What if You Could Take a Midlife Gap Year (or just act like it)? (Ep 138)

What if You Could Take a Midlife Gap Year (or just act like it)? (Ep 138)

What happens when the life you carefully built suddenly no longer fits?  This week on Surfing the Quicksand, Kathy talks with novelist Lindsey Goldstein about reinvention, creativity, and the courage to start over in midlife. Lindsey’s debut novel, The Gap Year, follows Jane, a 46-year-old woman whose life unravels almost overnight: her daughter leaves for a traditional gap year abroad, her husband announces he’s leaving the marriage, and her career reaches a breaking point. In response, Jane does something wildly out of character: she boards a plane to Ecuador to pursue a decades-old dream of climbing Cotopaxi, one uncertain step at a time.  But Lindsey’s own story mirrors many of the themes in the novel.  An established physical therapist, Lindsey explored her hobby of writing seriously at 39, publishing essays in outlets including The New York Times Modern Love. Along the way, she wrote two unpublished novels before finally finding success with her third manuscript. In this conversation, she opens up about persistence, rejection, self-doubt, creative identity, and what it means to pursue a dream later in life.  Kathy and Lindsey also explore:  * Why reinvention often requires action before confidence   * The hidden business side of becoming a published author   * Balancing creativity, motherhood, work, and ambition   * The growing demand for stories centered on women in their 40s and 50s   * How Ecuador became both the setting and emotional heartbeat of The Gap Year   * Productivity, deadlines, and learning how you work best   * The challenge of claiming a new identity, even after success   Whether you’re contemplating a leap, rediscovering yourself after years of caregiving, or wondering if it’s “too late” to try something new, this conversation is a reminder that reinvention rarely arrives fully planned. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is begin before you feel ready.    Resources and Mentions  Buy Gap Year on Amazon (paid link): https://amzn.to/4dooYE4 [https://amzn.to/4dooYE4]     Follow Lindsey:   Website: https://www.lindseygoldsteinauthor.com  Instagram: @goldsteinlindsey  Substack: lindseygoldstein.substack.com [https://lindseygoldstein.substack.com/]  TikTok: @lindseygoldsteinauthor    About Lindsey Goldstein  Lindsey Goldstein is a writer who started with essays on love and parenting, published in The New York Times, Sunlight Press, Chicago Story Press, and more. Her debut novel Gap Year, published in 2026 by Egret Lake Books, a story of self-discovery, reinvention, and courage.   Writing the book was inspired in many ways by her own life when the pandemic impact ground her career as a physical therapist to a halt, and as motherhood became her primary focus, and she faced questions about who she was and wanted to become. Lindsey lives with her family in Southern California.

Pivot & Pinot: Reinventing Your Life When the Dream Doesn’t Fit (Ep 137)

What happens when your “dream life” stops feeling like your right life?  In this episode of Surfing the Quicksand, Kathy sits down with Danielle Frank, whose career path reads like a movie script: Hollywood publicity at Miramax, global travel, hobnobbing with celebrities.   But beneath the glamour were pivotal moments of clarity: a toxic job that triggered daily dread, a relationship that looked perfect on the outside but felt misaligned on the inside, and a long-held dream of writing that stayed dormant for over a decade.  Danielle shares how she learned to recognize the “pit in your stomach” as a signal, not something to ignore, and how embracing life pivots (even the scary ones) led her to a more authentic, fulfilling path. She walked away without a safety net (terrified, but confident it was the right choice) to a “just for now” job with luxury wine and spirits brands like Bacardi and Moët Hennessy that has turned into the dream she didn’t know she could have. (Clink the Veuve Clicquot!)  And now she’s re-awakening the dormant writer inside, publishing her first book in her 50’s, her story is a powerful reminder that change isn’t failure. It’s evolution.  The conversation also explores redefining fulfillment, especially for women whose lives don’t follow traditional timelines around marriage and motherhood, and how creativity, storytelling, and even humor can become meaningful outlets for impact.  Key Takeaways:  The “pit in your stomach” is data, not drama. That persistent dread is often your clearest signal that something is misaligned, whether it’s a job, relationship, or life path.  Pivots are not failures. They’re transitions to the right path.  Every major shift Danielle made (career, geography, relationships) became a steppingstone, not a step backwards.  Transferable skills matter more than industry labels. Her throughline wasn’t entertainment or wine. It was storytelling, which made reinvention possible.  You can outgrow a life that once fit you perfectly.  Dream jobs and relationships can still become wrong over time, and that doesn’t invalidate what they once were.  Fulfillment isn’t one-size-fits-all. A meaningful, joyful life can exist outside traditional expectations like marriage and motherhood.  It’s never too late to resurrect a creative dream. A book written 14 years earlier became a reality in her 50’s. Timing doesn’t negate value.    Resources & Links  Danielle’s book: A Wine Lover’s Guide to Parenting https://amzn.to/3Qpz6ob [https://amzn.to/3Qpz6ob] (ad link)   Website: https://daniellefrankauthor.com/  Instagram: @createagreatstory   About Danielle Frank  Danielle Frank is a brand-building executive in the luxury wine and spirits industry, with experience at Bacardi and Moët Hennessy. A lifelong storyteller, she recently published A Wine Lover’s Guide to Parenting, a humorous, rhyming “adult children’s book” blending wine terminology with life lessons about raising good humans. Through 11 playful lessons, the book draws clever parallels between wine terminology and parenting truths, delivering both laughs and light wine education along the way.

