I can’t believe it’s only been seven years since I changed direction in life. If you’d told me in my early 50s that I’d be spending my days blogging, decorating, and making art, I would’ve laughed—and then probably gone right back to focusing on business and marketing. For most of my life, fun and play weren’t priorities. Work was my identity, my purpose, and honestly, the thing I felt most comfortable with!
But everything changed when my mother-in-law, who has Alzheimer’s, moved in with us. Suddenly, my priorities shifted in ways I never expected, and I found myself diving into something completely new: caregiving and creativity.
The Beginning of a New Purpose
At first, I started a blog called Artsy Fartsy Life to share about dementia and caregiving. It was an outlet—a way to connect with others who were experiencing similar challenges. Writing about the highs, lows, and everything in between became a form of therapy for me, and it also resonated with a surprising number of people.
But here’s where things took a turn I didn’t see coming: during the pandemic, I decided to try something I’d always admired but never had the time for—making art. I committed to doing a year of collages on YouTube. What started as a creative experiment blossomed into something that truly redefined my days.
Redefining My Career and Purpose
Redefining your career and purpose in your 50s isn’t just about leaving one thing behind; it’s about adding to your life in ways that align with who you are now. For me, it meant exploring the creative side I’d buried under deadlines and deliverables for decades. I found joy in colors, textures, and the process of creating.
My art became more than just a hobby—it became a calling. I started incorporating creativity into everything I did, from home decor projects to blogging about my artistic adventures. My purpose evolved from being all about productivity and results to being about connection, inspiration, and creativity.
Why It’s Never Too Late to Change
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that it’s never too late to redefine your career and purpose. Life in your 50s can feel like a crossroads, but it’s also a time of opportunity. You have the experience, resilience, and self-awareness to make intentional choices about what comes next.
Here are a few things that helped me:
- Listen to Life’s Nudges: Sometimes, life gives you a gentle (or not-so-gentle) push in a new direction. For me, it was caregiving and the pandemic. What’s nudging you?
- Be Open to Experimenting: My collages on YouTube were a leap of faith. They could’ve flopped, but instead, they opened a door to a world of creativity I never knew I needed.
- Embrace Play and Curiosity: After years of focusing on work, allowing myself to “play” with art and design was transformative. Sometimes the things that seem frivolous turn out to be the most meaningful.
Finding Fulfillment in the Everyday
Now, my days look completely different than they used to. I still blog (because let’s be real, I LOVE blogging), but it’s about topics that light me up—decorating, creating, and sharing my journey. I spend time making art, trying out new ideas, and connecting with people who are inspired by my work.
Does every day go perfectly? Of course not! But the joy I feel now is so different from the hustle I used to thrive on. I’ve discovered a purpose that aligns with this chapter of my life.
Take the First Step Toward Your New Purpose
If you’re in your 50s and wondering what’s next, let me encourage you: it’s not too late to redefine your career and purpose.
- Start by reflecting on what excites you.
- Experiment with hobbies or interests you’ve always been curious about.
- Don’t be afraid to pivot—even if it feels scary or uncertain.
Your next chapter doesn’t have to look anything like the last one. For me, it’s been a journey from marketing to making, from deadlines to discovery, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
What’s calling you? Whatever it is, I hope you take that first step—it might just change your life in the most beautiful way.
