Rediscover Yourself Midlife—Especially If “How May I Serve You?” Feels Too Familiar

Exhausted, overwhelmed, and still showing up. This was my normal - until it wasn't.

This morning, I found myself thinking about a chapter of my life that feels both far away and intimately close. It was when all three of my kids were school-aged, involved in sports, music lessons, therapy sessions—especially my youngest, who’s on the autism spectrum. I worked full-time. My husband traveled internationally for work and was gone more than he was home. And I—well, I held it all together.

I was the volunteer. The social planner. The cook. The cleaner. The emotional glue.And I had a rule: we ate dinner together as a family at least five nights a week—no phones allowed. That sacred time often included neighborhood kids or friends gathered around my table. Meals mattered. Connection mattered. But I was unraveling quietly beneath the surface.

Remembering the Years of Doing It All

My dad, retired and living about an hour away, would often show up on weekends to lend a hand. One particular morning, I was frazzled—exhausted, overwhelmed, and likely a little hungover. My nightly glass of wine had turned into a bottle. That was my coping mechanism—my way of numbing the emotional depletion I didn’t have time to process.

The Moment I Realized I Was Disappearing

Dad walked in before breakfast, as he often did. I was at the sink, washing dishes, holding it together with a strained smile. “I might as well tattoo ‘How may I serve you?’ across my forehead,” I joked, half-laughing, half-crying into the dish soap.

He slammed his fist on the counter. “Oh no you will not.”

That was my dad—more action than emotion, more opinion than empathy. He couldn’t understand the deeper meaning of what I was saying. I barely could myself at the time.

What I didn’t do after that morning was pause.

When You Ignore the Signs, Your Body Speaks Louder

I didn’t hire help or say no to another volunteer role.I didn’t reduce the wine or listen to my body’s quiet plea for rest.I didn’t slow down.I just kept serving. Until my body, my spirit, and eventually my marriage said, Enough.

I didn’t get the tattoo. But I lived it. I wore invisible ink that said, “How may I serve you?” on every inch of my being.

How to Rediscover Yourself Midlife—After Years of Doing It All

Here’s why I’m telling you this.

These days, I work with people in the after. The “What now?” phase. The part where the kids are grown or gone, the caretaking role has shifted, the old identity has cracked open—and you’re left holding a strange mix of freedom and uncertainty.

But I haven’t forgotten what came before. And maybe you're still in it.

So, this is for the mom or dad still running on caffeine and crusts of uneaten peanut butter sandwiches. The one juggling so many plates that even thinking about rest feels indulgent.

Please—listen to your body. Step outside for five minutes. Lock the bathroom door if you must. Put on noise-canceling headphones. Breathe. Not the shallow breath that barely fills your lungs. But a deep, grounding breath that says: I’m still here. I matter too.

This Is the Work I Do Now

This is the work I do now. I help people—especially those who’ve spent years serving others—reclaim energy, clarity, and joy without guilt. Whether your role has changed, your relationships have shifted, or you’re waking up wondering what’s next, know this:

You’re not broken. You’re in a sacred transition. And you don’t have to figure it all out on your own.

Together, we will:

• Rediscover yourself midlife - who you are when you’re no longer running on empty

• Build a life that energizes you—from the food on your plate to the way you move through each day

Your next chapter doesn’t have to be a blank page. It can be a bold, beautiful rewrite—starting right at your own table.

✍️ Catherine Richey

Coach & Chef for a Life You’ll Never Regret

Through nourishing meals, intentional habits, and joyful clarity, I help you rewrite your story from the inside out.🔗 www.modernmindsetcoaching.com