Designing Your Second (or Third!) Act (Ep 136)

In this solo episode, Kathy reflects on the difference between a bold midlife leap and the quieter, more common reality: the midlife pivot. Drawing from her work as a career coach and resume writer, she walks listeners through how to rethink the future of work in their 40s and 50s without blowing up their entire life.  Kathy introduces three powerful pathways for designing what comes next: niche expertise, commitment to service, and portfolio careers. Through real client stories and personal experience, she shares how to identify your transferable skills, uncover strengths you may be overlooking, and begin shaping a future that fits your energy, values, and season of life.  This episode explores how midlife career change is more often about pivoting than leaping, and how burnout, life changes, and shifting priorities can spark that pivot. Helping people identify their transferable skills and where their gifts align with what organizations need is key to how Kathy works with people to help them envision what comes next.   If you’ve been wondering, “What now?” this episode offers a practical, encouraging place to start.  If this episode sparked something for you or got you thinking about someone you care about, consider reaching out. Kathy offers free consultations and loves helping people explore what might come next.  Key Takeaways  Most midlife change is a pivot, not a leap. Big reinventions get attention (and podcast episodes!), but most people are simply looking for a shift that better fits who they are now.  Even with 20-30 years behind you, you might have 10–20 working years left, and that changes the equation.  Your strengths are hiding in plain sight. The things you’re best at often feel “easy,” which makes them easy to overlook, but they’re highly valuable, and there are strategies you can use to find yours.  It may feel counterintuitive, but narrowing your focus can expand your opportunities. Getting specific about what you do best opens more doors than staying broad.  You don’t have to figure it out alone. A thought partner can help surface patterns, challenge assumptions, and unlock new directions.  Resources and Mentions  Book a free 20-minute consultation with Kathy to explore her services:   https://calendly.com/kathyvines/20-minute-consultation-with-kathy [https://calendly.com/kathyvines/20-minute-consultation-with-kathy]     About Kathy Vines  Kathy Vines is a Certified Career Coach, Certified Professional Resume Writer, and a former HR professional who is now in her second act career. She’s the host of “Surfing the Quicksand” a podcast helping midlife women get unstuck.

Empty Nest and Open Palms: Navigating Midlife with Curiosity and Self-Compassion with Meredith Wakelyn (Ep 135)

In this deeply reflective conversation, Kathy sits down with therapist Meredith Wakelyn to explore what it means to navigate multiple identity shifts at once in midlife. From unexpected health changes to the emotional complexity of empty nesting and evolving relationships with adult children, Meredith shares her experience of learning to listen to her body, release long-held habits, and redefine her role as both a parent and a professional.  Together, they unpack the subtle but powerful shifts that come with this stage of life, where pride gives way to vulnerability, obligation transforms into intentional commitment, and control softens into trust. Meredith offers practical wisdom on tuning into your own signals, setting boundaries with love, and embracing a more spacious, evolving version of yourself.  This episode is a reminder that midlife isn’t about having it all figured out. It’s about learning how to respond, with curiosity and compassion, to what’s changing.  Key Takeaways:  Midlife is a convergence of identity shifts, not just one change. Health, career, parenting, and relationships often evolve simultaneously, requiring constant recalibration of who you are and how you show up.  Your body may change the rules. Listen to it. What worked in your 30s or 40s may no longer serve you. Paying attention to subtle signals (sleep, recovery, energy) can reveal important truths about your health.  Small habits can have outsized impacts in midlife. Even moderate alcohol consumption can significantly affect sleep, blood pressure, and overall well-being, especially during perimenopause and menopause.  Asking for help is a turning point, not a failure. Letting go of pride and reaching out during professional uncertainty can open doors and restore momentum.  Parenting adult children requires a complete role redefinition. The shift from hands-on parenting to “consultant and safe landing” requires intentional communication, boundaries, and emotional flexibility.  Choose commitment over obligation in relationships. Relationships thrive when they are chosen, not required, creating more authentic, respectful, and meaningful connections.  About Meredith Wakelyn:   As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 30 years of experience, Meredith Wakelyn helps individuals, couples, families, and college students overcome life’s difficult challenges. She believes supportive, effective therapy builds emotional resiliency to cope with stress and crises, helping us manage negative experiences. Her specialties include EMDR & Trauma Therapy, Individual Therapy, and Couples Therapy.   Married for over 30 years and a mother to two twenty-something children, Meredith lives a life grounded in mindfulness and balance in Denver, CO. She finds joy in yoga, running, snowboarding, paddleboarding, cooking, and reading, and cherishes time spent with loved ones. Meredith lives her life to the fullest, bringing presence and purpose to everything she does.

