A New Chapter
And an Invitation
When I first started writing about midlife on my Project 50 blog back in 2010, I had no grand plan.
I wasn’t building a business or creating a brand. I was simply trying to make sense of a new stage of life – and hoping that, if I was asking the questions, perhaps other women were asking them too.
Those conversations continued on Facebook, then on YouTube and the Podcast, and now here on Substack.
Sixteen years later, I realise I’ve been following the same thread all along.
Not simply asking how we grow older, but how we can grow older with curiosity, courage, kindness and hope.
Over the years we’ve talked about confidence and menopause, changing relationships, becoming invisible, finding purpose, letting go, beginning again, and discovering that life after fifty can be every bit as rich and meaningful as the decades that came before.
But if I’m honest, the most rewarding part has never been me writing. It’s been the conversations that followed.
The emails that begin, “I thought I was the only one...” The comments where one woman quietly encourages another.
The stories you’ve trusted me with.
Because I’ve come to believe that stories are how we make sense of our lives.
They help us understand where we’ve been, and they remind us how far we’ve come.
And sometimes, they give us the courage to believe that the next chapter might be the best one yet.
Which is why I’ve decided to create something new.
The Women’s Story Circle
Where the conversation continues.
Today I’ve opened a paid membership here on Substack.
But before I tell you more, I want to reassure you of one important thing.
Nothing is changing for free subscribers.
My regular newsletters will continue just as they always have. I want Midlife & Beyond to remain a warm, welcoming place where every woman feels she belongs, whether she chooses to become a paid subscriber or not.
The Women’s Story Circle is simply a quieter, more intimate gathering for those who’d like to go a little deeper.
A place to pause and to reflect. A place to share stories, if you wish. A place where we can encourage one another through all the twists and turns this season of life brings.
There’ll be no pressure to have the right answers, and no expectation to perform.
Just thoughtful conversation, gentle encouragement, and the quiet reassurance that comes from knowing you’re not walking this path alone.
From time to time, I’ll also share more personal reflections, glimpses behind the scenes of my writing life, and early thoughts on the projects I’m working on.
But the real purpose of this space isn’t exclusive content.
It’s connection.
As many of you know, Ageing Wonderfully Well is now out in the world.
Writing it brought together years of research, reflection and, above all, the conversations I’ve been privileged to have with so many women over the years.
But I never saw the book as the final word. Rather, in many ways, I see it as the beginning.
Because books end. Conversations don’t.
My hope is that The Women’s Story Circle becomes a place where we continue exploring these ideas together – slowly, honestly, thoughtfully and with open hearts.
A place where every woman’s story matters.
Because we spend so much of our lives collecting stories. Perhaps this is the season when we finally have time to tell them – and to listen to one another’s.
If that sounds like somewhere you’d like to belong, I’d be honoured to welcome you.
Whether you decide to join or simply continue reading the free newsletter, thank you.
Thank you for reading my words over the years – whether you’ve been here since Project 50, discovered me on YouTube, found the podcast, picked up a copy of Ageing Wonderfully Well, or have only recently joined me on Substack.
Thank you for walking alongside me.
I’m looking forward to seeing where the conversation takes us next.
With love,
Jo
P.S. If The Women’s Story Circle sounds like the kind of place where you’d feel at home, you can become a paid member today by clicking the button below.
I’d love to welcome you. And as a thank you for being the first through the door, you can save £2 a month (or £15 a year) if you join before the end of August.