This Women’s Health Month, we’ll be highlighting the journeys of four incredible women from our community as they reflect on different decades of their lives through letters to their younger selves. No matter our age, life is something we’re all navigating for the first time. These stories offer a moment to pause, reconnect with your younger self, and reflect with compassion on the experiences that have shaped you.

When thinking about your identity, it’s common to feel as though a big part of who you are is shaped by what you do for those around you and how you show up as a mother, spouse, daughter, sister, and more. But by the time you’re in your 50s, as responsibilities begin to shift, you may realize that your life is much more than the roles you play in the lives of others. It’s also about rediscovering who you are outside of these titles.

You might find yourself stepping back into the professional world, learning a new skill, or even going back to hobbies you didn’t have time for earlier. Reconnecting with yourself in a new light can feel exciting, but it can also come with a silent need to prove your worth. While choosing growth over comfort might make you feel doubtful, it’s something your future self will always be thankful for.

Reflecting on her 50s, this is something Fiona feels, too. She recognizes that the way she showed up for her loved ones was never invisible, and continuing to nurture herself in the same ways she did everyone else is a rewarding experience.

Take a moment to listen to the letter she wrote to her 50-year-old self and see if her words resonate with your own experiences during your 50s.

Can you relate to her story? We’d love to hear from you – let us know what you think in the comments below!

Take it a step further – here are a few reflective journal prompts you can use to dive a little deeper into your own experiences:

• Who do you feel you are outside of the roles and responsibilities you carry for others? Are there any passions, hobbies or dreams you’ve put aside that you feel called to reconnect with now?
• What does nurturing yourself look like at this stage in your life, and how do you show yourself the same care you give to others?
• If you could write a letter to your younger self now, what would you tell her? What would you thank her for, and what would you gently remind her of?