How to Keep Going (and Reinvent Yourself) When Life Changes

Last week, I ran into someone I’ve been connected to on social media for more than ten years. She stopped me and said, “I used to love reading your blogs.”

That one sentence landed harder than she probably realized.

Because the truth is, I haven’t written consistently in years. Not because I stopped caring. But because life… kept happening.

And if you’ve ever felt like life knocked the wind out of you long enough that you forgot who you were before it did — this is for you.

When Life Doesn’t Just Change — It Pivots

Since 2020, my life has looked nothing like what I imagined:

• A divorce that changed everything I thought was stable

• Multiple moves that left me feeling unrooted

• Watching my daughter become a mom — twice — and stepping into becoming a Coco myself

• Major surgeries (mine, my daughter’s, my dog’s — yes, all of it)

• And losing a business I built from the ground up over 15 years

That last one? That shook my identity.

When you pour your heart, time, and purpose into something for that long, losing it feels personal. It’s not just a business loss — it’s a grief.

And here’s what no one really talks about: you can be strong and still feel completely undone.

The Myth of “Bouncing Back”

I don’t believe in bouncing back anymore.

Because that implies returning to who you were before life changed you.

Instead, I believe in moving forward differently.

Wiser. Softer in some places. Stronger in others. More selective. More honest.

Reinvention doesn’t come from pretending nothing hurt.It comes from acknowledging what did — and choosing not to stay stuck there.

How to Keep Going When Everything Feels Uncertain

Here are a few truths that helped me keep putting one foot in front of the other:

1. You’re allowed to grieve what you lost — even if others don’t understand it

Grief isn’t just about people. It’s about:

• Lost routines

• Lost dreams

• Old versions of yourself

Don’t rush the healing because someone else thinks you should be “over it.”

2. You don’t need a full plan — just the next honest step

There were seasons where my only goal was:

• Get up

• Show up

• Do the next right thing

Clarity comes after movement, not before.

3. Your worth didn’t disappear with your circumstances

This one took me a while.

Titles change. Businesses end. Roles shift.But your experience, wisdom, and resilience don’t vanish.

They transfer.

Reinvention Isn’t About Becoming Someone New

It’s about remembering who you were before the world told you who you had to be.

Reinvention looks like:

• Asking better questions

• Setting firmer boundaries

• Letting go of what no longer fits

• Saying yes to things that feel aligned — even if they don’t make sense to anyone else

Sometimes it’s quieter than people expect. Sometimes it’s slower.Sometimes it starts with something simple… like writing again.

If You’re in a Transition Season, Hear This

You are not behind.You are not broken.You are not starting over from scratch.

You’re starting over from experience.

And that matters.

This is me choosing to write again — not because everything is perfect, but because it’s real.

If you’re navigating change, loss, or reinvention, I see you.And if you’re still standing, even when it’s hard — you’re doing better than you think.

Here’s to continuing. Not perfectly.Just honestly.

XO,

Lisa

PS - If this resonated, feel free to share it with someone who might need it — or leave a comment. I read every one.