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Today’s guest is Susan Powers, a woman whose journey after 50 is inspiring and deeply relatable to many people.
In our conversation, Susan described how the decade leading up to her milestone birthday was marked by personal loss, the end of an abusive marriage and overwhelming stress from her career.
By the time she turned 50, Susan knew something had to change. Fortunately, with the support of her new husband, she retired early from her work with the state of California to focus on healing and start a new path to give her life meaning and purpose.
What followed was a new season of discovery. Susan explored her love of writing and teaching about leadership as well as coaching skills through Landmark training. Eventually, she launched her new career as an author and transformational coach.
She learned that purpose often emerges when we allow ourselves to rest, heal and rediscover who we really are.
My key takeaways from Susan’s story include:
- The importance of listening to your body and recognizing when stress is taking a toll.
- How healing seasons are not wasted time, but preparation for new beginnings.
- The power of storytelling and legacy as a way to strengthen families across generations.
- A reminder that it is never too late to uncover hidden gifts and pursue meaningful work.
Susan is the author of two children’s books that deliver exceptional messages for families.
Her first book, “Special Shoes for My Little Feet,” is a story that highlights the importance of family and the unique roles parents and grandparents play in shaping a child’s life.
Her second, “Charlie Box,” draws from her granddaughter’s imagination and offers a moving reminder that even when we feel discarded or overlooked, we can find new purpose and joy through connection and creativity.
Beyond writing, Susan discovered her passion for coaching. As a certified transformational coach, she helps people identify blind spots, work through obstacles and create lives filled with meaning.
She explained that coaching is about asking the right questions, taking time for honest reflection, and empowering people to move forward with clarity.
What gives Susan’s life meaning and purpose today is helping families embrace strong values, guiding individuals to step into their own stories, and creating books that can leave a lasting legacy for future generations.
You can connect with Susan through her website at www.sdpowersbooks.com, or find her on Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram under the name Susan D. Powers.
That’s all for this week’s show. If you’d like to start living a more meaningful life, I encourage you to download our free guide to finding purpose, which is available at www.forwardfrom50.com.
I’ll have another inspirational interview on the next episode of the Forward From 50 podcast. Thanks for listening. If you like this show, please consider leaving a review wherever you download the episodes.
If you order one of Susan’s books from a link above, Forward From 50 may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
After closing his business and enduring several painful years of uncertainty regarding what to do with his life, Greg founded Forward From 50 to help men and women over 50 to live more purposeful lives by pursuing things they are passionate about. A Wisconsin native, Greg currently lives in Arizona.