Right now, it’s 8.45pm and I’m in my kitchen eating nut butter on toast – no garnish, no greens, no beautifully styled dinner in sight. Just me, a slightly tired body, and whatever I could find to fuel me.

Life isn’t always polished. And occasionally we need to find that inner strength to let ourselves simply be. Which got me thinking…

What Does Strength Really Mean in Midlife?

This month, we’re celebrating women’s strength in all its forms. The obvious ones, yes. But also the less talked about versions that tend to show up more as we move through our 40s and beyond.

So I’ve been sitting with this question: What does strength actually mean to you right now?

To me, strength in women is much more than physical. It’s emotional resilience, setting boundaries, supporting your body through hormonal changes and choosing yourself without guilt (I know, right).

The Strength We Can See

Let’s start with the one we’re often taught to value most – physical strength.

Lifting weights. Building muscle. Feeling your body support you as you move through life. While we know we need this for our own health span, I also find feeling strong, empowering. It’s pretty nice to know I can lift my own weight when I’m pole dancing in a room of mostly 20 and 30-year-olds. 

Then there’s bone strength. It might not be glamorous right now, but to my 80-year-old future Lisa it certainly will be. It’s so important, but it’s also a long game. And I’m hoping my future self will still be able to dance around like I do now, and that’s what I’m planning for. 

Then there’s mental strength – the grit, the resilience, the ability to keep showing up even when things feel messy, uncertain, or just plain hard. No more words needed…

We’ve all leaned on that more than we probably realise.

The Strength We Don’t Talk About Enough

But women’s strength? It has layers. And a little more spice.

It’s the strength to say:
“No, that doesn’t work for me anymore.”
Without over-explaining. Without the guilt that always seems to creep in.

It’s the strength to say:
“I actually need help.”
Even if you’ve been the strong one for everyone else for years. And yes, I’m working on this. 

It’s cancelling plans because your energy is low, and not apologising for it on repeat.

It’s choosing your peace over proving a point.

And then, there’s the hardest of the hard ones…
the strength to not react.

Especially during perimenopause.

Because wow, those emotions can come in hot. Fast. Sometimes wildly out of proportion (and we know it, which almost makes it worse).

So when you pause instead of snap…
When you walk away instead of firing back…
When you take a breath and come back later…

That is strength in its most powerful, grown-woman form.

And if you don’t get it right every time? Same. Still counts. You’re human, not a robot. Just ask my boys. 

The Invisible Load We Carry

I’ve been reflecting a lot lately on just how much we hold as women.

We give life. We support life. We manage schedules, emotions, relationships, expectations. We are the glue in so many spaces, and often without even realising how much we’re carrying.

And somewhere along the way, we can end up at the very bottom of our own list.

So maybe strength, in this season of life, isn’t about doing more.

Maybe it’s about doing things differently.

A New Kind of Strength 

What if strength looked like a rebellion?

Rebelling against the idea that you have to do it all.
Rebelling against running on empty.
Rebelling against the pressure to always be “on.”

What if it looked like:

• Leaving work on time (yes, really)

• Booking the appointment you’ve been putting off

• Lifting weights because it makes you feel powerful, not smaller

• Saying no without a paragraph of explanation

• Eating toast for dinner and moving on with your life

And what if – stay with me here – it also looked like joy?

Real joy. Belly laughs. Lightness. Letting things be easier than they used to be.

Strength doesn’t always have to feel heavy. It can also be soft. Sometimes it’s playful. Sometimes it’s you saying:

I’m allowed to feel good in my life. AND I deserve it.

Your Invitation This Month

...is to celebrate your strength – all of it.

The visible parts.
The invisible ones.
The days you feel unstoppable.
And the days where you are happy you’re barely keeping it together.

Say no when you need to.
Say yes to yourself more often.

Support your body. Back your mind. Honour your energy.

A strong body and a strong mind are about giving you the freedom to move through life with confidence, energy, and a whole lot more joy. 

And really, isn’t that what we’re all craving?

So tell me – what does strength look like for you right now?

Love,
Lisa 🤍