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Maria Anderson's avatar

Thoughtful reflection…I’m retired, living in northern Portugal and starting my first Camino in two weeks. We’re starting and coming back next year to continue. No longer in the transition time, more like taking advantage of the gift that is my life at almost 70.

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The Midlife Nomad's avatar

Well that is inspiring indeed. I have heard that trek is beautiful and life changing. Celebrating with you the gift that is your life!

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Sarah Hepburn's avatar

Such a beautiful place!! I am in a transition space ... shifting from having kids living full-time at home while simultaneously testing out playing and working remotely with my husband for longer stretches. Taking action towards our future has helped us shift out of the transition zone - and feels pretty awesome, too!

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The Midlife Nomad's avatar

Thank you for your kind comment Sarah! It love how you said “playing and working remotely”. Thats exactly what our life looks like now and so many people forget the importance of play! Love you are moving into creating your dream life and having the courage to step into the unknown. It truly does feel awesome, agree!

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Saved by Grace's avatar

What an amazing landscape! I'd love to have that on my doorstep. As you know, I've made the transition from house to boat, then chosen to spend a chunk of money on our van to extend our travels further. My biggest transition (7 years and counting) is to learn to be, to go with the flow after decades of control and searching for certainty/safety. I trained hard for years and spent many holidays swim/bike/run 6 days every week with Sunday's off. Now, I relish not planning very much and taking each day as it comes. Some days evolve into the most beautiful and unexpected moments and I never had that 'before' because I never allowed any space in my schedule; every minute was accounted for and achieving was my thing. No more! I had a dream last week that left me with a clear message to let go of the roles I've played all my life and to be 'me'. We had a family get together yesterday and usually I'd adopt the mum/grandma role, but I was chatting with my daughter and my grandson's wives just as me and it felt great! Four women spanning 3 generations sharing our thoughts, opinions and just enjoying each other's company. Learning to be me feels like the biggest transition of all 🩷

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The Midlife Nomad's avatar

I am always so inspired by your comments. Learning to just “be” I agree has been the hardest and greatest part of growth for me as well. It’s a slow unraveling of the illusions and “safety”. The most magical days I agree often roll out when I too go with the flow. 🤍. Let’s keep flowing Karen. 🙌🏻

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Saved by Grace's avatar

Absolutely Jada…I've always been very driven and very busy without understanding why I felt the need to do that, but I'm paying close attention to my body nowadays and spending less time in my head + I'm doing what I want to do even when that means going against the ‘crowd’. It's taken a long time to be me and that's the road I'm on 🙂

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The Midlife Nomad's avatar

The “crowd” is overrated anyway! 😊

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Benthall Slow Travel's avatar

“Transitions are sacred spaces”—nodding vigorously over here. I can’t relate to the triathlon grind (trust me, no one wants to see me in a wetsuit sprinting for a bike rack), but I do relate to the way transitions open doors.

When Nigel and I left corporate life to slow travel, we had to stop endlessly preparing and just step onto the course.

Madeira looks breathtaking—and your piece reminded me why those leaps matter. Thanks for the great read.

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The Midlife Nomad's avatar

Yes, it’s so easy to keep preparing and preparing. We forget the road often goes both ways and if we need to pivot, then we do. Transitions are tremendously important. It’s where we start to decide what we want to carry with us forward into the next chapter. A time to really focus on what matters! Cheers to your slow travels!

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Benthall Slow Travel's avatar

🙏 I really needed this boost today! We’re in the breakdown before breakthrough period of transition… Necessary but never easy.

Today’s mantra: Transitions are tremendously important. It’s where we start to decide what we want to carry with us forward into the next chapter.

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The Midlife Nomad's avatar

🙌🏻🤍

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Amy's avatar

Wow! I’m currently in a transition period and having been in this position before, I know the hardest part is just taking the leap. After that is much easier!

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The Midlife Nomad's avatar

Yes! It’s like diving into cold water. Then you start swimming and the water then feels great! 🙌🏻

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Claire Polders's avatar

I agree with so much you wrote here. We humans can get stuck in preparations and never get to actually do anything. But I also believe that we can be in transition and simultaneously live our lives for real. I became a fulltime nomad in 2019, I made a leap, and I feel I’m still adjusting everyday, which I’m happy for.

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The Midlife Nomad's avatar

I love this comment. Yes, I agree I am in a somewhat state of transition as a full time nomad myself, but taking the leap is the hard part 😊That’s where many get stuck dreaming and planning and before you know it, those dreams slip away. Constantly learning, I agree is what makes nomad life so amazing 🙌🏻

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Prajna O'Hara's avatar

Amazing, inspiring, and great photos. Thank you.

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