“Mid-life is not an ending but an opportunity for profound personal growth and transformation. By embracing new challenges and fostering supportive communities, women can reclaim control over their wellbeing and rewrite the narrative of aging.”
This powerful philosophy underpins the launch of a new women’s network dedicated to mid-life wellbeing, founded by Lisa de-Laune. Born from a personal journey of overcoming significant life hurdles, the initiative seeks to empower women to approach their middle years with positivity, resilience, and a strong sense of community, challenging outdated perceptions of aging.
Lisa de-Laune, now 52, from Weston-super-Mare in North Somerset, is spearheading a transformative movement aimed at redefining the experience of mid-life for women. Her journey began with a deeply personal challenge: to try 50 new things before her 50th birthday. This quest for new experiences, ranging from meditation and solo travel to learning salsa and eating oysters, was not merely a bucket list exercise but a proactive response to a period of intense personal adversity. De-Laune faced a hysterectomy that triggered early menopause, a divorce, and the ongoing struggles with endometriosis, alongside career transitions. These challenges, she explains, created a profound sense of uncertainty and difficulty, prompting her to seek ways to "take back control" and navigate this tumultuous phase with a positive outlook.
The success of her "50 Firsts" challenge profoundly altered de-Laune’s perspective on being middle-aged. Instead of viewing it as a period of decline or limitation, she began to see it as an expansive opportunity for growth, self-discovery, and empowerment. This shift in mindset ignited a passion to inspire other women to similarly reframe their own experiences. Moving away from her corporate background in risk compliance and health and safety, de-Laune channeled her renewed purpose into establishing two key initiatives: Women In Wellness, a supportive community network, and Fifty Firsts Wellness, a business offering coaching, training sessions, and workshops designed to guide women through their mid-life transformations.
Women In Wellness operates as a monthly gathering, open to both professionals within the wellness industry and any woman interested in enhancing her own wellbeing. The network’s design prioritizes creating a safe and understanding space where women can openly discuss the unique challenges and opportunities that mid-life presents. Initial sessions are strategically focused on critical issues such as menopause and endometriosis, topics that often remain under-discussed or stigmatized within broader society. This targeted approach ensures that members receive relevant information, share experiences, and access peer support for conditions that significantly impact women’s physical and emotional health during this life stage.
The importance of such a network is underscored by the experiences of its members. Amy Haynes, 39, from North Somerset, shared the "positive" impact the group has had on her life. She highlighted the invaluable opportunity to connect with a community where it’s acceptable to admit, "actually, I’m not OK." This sentiment speaks volumes about the pervasive societal pressure on women to always appear strong and capable, often at the expense of their own wellbeing. In a culture that frequently overlooks the specific needs of mid-life women, a space for authentic vulnerability and mutual support becomes a vital lifeline. Haynes further elaborated that the network has instilled in her greater confidence and a renewed focus on her personal wellness, prompting her to dedicate more attention to herself rather than solely prioritizing her family.
De-Laune’s personal narrative of navigating a hysterectomy and subsequent menopause resonates deeply with many women. Menopause, a natural biological transition, is frequently accompanied by a myriad of physical and psychological symptoms, including hot flashes, sleep disturbances, mood swings, anxiety, and cognitive changes. Despite its universality, societal conversations around menopause often lack depth and empathy, leaving many women feeling isolated and unprepared. Similarly, endometriosis, a chronic and often debilitating condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows outside the uterus, affects millions of women globally, causing severe pain, fertility issues, and significant impact on quality of life. By addressing these topics head-on, Women In Wellness provides a platform for education, shared coping strategies, and emotional validation, filling a critical gap in conventional healthcare and social support systems.
The concept of "taking back control" is central to de-Laune’s philosophy. For many women, mid-life coincides with a confluence of personal and professional shifts – children leaving home, caring for aging parents, career re-evaluations, and the inevitable physiological changes of aging. These transitions can often lead to feelings of disempowerment, anxiety, or a loss of identity. De-Laune’s "50 Firsts" challenge served as a powerful metaphor for actively engaging with life’s changes rather than passively enduring them. By intentionally seeking out new experiences, she not only broadened her horizons but also cultivated resilience and a sense of agency. This active approach to personal development is what she now aims to foster within the Women In Wellness community and through Fifty Firsts Wellness.
The business arm, Fifty Firsts Wellness, complements the network by offering structured support for personal and professional development. Coaching, training sessions, and workshops provide practical tools and guidance for women looking to navigate career changes, enhance their leadership skills, improve their relationships, or simply cultivate a more balanced and fulfilling life. This integrated approach acknowledges that true wellbeing encompasses multiple dimensions – physical, emotional, intellectual, social, and professional.
Experts in women’s health and psychology increasingly emphasize the critical role of social support networks in fostering resilience and improving mental health outcomes. Peer groups like Women In Wellness offer a unique blend of empathy, shared understanding, and practical advice that formal medical or therapeutic interventions may not fully address. The ability to connect with like-minded individuals who understand specific life stages and challenges reduces feelings of isolation and provides a sense of belonging, which is crucial for emotional wellbeing. The normalization of struggles, such as those associated with menopause or endometriosis, through shared experiences, empowers women to seek help and advocate for their needs more effectively.
De-Laune’s reflection that "the whole turmoil at that time, now that I’ve reflected, feels like an opportunity that was handed to me," encapsulates the transformative potential she sees in mid-life. It’s a call to view challenges not as insurmountable obstacles but as catalysts for profound personal growth and redirection. This perspective encourages women to embrace change, pursue new passions, and prioritize their own health and happiness, often for the first time in their lives after years of dedicating themselves to family and career.
The local impact of Women In Wellness, rooted in North Somerset and the West of England, is set to expand its reach. De-Laune is leading a free virtual Women In Wellbeing network event for individuals across the South West and Wales on April 21st. This virtual expansion will allow more women to access the community’s resources and support, transcending geographical barriers and reinforcing the growing demand for such specialized networks. The initiative stands as a testament to the power of personal adversity to spark collective empowerment, creating a vibrant community where women can thrive through every stage of life.