In the fall of last year, I was invited to and attended a wonderful brunch at a local restaurant.
The food, fried green tomatoes, shrimp and grits, and mile-high biscuits was delicious. The table setting with fresh flowers on vintage lace tablecloths was stunning against the late morning sunshine.
But it was the group of women that I loved.
Lively and fun and beautifully dressed, they were talkative and fully engaged. I would say, most of them were around my same age range, probably a bit younger.
Our host for the morning, greeted the long table of women by clinking her stemmed glass; filled with a mix of orange juice, champagne, and plump, fresh raspberries.
After her greeting she invited us to go around the table and introduce ourselves by telling the group a bit about our background.
One by one the women obliged.
By the time we were halfway around the table, I noticed something striking.
When these bright, fun women introduced themselves they often talked of work, accolades, and activities from their past. Very little was really shared about what they were currently involved in.
And when it was my turn, I did the same thing – mentioning my bakery, which had long been sold, my stint with a microlender, helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses and then my current consultancy doing the same work.
And where all of this was true, it certainly is not an accurate reflection of my current day-to-day life.
I did not talk about my passion or passion projects. I did not share my vision and goals for my present and future.
Instead, I took my three-minute introduction to these women and filled it with who I used to be, instead of who I am currently.
Since the brunch, I’ve given this observation thought. A group (including me) of vibrant, beautiful mature women labeling themselves from an old script.
I don’t know what it signifies. It could simply be we each had a moment to speak and were a bit unprepared.
Or it could be it’s time to pack away the past and rewrite our current identity. It’s time for us to fully lean into the way our life is currently lived.
For many of us, we are now retired from our old labels. Our jobs, careers, companies, raising our babies, maybe even our partners have changed.
Things look different.
Our schedules, in the past, packed to the brim with meetings, deadlines and responsibilities, might now offer time to read a few chapters in the late afternoon, join a friend for coffee in the morning, or plan our spring garden during the “work week.”
I’m suggesting we lean into our life changes and give ourselves a bit of a rebrand.
You, of course, get to decide what this looks like.
You may have had one identity when you worked a corporate job. But you’re retired now from that life, and you’ve moved on to something that’s more near and dear to your heart.
What are some old components you’d like to replace? Is your new life more about graphic tees and jeans? Tousled naturally grey hair instead of a more conservative style?
You be the judge. But just in case you need a nudge to get started, let’s get your creative wheels turning with some suggestions.
Start with a personal journal. Take some quiet time daily to really look at your new life. I still love writing in a paper journal but do what feels good to you including simply creating a Pinterest mood board. You have the power to change anything that’s not consistent with the new you.
Go ahead and boldly claim your new space. Define your destination. Dream and vison what you want. Is it a physical change your desire? Do you want to experience a different spiritual practice? Or maybe get even more committed to your current practice. Do you want a new romantic relationship or out of an old one? Hang on to your grey hair or dye it green?
What’s your unique selling proposition? This is no doubt my small business training bubbling to the surface, but what makes you stand out and declare to the world you’re different?
In business we apply this term (USP or Unique Selling Proposition) to products and services. We look at how to stand out and be noticed. What makes your product special and apart from your competitors?
Just for fun you may want to go through the same process with yourself as we do with a product.
But I can tell you, you’re already special and set apart by just being you. ❤️
How would you describe the New You? If you were at the same brunch I mentioned at the beginning of this post, how would you describe yourself with your new branding? What’s important? How would you position yourself?
We are all mature, beautiful women making a daily contribution to our communities, our grown kids and ultimately the world. Just by being on the planet we have earned the right to be light of spirit and to live in love and laugh often.
We hope this blog post helps. Tell us in the comments if you’ve really captured the new, mature YOU or if making a few personal updates feels relevant.
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