WAKE-UP
November — from novem, meaning “nine” — was once the ninth month of the Roman year. Symbolically, it marks a time of transition — between harvest and winter, light and dark, completion and renewal.
For those of us 50 and beyond, this season mirrors our own lives. We stand between the vitality of what’s been and the potential of what’s next. Physically, our bodies evolve. Mentally, our sense of identity begins to shift — often faster than we expect.
Research shows that the midlife transition can be both challenging and transformative:
- Hormonal and metabolic changes affect energy, mood, and resilience (Harvard Health, 2024)
- Shifts in roles — from professional identity to caregiving or “what’s next” thinking — can spark powerful questions of meaning and purpose (Stanford Center on Longevity, 2023)
The good news? With awareness comes choice.
The season may be changing, but it’s not the end — it’s a transformation.
🍂 It’s time to turn over a new leaf — one rooted in intention. 🍂
SHAKE-UP
For too long, society has framed midlife and retirement as decline — a winding down, a quiet fade. Even the word “retiring” sounds daunting. As you know, we prefer “rewiring.” What if we reframed transitions as our most creative, purpose-driven years yet?
A global AARP study (2024) found that 72% of adults 50+ want to reinvent themselves, and over half are launching new careers, new business, hobbies, or experiences.
Meanwhile, neuroscientists confirm that the aging brain is remarkably adaptive — capable of growth through curiosity, learning, and connection.
So, the real question isn’t “What’s next?” It’s “What’s possible?”
Retirement — at any age — doesn’t have to mean retreat. It can mean reimagining your rhythm and renewing your purpose. Like autumn trees shedding leaves, we too can release what no longer serves us — making room for new growth in spring.
THRIVE!
Here’s how we at Wake-Up, Shake-Up, Thrive! (WUSUT) invite you to embrace your season of transition — and make it your most vital yet:
- Re-name your season. What are you harvesting — and what are you planting? Example: Write down three things you’ve accomplished this year (your harvest), and one habit or project you want to grow next (your seed). Reflection brings direction.
- Re-fuel your energy. Sleep, nutrition, and joyful movement aren’t luxuries; they’re longevity tools. Example: Set a “digital sunset” 30 minutes before bedtime, prepare one colorful meal each day, or schedule a short walk after lunch. Small shifts fuel renewed vitality.
- Re-define success. Swap titles for meaning. Align your time with what truly matters. Example: Replace “busy” with “intentional” — say yes to what aligns with your purpose, and no to what drains your energy. Try journaling: “Today, success means…”
- Re-connect. Social ties are the strongest predictors of vitality and mental health beyond 50 (Harvard Study of Adult Development, 2023). Example: Reconnect with an old friend, join a local group, or start a monthly dinner circle. Reach out, laugh, listen. Connection is the ultimate renewable energy.
- Re-imagine. Keep learning — about yourself, others, and the world. Curiosity keeps the mind in motion. Example: Learn something unexpected; innovation often starts off-topic. Pick up a book that challenges your usual interests, or ask someone younger (or older!) how they see the world. Curiosity keeps you thriving.
🍂 This November, as the leaves fall and nature pauses to renew, take a cue from the season itself: Reflect. Reframe. Reignite.🍂
Because transitions aren’t pauses in your story — they are the story.
“FALL” TO ACTION
As you move through November, find one way to renew, reconnect, or realign and notice how it shifts your energy.
At Wake-Up, Shake-Up, Thrive!, we believe growing older isn’t about decline — it’s about design. Each choice we make — how we move, connect, and grow — is part of that design. Together, we’re reimagining what vitality, purpose, and fulfillment look like at every stage.
Let’s keep disrupting the narrative and thriving through every season of life.
Happy Autumn!
Ellen & Dominique