Reinvention Isn’t Optional: Finding Purpose When Life Changes the Script

You know, listening to my conversation with Leslie, I couldn’t help but think about how many times in life we all hit that moment when the story we thought we were living suddenly changes. Maybe it’s a marriage that doesn’t last. Maybe it’s kids growing up and leaving the house. Maybe it’s a career you poured yourself into that suddenly doesn’t feel like it fits anymore.

And if you’re anything like me, you’ve had those moments when you look in the mirror and wonder, “Wait a minute, who am I now?”

That’s what Leslie’s story really stirred up for me. Reinvention isn’t optional. It’s part of life. And yes, it can be scary, but it can also be freeing.

We grow up being told that life has a script. Go to school, get the job, find the partner, raise the kids, and ride off into the sunset. Happily ever after.

But what Leslie reminded me of, and what life has taught me too, is that the script is more like an improv show than a fairy tale. Things change. People change. Circumstances change. And when that happens, we have a choice. We can cling to the old script, or we can pick up the pen and start writing a new one.

When I think about my own journey—through adoption, motherhood, and building this podcast—so much of it has been about reinvention. Not because I wanted to, but because I had to.

Here’s the truth: reinvention is survival, yes. But it’s also growth. Every time we hit a wall, every time the old story falls apart, we are being invited to ask, “Who do I want to become now?”

That’s not easy. It means letting go of identities we’ve held onto for years, sometimes decades. It means grieving the picture of what we thought life would look like. But it also means discovering parts of ourselves that maybe we never had the chance to see before.

Of course, reinvention comes with fear. Fear of the unknown. Fear of failure. Fear of judgment.

I’ll be honest, sometimes the scariest part is not knowing if you’ll even recognize yourself on the other side. And yet, every time I’ve walked through that fear, I’ve found something more true, something more free.

Fear doesn’t mean stop. Fear means something new is waiting for you. And maybe that’s exactly the reminder we need in seasons of transition.

So what do we actually do when life forces us to reinvent?

• Pause and acknowledge. Don’t skip the grief. Let yourself feel the loss of what was.

• Ask better questions. Instead of “Why me?” try asking, “What now? What next?”

• Take small risks. Reinvention doesn’t have to be one giant leap. Sometimes it starts with one small yes.

• Find your people. Surround yourself with those who remind you of your worth when you can’t see it yourself.

• Give yourself permission. Permission to change, permission to grow, permission to not have it all figured out.

At the end of the day, reinvention is about reclaiming your voice. It’s about deciding that your worth isn’t tied to a title, a role, or someone else’s expectations.

And if you take nothing else away from this episode with Leslie, or from what I’ve shared here, I hope it’s this: you are allowed to rewrite your story. Even if it doesn’t look anything like you imagined.

Happily ever after? Maybe not. But a life that’s true, resilient, and filled with purpose? Absolutely.

So here’s my challenge for you this week: ask yourself, “Where in my life do I need to give myself permission to reinvent?” It doesn’t have to be big. It could be in your parenting, in your work, in your relationships, or even in the way you talk to yourself.

Because reinvention isn’t a failure. It’s proof that you’re still growing. And honestly, that might be the real happily ever after.

Thanks for staying with me today. If this spoke to you, share the episode with a friend who might need the reminder that it’s never too late to start again. And remember, as always, there is purpose in the pain and hope in the journey.