Resources Thoughtfully Curated for What Comes Next
Over time, I’ve found that the right resource doesn’t just inform—it creates a shift. A new perspective. A moment of clarity. A sense of permission.
This is a curated collection of the books, ideas, and communities I often recommend to women navigating transitions in life and work. Consider this a starting point—a place to explore, reflect, and begin to imagine what’s next. Take what is useful. Leave what is not. Return when you need new inspiration.
Books That Challenge the Way You Think About This Stage of Life
Learning to Love Midlife: 12 Reasons Why Life Gets Better with Age. by Chip Conley - a compelling argument for why this chapter may be your most expansive yet
Life Is In the Transitions: Mastering Change at Any Age. by Bruce Feiler - reframes life not as a linear path, but as a series of turning points work paying attention to
Transitions: Making Sense of Life’s Challenges. William Bridges - a classic for a reason; names the inner work most people try to rush past
The Power of Purpose. By Richard J. Leider and David A. Shapiro - a grounded exploration of what it really means to live and work on purpose
The Ritual Effect: From Habit to Ritual. Harness the Surprising Power of Everyday Activities. By Michael Norton - a subtle but powerful shift: from doing more to experiencing more
The Middle Passage: From Misery to Meaning in Midlife. By James Hollis (Audible only) - not light reading, but deeply clarifying
Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life. By Richard Rohr - an invitation to rethink success, failure, and growth altogether
Composing a Further Life: The Age of Active Wisdom. By Mary Catherine Bateson (Margaret Mead’s daughter) - a quieter, thoughtful take on reinvention and contribution
What I Read and Listen To (and Return to) Regularly. Newsletters, Blogs and Podcasts
VegOut Magazine. Conscious living magazine that supports personal growth. One of my favorites.
Wisdom Well. Modern Elder Academy weekly newsletter. Reflections that meet you exactly where you are in the middle of change
Midlife Compass. Modern Elder Academy blog. Curated stories and insights form people actively navigation this terrain
Chief in Brief. Chief. A sharp, relevant pulse on the real conversations professional women are having
The Ageist. A modern lens on how to live well in the years that actually matter most
Next Tribe. A reminder that aging isn’t something to manage - it’s something to claim
Communities That Get It
Modern Elder Academy. For those ready to step out of autopilot and into a more intentional second half
SecondAct Women. For women actively exploring, building, and redefining what’s next.
Encore.org. For those drawn to purpose-driven work in the second half of life, especially at the intersection of experience and impact
Before You Go
You don’t need more information.
You need the right conversations. The right questions. The right timing.
Let this be a place to begin—not to figure everything out, but to start paying attention to what’s calling you forward.