When I was younger, I pictured balance as this perfect split: focused hours at work, dedicated presence at home, endless energy for friends, and a tidy house that smelled like fresh laundry and lavender scents.
But life taught me differently.
Now, in my fifties, living with chronic pain, fibromyalgia, and arthritis, I realise that balance isn’t about perfecting each piece of the puzzle. It’s about managing the energy I have and finding peace within it.
I used to feel guilty for not being fully present at work while thinking about home, or for being at home but thinking about everything waiting for me at work. Some days, I question whether I should even be working at all. My body aches so deeply that simply sitting up feels like an accomplishment. Other days, I debate whether to work remotely or in person, each option draining a different kind of energy. Working from home spares my energy when there is almost none, but being in person keeps me socially connected and structured. Neither feels perfect. Both require energy I don’t always have.
That guilt once weighed heavier than my fatigue. It whispered that I wasn’t enough in any role: mother, professional, woman, friend.
But each day, I wake up and remind myself: I am enough, exactly as I am today.
Balance for me now is waking up grateful for the quiet of early mornings, the softness of my bed under my aching joints, and whatever challenge the day brings. It’s learning to live without expectations outside of my scope. I can only do what I can with the energy I have. And that is enough.
I love home more than ever. Not because it’s spotless or styled like a magazine, but because it grounds me in my most vulnerable moments. My free time, even if it’s just a small window between pain flares or work calls, has become precious. A warm cup of herbal tea, a deep breath by my window, or a gentle stretch on my bed remind me that balance is found in presence, not perfection.
And perhaps the greatest gift in this season is sharing this journey with you! Women like me who once thought balance was a destination rather than an evolving dance of grace, energy, and acceptance.
💖 Final Thoughts
If balance feels out of reach today, remember that it isn’t about doing everything. It’s about managing your energy with compassion and letting go of the guilt from yesterday’s expectations. Balance isn’t a perfect state; it’s the grace of accepting what you can do right now with your current energy and maintaining your desired sense of grace.
Thank you for walking this journey with me.
With strength and graciousness,
Aimée.
Fiftyandmore 
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