When you’re in your 20s, 30s or even 40s, you think that by midlife you’ll have life sorted. I know I did, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
Things change a lot in midlife – menopause, children leaving home, divorce or separation, no longer feeling content with work, or simply not quite knowing who you are.
I know I’ve experienced all of those things in the last 10 years, and whilst I wouldn’t say I’ve come out the other side wiser, I do feel stronger emotionally. I know more clearly now what I want and what I don’t, what I will tolerate and what I won’t – and also what I want from my home.
At the moment I’m sat at my kitchen table with vases of tulips, the door open and the sun pouring in. It’s one of those Spring days that catches you by surprise after Winter -but very much needed.
I’ve spent the morning in the garden, planting vegetables, sorting out the greenhouse and feeding my pots. My “garden” at the moment is really just pots on gravel, as I am still living in my dad’s annexe while I wait for my house purchase to go through.
Over the last 18 months, I’ve learnt a lot about myself. One of the biggest things is how important having the right home space and garden is for my wellbeing. The annexe has never quite fulfilled that need and it was never intended too, but life got in the way and I delayed buying my next home.
For the past couple of years, I’ve talked about going back to Shropshire or Herefordshire. In February, I finally made the decision to do it and bought a house in March (more on that soon).
I’m doing this on my own, and honestly, I couldn’t be happier. Every decision has been mine, I’m looking forward to waking up in silence, sitting in the garden listening to the birds, hiking with Bertie, and finding a slower, more rural way of living.
Of course, Willow & Hen is a big part of this next chapter.
Over the past few months, I’ve been experimenting with creating my own Studio pieces – simple, everyday items for the home – along with developing a Willow & Hen Home candle. These will gradually start to appear in April and May.
I’ll also be continuing with my Chat & Create workshops ,which will eventually take place around the kitchen table – chatting over a cup of tea or coffee whilst creating something to take home.
And alongside that I will be offering one-to-one sessions for women who are going through a transition in their lives – combining my interior design and coaching experience to help create homes that feel more settled and easier to live in.
Our homes are so important for our wellbeing and if something feels off, as I have found out, it can affect everything – how we feel, how we think and how we move forward.
I know I would have really valued that kind of support when I was going through my own changes.
Life doesn’t stand still, and it doesn’t matter how old you are – things shift and sometimes we find ourselves heading in a completely different direction.
And I’m excited to see where it leads.
Love
Sue x
