Blooming in Middlescence with Trish Ryan

One of the wonderful benefits of modern technology is the ability to connect and communicate with others, often finding communities of people who share our experiences, questions, and interests.

Our guest today is Trish Ryan, founder and creative force behind Bloom., an e-newsletter and blog she publishes three times a week for an audience primarily made up of women in their 50s and beyond. Bloom. reaches approximately 5,000 women and grew out of Trish's own experience of becoming an empty nester and recognizing that she wanted more for herself. As Trish explains, "I had a lot of thoughts going through my mind, but I never read about them, and I never heard anybody else talk about them." She wondered, "If I'm feeling this way, there's gotta be other people that feel the same way."

Bloom. is Trish's answer to an absence of dialogue around the different emotions, challenges, and delights of midlife. Like Messy Middlescence, Bloom seeks to encourage meaningful conversations and create connections around our shared experiences. Both benefit from the accessibility that modern technology provides.

Trish comes across as a dynamic force in our conversation with her. Her confidence, positive energy, and insight are motivational and contagious. A gifted writer, she has a special ability to turn familiar thoughts and experiences into invitations to think more deeply and differently.

We particularly loved Trish's perspective on transformation and her belief that it doesn't have to be dramatic. It can happen in small, everyday ways as we try new things, discover new interests, and become more comfortable with who we are. Trish genuinely likes who she is and is excited about who she is becoming. Her curiosity and enthusiasm for this stage of life are inspiring.

We loved talking to her about Bloom., transformation, and the opportunities that having more time and freedom in this phase of life can bring.

Topics discussed also include:

• The origin story of Bloom and how it got its name
• How Trish views transformation as something that happens throughout our lives
• Trish's perspective on hurdles and roadblocks
• The changes she and her husband have experienced as empty nesters
• Moving from CEO to VP in our children's lives
• The satisfaction and opportunities that discovering a new sport can bring
• Her discovery and growth as a writer
• The happiness and satisfaction of creating something that grows
• The importance of trying new things and remaining open to possibilities
• Her mantra of keeping moving, exploring, talking to people, and learning