Hey there Reader,

Yesterday I talked with a friend for the first time in years. After we caught up with the small talk, she dove into what I believe was her real motivation for calling.

She said she was scrolling through one perfect life after another. Sarah posting about her 'dream retirement' in Italy; Jennifer sharing her perfect morning routine; Maria launching her third successful business... "Meanwhile", she said, "I'm sitting in my pajamas wondering what to do with my Tuesday."

Here's what I've learned:

The comparison game hits differently when you're in your 60s. There's this underlying urgency—like everyone else got the memo about how to navigate this phase gracefully, and you missed it.

But here's the truth: you let those perfectly curated posts get under your skin even though you know they're bullshit. Not because these women are lying (although some of them may be pretending just a tad) but because you're only seeing the highlight reel.

You don't see Sarah's panic attacks about money, Jennifer's 3 AM anxiety spirals, or Maria's loneliness. You don't see the seventeen false starts before finding what "felt right."

The real secret?

Women who thrive at this stage haven't figured it all out—they've just stopped trying to. They trust the process of becoming and choose authenticity over pretending.

Your messy middle isn't a bug, it's a feature. It's your inner knowing calling you toward something more aligned. [Read the full article here]​

Speaking of figuring things out...

I've been getting the most amazing messages from women who took the "Your Midlife Archetype" quiz. One reader discovered she's been trying to force herself into a "Weaver" approach when she's actually a "Phoenix"—no wonder nothing felt right! It's like trying to navigate with someone else's compass.

Curious about your archetype? [Take the 3-minute quiz here] and see which of the four approaches might feel more natural for you.

And hey—if you're tired of the comparison game and ready to trust your own path, I have something coming this September that might help. Wayfinding Road officially launches then—a 6-week program for women done with pretending they have it all figured out.

No perfect transformations, just real women supporting each other through the beautiful mess of becoming.

Talk soon,

Lynnelle

P.S. - As I type this on Sunday, July 6, 2025, I am celebrating 1 year since arriving in France. Hard to believe a year has passed since I made the official move. I'm putting together a photo journal of the past 365 days. Stay tuned.