Hello, and welcome to what feels like both a beginning and a continuation.
I'm Rebecca, and if you've found your way here, chances are you're navigating some version of what I've been calling the "third act", that rich, complex, sometimes bewildering phase of life that doesn't quite fit the scripts we were handed in our younger years.
Maybe you're here because you caught wind of my new YouTube series, also called "Rebecca's Third Act," where I'll be documenting this journey in real time. Maybe you stumbled across my theater work or consulting practice. Or maybe you're simply someone who, like me, has reached a point where the old definitions of success, creativity, and purpose feel too small for the person you're becoming.
Whatever brought you here, I'm grateful you're joining me for what promises to be an honest, messy, and hopefully illuminating exploration of what it means to reimagine our lives when we're no longer who we used to be, but not yet sure who we're becoming.
Why Start This Now?
The truth is, I feel like the ground is shifting under my feet. My oldest kid just left for college, I'm dealing with a newly diagnosed chronic illness, not to mention our field, and the country, seem to be in a state of accelerating collapse. It feels like time for a major midlife reboot. I'm wondering what kind of artist I want to be in these apocalyptic times, what kind of person I am as the nature of parenting shifts, and how to stay balanced and creative while the world is on fire.
If you're wondering those things too, I hope you'll follow along with weekly posts here and weekly videos over on my new YouTube channel.
The more I've talked with friends, colleagues, and strangers about these themes, the more I realized we're all grappling with versions of the same questions: How do we stay creative when inspiration feels elusive? How do we find meaning when traditional markers of success feel hollow? How do we build community when so many of our old connections no longer serve us?
This blog is my attempt to explore these questions together, in real time, without the pressure of having all the answers.
What You Can Expect Here
Think of this space as the behind-the-scenes companion to the video series, a place where I can dig deeper into the themes that emerge, share the stories that don't make it into the episodes, and create room for the kind of nuanced conversation that's hard to fit into a ten-minute video.
You'll find reflections on the creative process, particularly what it's like to make art during uncertain times. I'll share insights from my consulting work with arts organizations, many of whom are also navigating their own third acts as they adapt to post-pandemic realities and changing community needs.
There will be community spotlights featuring other artists, activists, and thinkers who are reimagining their own third acts in inspiring ways. I'm particularly interested in highlighting people who are breaking conventional timelines, starting new careers at sixty, returning to abandoned dreams, or discovering entirely new passions in midlife.
I'll also use this space to process what I'm learning about myself and this life stage. Expect honest accounts of the days when nothing feels possible alongside celebrations of unexpected breakthroughs. This isn't a self-help blog or a prescription for how to "do" midlife correctly. It's more like a field journal from someone who's actively exploring unmapped territory.
And because I believe deeply in the power of shared storytelling, every post will end with an invitation for you to share your own experiences. Whether through comments, emails, or eventual guest posts, I want this to become a genuine conversation rather than a one-way broadcast.
Building Community in the In-Between
One of the unexpected challenges of this life stage is the isolation that can come with not fitting neatly into existing categories. We're not quite empty nesters but we're also not new parents. We're experienced professionals but we might be questioning everything we thought we knew about our careers. We have more freedom than we've had in decades, but also more awareness of our own mortality.
Traditional communities, often organized around work, parenting, or other life circumstances, don't always know what to do with people in transition. And yet this is exactly when we most need connection, reflection, and support.
That's part of what I'm hoping to build here: a community for people navigating their own third acts, whatever that means for them. A place where we can acknowledge both the privileges and challenges of this life stage, share resources and insights, and remind each other that we don't have to figure it all out alone.
What's Coming Next
In my next post, I'll be diving deep into something I'm calling "Creating Through Crisis", exploring how we maintain our creative practices and find inspiration when the world feels overwhelming. It's a theme that's come up repeatedly in my conversations with other artists, and one that feels particularly relevant as we navigate ongoing global uncertainty.
I'll share some of what I've learned about maintaining creative discipline without rigid expectations, finding inspiration in unexpected places, and using art-making as both refuge and resistance. Plus, I'll introduce you to a few artists who are doing extraordinary work precisely because they're willing to create in the midst of difficulty.
Your Turn
But first, I'd love to hear from you. What brought you to this post? What questions are you grappling with in your own life right now? Are there particular aspects of midlife creativity, career transition, or purpose-seeking that you'd like to see explored here?
The comment section below is yours, use it to introduce yourself, share a reflection, or simply say hello. And if you're not quite ready to comment publicly, you can always reach out directly through my contact page.
One of the things I'm learning about third acts is that they're inherently collaborative. Unlike the first act (where we're often focused on establishing ourselves) or the second act (where we're building and achieving), the third act seems to invite more partnership, more mentorship in both directions, more recognition that we're all figuring it out together.
So let's figure it out together. Subscribe for updates, share your stories, and let's see what kind of community we can build around the beautiful, messy, creative work of reimagining our lives.
Welcome to the third act. I'm so glad you're here.
Ready to dive deeper? Subscribe to get notified when "Creating Through Crisis" goes live this week, and follow along with the YouTube series for weekly video updates on this ongoing journey.
Tell me: What does "third act" mean to you right now? What questions are you carrying as you navigate this season of life? Share your thoughts in the comments below: I read and respond to every one.