LIFE REIMAGINED
How Love, Loss, Faith, and Small Steps
Can Lead to a New Purpose
There comes a moment—sometimes quiet, maybe crushing—when you realize that life has changed, and it will never be the same again. The plans you made, the roles you embraced, the life you carefully curated—suddenly, everything shifts. In an instant, you find yourself standing at the edge of something new, something that may initially feel completely unrecognizable.
There are many reasons we find ourselves starting over—some expected, others unimaginable. Sometimes we choose this path because there’s a dream we’ve carried for years or finally feel ready to heed that inner voice. Other times, we sense that something no longer works and it’s time for a change. Then there are the moments that blindside us—losses that leave us devastated and force us to begin anew.
When this happens later in life, starting over can feel especially disorienting. We have built lives, families, and identities. We have loved deeply and worked hard. By this point, we have found our voice and rhythm. So when the ground shifts beneath us, it’s more than just change—it’s a complete reimagining of who we are and where we’re headed.
What starting over demands of us is rarely easy. It calls us to carry forward what we’ve learned while loosening our grip on what we’ve lost or left behind. It asks us to trust in possibility, even when everything feels uncertain. It invites us to rebuild, rediscover, reinvent ourselves, and reimagine what life can look like now. And it reminds us that change, whether chosen or not, isn’t the end—it’s a new beginning.
One of the most poignant aspects is realizing how much of our identity was intertwined with what was. Whether it was a role, a relationship, a career, or a version of ourselves we believed was permanent. When everything changes, it’s easy, and understandable, to feel lost, unsure of who you are without the familiar markers that once defined you. But the truth is, when life changes, so do we.
When I lost my husband Mario unexpectedly in 2020, I didn’t just lose him—I lost the life we had built together and the future we had envisioned. I also lost a part of myself. For decades, I had been a wife and a mother—roles that shaped nearly every aspect of who I was. Then, at 54 years old, I became something I never expected: a widow. It was an identity I didn’t understand, I didn’t want, and had no idea how to navigate.
Initially, creating new dreams and starting over felt impossible. It was daunting and painful to imagine moving forward without the life we had built together. However, with time, I began to rebuild from the inside out. While change came unexpectedly later in life, it brought many powerful lessons. One of them is that fear is normal and to be expected. It doesn’t mean you’re not ready; it simply means you’re stepping into the unknown, and that can be frightening. I’ve learned to befriend fear, allowing it to accompany me rather than hinder me.
Just Get Started
Change looks different for everyone and every situation. But this I know for sure: you have to start. Even when you’re scared. Even when you don’t feel ready. You must show up and say yes to opportunities when they arise, because it just might be the break you need. There’s no guarantee they’ll come again. Starting is hard, but it’s the only way to discover what is truly possible.
Confidence Comes
Confidence doesn’t come before you begin. It shows up after. Stepping out of your comfort zone, even in small ways, builds strength you didn’t know you had. Each step fosters courage, and little by little, you begin to find your footing again. As challenging as it is, it’s on the other side of fear that we find our confidence. It’s by walking through it, not around it, that we cultivate the faith that reminds us we have what it takes to create a life we love.
Trust Your Tribe
What helped me begin again wasn’t just time; it was people. Those who showed up and stood beside me—friends who listened, encouraged, and reminded me of who I was when I forgot. Women who shared stories and their strength. They are your tribe, and trusting them helps you trust yourself. Alongside them, my steady and deep faith has carried me even when I didn’t know how to take the next step.
Woman to Woman
That’s the beauty of women—of mothers, daughters, friends, and sisters. We possess a quiet resilience—often unspoken, yet profoundly strong. We know how to rise, rebuild, and support one another. When one of us is starting over, the way we uplift each other doesn’t just comfort; it transforms.
Starting over isn’t solely about what you’ve lost—it’s also about what you begin to gain: clarity, courage, community, and a stronger sense of who you are becoming. Even later in life—especially later in life. Because we rarely start again with a clean slate; we begin with different circumstances.
This doesn’t mean forgetting. It doesn’t mean leaving behind the love or the life that shaped you. It means honoring all of it, even the difficult parts, as you take one step, then another, into a future that’s still unfolding. It may feel unfamiliar now, but it will eventually become your new normal.
And perhaps that’s what beginning again truly is—not a clean slate, but a brave continuation. A story still being written, with hope tucked quietly between the lines. With the courage to just start, confidence will follow, especially when you trust your tribe and embrace the magic of womanhood. In our journeys, life reimagined unfolds, guiding us toward a new purpose that is both empowering and transformative.
Features Contributor Vicki DeFrancesco
Photographer Cait Fry
