What If Your Next Chapter Requires You to Leave Everything Behind?
Midlife is often portrayed as a time of settling down, but what if it’s the perfect season for reinvention? What if the key to your growth is stepping into the unknown, even without a clear plan?
In a recent episode of Two Coaches in a Room, we spoke with Coach Vuyanzi Rodman, a life, executive, and career coach, TEDx speaker, and host of Find Your Voice YouTube Show. Vuyanzi shared her extraordinary journey of packing up her life in the United States and moving to Kenya—twice.
Her story is one of trust, transformation, and resilience. Through it, we uncovered some profound lessons for women in midlife contemplating reinvention.
When Reinvention Calls, Will You Answer?
For many women, midlife marks a shift in responsibilities. Children grow up, careers may feel stagnant, and there’s a deep longing to do something more meaningful. But answering that call isn’t always easy.
Vuyanzi’s story began with an unexpected visit to Kenya in 2017. What was meant to be a short trip to a friend’s family funeral became something far more profound. She felt an unexplainable connection to the country—as if her ancestors were calling her home.
By 2020, despite a global pandemic and no concrete plan, she took a leap of faith and moved.
However, her journey wasn’t without challenges. In 2022, a lack of financial stability forced her to return to the U.S. Just when she thought she had failed, life revealed a deeper purpose—her mother passed away later that year, and she realized that returning home was necessary.
By 2023, with a fresh perspective, she returned to Kenya—this time with a more open heart, a better plan, and a deep trust in the unfolding process of life.
10 Lessons on Reinvention for Women in Midlife
Vuyanzi’s journey reflects the courage, resilience, and self-trust required to embrace significant changes. Whether you’re thinking of changing careers, moving to a new city, or redefining who you are, here are ten powerful lessons from her experience:
1. Reinvention is a Process, Not a Destination
It doesn’t happen overnight. There will be setbacks, detours, and unexpected challenges. The key is to stay committed to your growth.
2. Trust Your Gut and Take the First Step
You don’t have to see the whole path before you start walking. Sometimes, clarity only comes after you take action.
3. Failure is Not the End—It’s a Learning Curve
Setbacks are part of the process. The fundamental mistake is not learning from them.
“The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.” — Henry Ford
4. Give Yourself Permission to Put Yourself First
Midlife often comes after decades of caregiving—for children, spouses, or aging parents. It’s okay to shift the focus back to YOU.
5. You Are Stronger Than You Think
Vuyanzi realized she wasn’t just strong for her children—she was strong for herself. This is a lesson every woman needs to embrace.
6. You Don’t Have to Have It All Figured Out
Reinvention doesn’t require a 10-year plan. The plan unfolds as you take each step forward.
7. Your New Life Will Cost You Your Old One
“Your new life is going to cost you your old one. It’s going to cost you your comfort zone, your sense of direction, and even some relationships. But the people meant for you will meet you on the other side.” — Brianna Wiest
8. Surround Yourself with the Right People
Reinvention isn’t just about changing locations or careers—it’s also about finding the right community that supports your new growth.
9. Freedom is an Underrated Midlife Gift
Many midlife women are now choosing careers with remote work, travel, and more flexibility. This is the season to claim that freedom.
10. Face Forward and Keep Moving
Even when things fall apart, don’t stay stuck.
“I didn’t set up camp in the valley of failure—I walked through it.” — Vuyanzi Rodman
Are You Ready to Step Into Your Next Chapter?
Reinvention isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about trusting the unknown, taking risks, and believing that your best years are still ahead.
If there’s a voice inside nudging you toward change, listen to it.
What permission do you need to give yourself today?
Final Thought
✅ You are allowed to reinvent yourself.
✅ You are allowed to change your mind.
✅ You are allowed to put yourself first.
✅ Most importantly, you are allowed to trust that the next chapter will be even better than the last.
I Would Love to Hear From You!
What reinvention are you contemplating? Leave a comment below, and let’s keep the conversation going!
🎧 Listen to the Podcast Episode Here:
🔗 Two Coaches in a Room – Spotify
