The Quiet Journey Back to Yourself

Happy Sunday evening everyone!

We are quickly closing out yet another weekend and launching into a brand-new week. For many, tomorrow begins a workday, followed by 4 more. For some, those who are retired, disabled or simply able to be home, what does your week look like? Mine will begin with my new business plan. I’ll be up nice and early, then I’ll take an hour break to exercise, then home again to make sure I do things the right way to launch my business. I want to do this smartly and make sure I am protected.

This was a pretty awesome weekend for me. It began with the A Day in Her Shoes event on Friday. I’m still riding high off of the incredible wealth of information I received and the inspiration to not only pursue my dreams, but I learned how to begin and if things don’t work out, that’s okay, as long as I learn something, I’m on the right path.

Yesterday was awesome too. John and I met up with some of our friends from San Diego. We met at this pub in San Marcos. Churchills. YUMMY is all I can say. This place was awesome. It was an old hole in the wall, dive sort of pub, but don’t let the looks fool you, once inside, it’s like stepping back in time to the real, authentic fun atmosphere where simplicity meets a good time with a beer or two and some amazing food.

Beers on tap, too many to mention. Food choices, not a lot, but enough. The amazing selection of food was nothing shy of yummy. Oh, and the pretzel we ordered as an appetizer, all I can say is, the best pretzel I’ve ever had. It was to die for. Soft and the flavor was perfect. The pretzel melted in my mouth. A hint of butter with a tad bit of salt, oh, I think I could have had only that and been in hog heaven. Best ever!

Once lunch was done, the guys decided to try their hand at darts. Art and John had the best time darting against one other. Of course, my honey won all games.

We finished up our weekend with John and Grant heading to San Diego for a family meeting. I had an event today, so I stayed back. My club hosted a diamond art St. Patrick’s Day class. Everyone had a wonderful time and of course, the snack menu included Corned Beef with all the trimmings. Pistachio pudding, cookies, and an Irish punch, liquor free of course. Our club founder sure does know her way around making everything perfect. I admire her and her ability to bring so much happiness to our little community.

I beat John and Grant home, so I got on my loungewear and enjoyed windows open while the pups ran in and out. It’s so nice just sitting and looking outside. I can honestly say, my backyard, this backyard, it’s the prettiest one I’ve ever had, and I am thoroughly enjoying every step of the journey to putting my own twist of wonderful on it. I’m hoping this week to dig the two holes for the lime trees I got for John. Fingers crossed I get those done before this coming weekend when we’ll be hosting our open house welcome to our home gatherings. We’re excited to show off our new home to those we love.

It’s funny, while I was sitting and admiring the backyard and the joy it brings not only to me, but to the pups, I ran across this quote and boy, did I stop and think. I truly believe God has His hands in guiding us. You see, there are days when I want to write. My laptop calls me, but when I sit down, I get brain wacked and all thoughts go into a freeze mode. UGH! But when this happens, I’ve learned to pray about it. I ask God to guide my words and I ask Him, if it be His will, give me the topic to write about.

Duh. I got knocked over my toboggan with this quote and how fitting it was. I was sitting in the quiet, alone with the pups enjoying the silence. No TV. No radio or music. Just the solitude of home.

Don’t get me wrong, I absolutely love having John and Grant home too. I love it when Tommy and Kevin come over, but there’s also this amazing feeling of sitting in the silence of your own space.

I think I finally understand on an entirely new level how John likes his alone time. Grant gets it too, but I seldom find it for myself. It’s not that I can’t take me time, I just don’t. Something today came over me, and I found appreciation for the half hour I had all by myself. I didn’t keep busy. This time, I just enjoyed the moment. Believe me, this is new for me.

All my stress was gone. All my worries were put on the back burner. The housework will still be here in the morning, and I still found time to write. My heart, mind and soul are content, and I got some time with John to complete my day.

So, my dear friends, this blog post is for all of you, but especially for you ladies over 40. Why women over 40? Because for most of our lives we’ve given endlessly to our families. Many of us have carried some pretty hefty emotional weight. We’ve been the glue to our families, and we forget to take care of ourselves along the way, not for any other reason than, we put those we love ahead of ourselves. Not a bad thing, it’s just the way we go about life.