When Women Feel Well, Everything Changes: Exploring Hormones and HRT (EP 134)

Episode Summary:  “When women feel well, everything changes.” That simple statement becomes the foundation for a powerful and eye-opening conversation with family nurse practitioner and menopause specialist Magen Price.  In this episode, Kathy and Magen break down the realities of perimenopause and menopause, from the hormonal shifts happening in the body to the emotional and identity-level impact many women experience. Magen debunks common myths, explains hormone replacement therapy in clear, accessible terms, and shares why so many women feel dismissed or confused when seeking care.  Together, they explore how this phase of life can feel destabilizing but also deeply transformative and how the right support, information, and advocacy can help women move from confusion to clarity.  Whether you’re in your late 30s, midlife, or beyond, this episode offers both validation and actionable guidance to help you better understand your body and advocate for your health.  Topics We Cover:  * Hormones 101: estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone explained   * Early signs of perimenopause (that most people miss)   * Why anxiety, sleep disruption, and identity shifts are often hormonal   * Body-identical vs. synthetic hormones - what’s the difference?   * The surprising preventative benefits of HRT (heart, bone, brain, and more)   * Why vaginal estrogen is a “game changer” for long-term health   * The real risks, and how they’re often misunderstood   * How to advocate for yourself with medical providers   Resources and Mentions:   Mystic Valley Sexual Wellness, Magen’s concierge women’s health practice: https://www.mysticvalleysexualwellness.com [https://www.mysticvalleysexualwellness.com/]   Magen’s Midlife Library, with patient guides: https://mysticvalley.podia.com/ [https://mysticvalley.podia.com/]    Instagram: @magenpricenp   Instagram: @mysticvalleysexualwellness    Some statistics referenced in the episode:   Women are leaving the workforce due to menopause-related symptoms:   https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/pb-assets/Health%20Advance/journals/jmcp/JMCP4097_proof.pdf [https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/pb-assets/Health%20Advance/journals/jmcp/JMCP4097_proof.pdf]   Untreated hip fractures in elderly women:  https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-dangerous-is-a-broken-hip-when-youre-older-2223520 [https://www.verywellhealth.com/how-dangerous-is-a-broken-hip-when-youre-older-2223520]   Vaginal Estrogen seen as helpful for women in preventing urinary tract infections:   https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(23)00309-5/abstract [https://www.ajog.org/article/S0002-9378(23)00309-5/abstract]   https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8058921/ [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8058921/]   DVT/Clot risks with HRT Transdermal Patches  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/search/research-news/2958/ [https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/search/research-news/2958/]     About Magen Price  Magen Price is board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner, a Menopause Society Certified Practitioner, and an AASECT-Certified Sex Counselor with a passion for helping women navigate the complex, often-overlooked transitions of midlife.   She started in community health as a primary care provider, and the created a Sexual Wellness specialty there, blending sexual medicine, hormone management and intimacy counseling.   In 2025, she founded her private practice, Mystic Valley Sexual Wellness, to do what the traditional healthcare system too often cannot: offer thoughtful, individualized, evidence-based care for women navigating perimenopause, menopause, sexual dysfunction, low libido, and intimacy challenges.    She’s passionate about correcting medical misinformation and bringing education to her patients and to health care providers about menopause and sexual medicine, and advocating for evidence-based, compassionate care that truly honors a woman’s quality of life.