Unlocking the Power of Midlife Women

Stephanie Raffelock is the author of Creatrix Rising, Unlocking the Power of Midlife Women. She also penned the award-winning book, A Delightful Little Book of Aging

A graduate of Naropa University’s program in writing and poetics, Stephanie was a contributor to the Rogue Valley Messenger in Oregon. She has blogged for Nexus Magazine, Omaha Lifestyles, Care2.com, as well as SixtyandMe.com 

A recent transplant to Austin, Texas Stephanie enjoys an active life with her husband, Dean, and their Labrador retriever Mickey Mantle Raffelock. 

For Stephanie, writing is an encore career!   Stephanie is passionate about her work and sees midlife as a bridge from one part of your life to another.  What we have seen in society over the years is the message that when you hit midlife, you’re done!  Stephanie is here to say that this messaging is not true!  Not only are women finding their voices, but they are also raising them!  This has become her work, to write about women and aging. How we see ourselves as we age and how we get stuck in the stereotypes of aging and how to break free from those stories! 

We begin by discussing her book, Creatrix Rising!  Creatrix comes from the three Greek fates.  There was the spinner, the weaver, and the cutter. The weaver was the creatrix.  The word means a woman who makes things.  Stephanie felt that was a great word for what happens to us in midlife as we move out of the motherhood phase ( whether or not we’ve had children) We can then move into a phase of creativity.  We become women who make things, whether that’s leadership, gardening, or cooking.  Creatrix is a positive archetype that gives power and empowerment to women in midlife.  

Stephanie shares one story in her book about a woman named Austin. Austin lived life to the fullest until the very end.  She knew what it was to be a woman who makes things and never stopped.  She goes on to share that women need to reassure themselves in life that they grow psychologically and spiritually until the day they die. There is no endpoint!  We just need to change the way we talk to ourselves and how we perceive ourselves moving forward.  

Our discussion continues to focus on the importance of staying curious and having gratitude in our life.  Stephanie feels that you grow old the day you stop feeling impassioned by the things you love and what you stand for in life. 

We discussed a lot about how important mindset is moving forward into this next chapter and how we need to treat ourselves kindly and be careful about how we speak to ourselves! Perhaps look in the mirror each day and tell yourself, “hello gorgeous!  You got this! “.  What a beautiful way to start the morning!