The quote above is a reminder to put the spotlight back on ourself because that relationship, the one with ourselves deserves time, attention and tenderness. If we don’t take care of us, we can’t give fully to those we love. So, while this post is for all readers, it’s also, A gentle reminder for women over 40–

There comes a point in a woman’s life—especially after 40—when the constant giving, supporting, and showing up for everyone else begins to wear thin. Not because we’re weak, but because we’re finally wise enough to recognize our own needs. Sometimes the most loving thing you can do is step away from the noise, the roles, and the expectations, and return to yourself. Solitude becomes less about escaping others and more about rediscovering the woman you’ve quietly become. In that stillness, you remember your worth, your desires, and the parts of you that deserve tenderness too.

As we move through midlife, the world often expects us to keep carrying the same loads with the same strength we had in our twenties. But something shifts. Our spirit becomes more honest. Our body becomes more vocal. Our heart becomes less willing to be ignored. Taking time alone becomes less of a luxury and more of a lifeline—a way to check in with the woman we’ve become after decades of surviving, giving, and growing. In the quiet, we finally hear the truth we’ve been too busy to notice we are allowed to rest, to reset, and to choose ourselves without apology.

What Solitude Teaches Us:

Solitude has a way of holding up a mirror—not to our flaws, but to our truth. When a woman steps away from the noise, she begins to notice the quiet signals she’s been overriding for years. Solitude teaches us what actually restores us, what drains us, and what we’ve been tolerating out of habit rather than alignment. It shows us the difference between being needed and being nourished. It reminds us that our worth isn’t tied to productivity or caretaking. Most of all, solitude teaches us to trust our inner voice again—the one that gets drowned out when life is too loud. In the stillness, we rediscover our desires, our boundaries, and the parts of ourselves that have been patiently waiting to be acknowledged.

How to Create Pockets of Alone Time:

Creating alone time doesn’t require disappearing for a weekend—though that’s lovely when it’s possible. It starts with small, intentional choices that honor your need for space. It might look like taking a slow morning walk before anyone else wakes up, sitting in your car for five extra minutes before going inside, or claiming a quiet corner of your home as your personal sanctuary. It could be turning off your phone for an hour, saying no to one more obligation, or scheduling “unavailable” time on your calendar the same way you would a meeting. These pockets of solitude don’t have to be long; they just have to be yours. Over time, they become sacred rituals—moments where you return to yourself, refill your spirit, and remember that you are allowed to take up space in your own life.

Redefining Rest Without Guilt:

For many women, especially after 40, rest has been framed as something you “earn” only after everything and everyone else is taken care of. But midlife invites a new truth: rest is not a reward, it’s a requirement. Redefining rest starts with rewriting the story you’ve been told about what makes you valuable. You are not valuable because you’re busy. You are not lovable because you’re useful. You don’t have to justify your exhaustion to deserve a break. When you begin to see rest as nourishment instead of indulgence, the guilt starts to loosen its grip. Alone time becomes a way of honoring your emotional, spiritual, and physical well‑being—not a sign that you’re neglecting others. It’s an act of self‑respect, a declaration that your needs matter too, and a reminder that a well‑rested woman is a more grounded, present, and powerful one.

Sometimes the most powerful thing a woman over 40 can do is step away from the noise and return to herself. Solitude isn’t escape—it’s nourishment. Rest isn’t indulgence—it’s wisdom.

My challenge for everyone reading this post:

Choose one quiet moment that belongs only to you. Your heart has been waiting.

If you can’t do this every day, try and do it at least once this week and grow from there.

I’d love to hear how this challenge goes for you and I’d love to know your thoughts on this subject. Do you find alone time? Even if it’s 5, 10, 15 minutes? What does your alone time look like?

Well guys, I’m a little tired now, so I think I’ll say goodnight. I do hope you enjoyed this post and you know what comes next, until next time, don’t forget, Love Life++ Hugs.