PATRICIA EZECHIE 
Coaching & Consultancy

Feeling behind in your own becoming? You’re not alone. In this reflection, I share a simple moment — an 80-year-old jogger’s cheeky comment on my morning walk — that reminded me how often we rush change in search of clarity. But sometimes, slowing down is the bravest and wisest thing we can do. If you’re navigating a life or career shift, this one’s for you. A gentle invitation to walk, not run.

When the structures around you shift, how do you stay rooted in yourself? For many professionals — especially those in public service and healthcare — change can feel deeply personal. It’s not just strategy or restructure. It’s about your role, your impact, and sometimes even your sense of self.

Organisational change can happen with the stroke of a policy pen. But personal transition doesn’t move on a press release timeline. As William Bridges reminds us: “It isn’t the changes that do you in, it’s the transitions.” Change is structural. Strategic. Often external. Transition is emotional. Psychological. Deeply personal. It involves letting go of the identity you held in that role — and figuring out who you are without the title, the badge, or the framework that once

When I watched Gayle King board the Blue Origin rocket recently—at 70 years old, no less—I didn’t expect to feel so emotional. But there it was: that unmistakable look on her face before launch. Equal parts terror, awe, and determination.

Hitting 50 and beyond is a time of opportunity and growth, even if it might not always feel that way! Practical and empowering tips on how to thrive in your career and life in midlife.