from you…what would you love to do?

Don’t overthink it.

Just write down the first thing that comes to mind.

Maybe God has been nudging you toward something for years.

Maybe you’ve ignored it because you thought you were too old.

Or because you believed you weren’t creative enough.

Or because you thought it wouldn’t make enough money.

Or because everyone around you expected you to stay the same.

But what if this season isn’t about returning to who you were?

What if it’s about becoming who you’ve always been created to be?

When I retire, I dream of having my own creative wellness studio.

I’d love to work with women living with chronic illness.

Women veterans.

Breast cancer survivors.

Women healing from domestic violence.

Women recovering from workplace trauma.

Women simply trying to find themselves again.

My desire isn’t just to help people paint.

My desire is to help them rediscover hope.

To reconnect with themselves.

To breathe again.

To believe again.

To create again.

Because creativity often becomes the doorway back to ourselves.

If you’re feeling stuck, I also created a free GPT that helps women explore their interests, strengths, and possible next steps. If you’d like access to it, simply reach out to me. I’d be happy to share it with you.

So let me leave you with this.

Maybe you’re an empty nester.

Maybe you’ve been laid off.

Maybe you’re starting over after illness.

Maybe you’ve lost your confidence.

Maybe you’ve spent years building someone else’s dream while putting your own on hold.

This is your reminder:

You’re not too old to become someone new.

Someone is waiting for what only you can offer.

There are lives you’ll touch that no one else can.

Don’t wait until everything is perfect.

Start where you are.

When I was rebuilding my life, I didn’t have unlimited money.

I started small.

I used fifteen or twenty minutes whenever I could.

During my lunch break I’d write ideas in a notebook.

If I didn’t have time to write, I’d record voice notes on my phone.

Small steps became big progress.

That’s still how I build today.

If all you have is fifteen minutes, use those fifteen minutes.

If all you can do is one small thing today, do that one thing.

Momentum is built one step at a time.

Please don’t let imposter syndrome convince you that you aren’t qualified.

Every expert was once a beginner.

Every artist painted their first canvas.

Every entrepreneur started with one idea.

Believe in what God has placed inside of you.

Seek Him.

Pray about your next step.

Trust His timing.

And remember this:

Focus less on the title you lost and more on the woman you’re becoming.

Thank you for spending this time with me today.

If this episode encouraged you, I’d love to hear from you. Share it with another woman who needs hope today.

Until next time…

Stay on Hope Avenue.