On bold, feisty women and finding the way in midlife (and beyond)
Reflections on 25 years of the Texas Conference for Women plus a roundup of recommended reads.
Wednesday marked the 25th anniversary of the Texas Conference for Women, a safe and welcoming space where, for one day each year, women come together to support one another in both professional and personal development. While it’s part of the larger national Conferences for Women organization, it still carries the distinct feel of a Texas institution.
I first attended this event a gazillion years ago, when I was a 20-something daily newspaper journalist. After some internet sleuthing (which was surprisingly more challenging than expected), I discovered that I actually attended the very first conference in October 2000, while pregnant with my first child. The Austin American-Statesman had bought a table, but I distinctly remember not knowing most of the women seated with me during the keynote luncheon—primarily senior leaders from across the paper, not just the newsroom. It was intimidating and inspiring. I was young, full of hope, and eager to someday measure up to the incredible women around me. In the meantime, I soaked up as much wisdom as I could from the event’s speakers, including Condoleezza Rice, who was advising then-presidential hopeful George Bush and delivered the keynote address.
At this year’s event, actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Spanx founder Sara Blakely were among the most prominent speakers. However, the standouts were author and activist Isabel Allende, who was every bit the firecracker, even at 82 years old, and actress and TV host Tabitha Brown, who was a revelation with her signature bold hair and even bolder personality.
Allende shared how she was a feminist from age five, long before the term was well-known, and how she built a life centered around writing and activism. She urged the audience not to get hung up on labels—whether you identify as a feminist or not—but to simply "do the work.” She emphasized the responsibility of those in positions of privilege (my words not hers; whether we recognize it or not, most of us attending the conference and reading here are coming from a place of privilege) to take action and make a difference.
“Any hope for peace and prosperity is in the hands of Western women.” —Isabel Allende
Brown brought positive energy and every bit of her small-town North Carolina charm, challenging the audience to keep it real but also not to bring anyone else down just because you’re having a bad day. She spoke about her epic rise as a content creator, author, and actress, and the early bad career advice that initially led her to water herself down. She spoke of the power of listening to that inner voice and tapping into those traits that make you unique.
“If you want to fit in, you’ll never stand out.” —Tabitha Brown
Soundbytes aside, what struck me most was how the event affirmed so many of the themes I’ve been vibing on lately. It was confirmation—I’m on the right path. It's also never too late to start over—whether that means embarking on a new career, embracing a new relationship, picking up a new hobby, or adopting a fresh perspective on life. Midlife, in particular, offers us an opportunity to reset and redefine ourselves. We don't have to be prisoners of our past or the limiting narratives we've told ourselves over the years.
I’ve spent so many years second-guessing myself, often feeling out of place because of the unique traits that define me. I’ve been critical of how long it’s taken me to find self-acceptance, and I’ve berated myself for the time it’s taken to me to step into my destiny. But what I’m coming to realize is—no matter however long or winding this process has been—I’m right on time. Every step has brought me closer to where I want to be.
This time, I returned not as a wide-eyed journalist, but as a woman with decades of professional experience, multiple careers, and a wealth of life lessons. I was joined by some of my closest friends and fellow authors. We came to embrace the positive energy, connect, and share in the camaraderie that filled the convention center with over 7,500 attendees—most of them women. What stood out to me most wasn’t the impressive lineup, but the collective spirit of women there to lift each other up.
More bits of goodness filling me up lately
doesn’t write often on her own newsletter, but when she does, it’s always worth the read. This week, she writes about the gift of invisibility that often comes when women enter midlife. 
It’s also not often that
tackles a reader question, but this one “from the fat old in the mirror” was particularly insightful. Body image is a recurring topic for me here on Almost Sated, because one of the biggest challenges in my recovery from diets has been accepting my body, and I’m just now getting to a good place. It’s tricky, because our feelings about our bodies—and by extension our whole being—exist on a constantly shifting spectrum. With this column, Sole-Smith made me question the long-term viability of some of my own strategies for cultivating a healthier relationship with myself, plus there were tons of actionable tips for those working toward body acceptance.
I was fortunate enough to be included in
‘s Midstack directory a few weeks ago and again in her Friday roundup. If you’re looking for more tasty tidbits from women writing about midlife, I encourage you to check it out and subscribe!
I did a double take this week when I saw
was the guest on one of my favorite podcasts, the One You Feed. Was it the Sarah Fay?! Yes, indeed. Many of us writers know her for her newsletter coaching, but she's a memoir writer in her own right. In this episode, she talks about her road to mental health recovery, what it means to be cured from an illness thought to be incurable, and the risks of getting a diagnosis. It was one of the most interesting and novel podcast conversations I’ve heard in a long time.
I’m a big believer in the power of curiosity—especially as a replacement for self-criticism—so I was happy to see this post from
walking through how to talk to ourselves with more kindness when it comes to the body image stuff.
We often think of eating disorders as a young person’s illness, but the aging process can also be a trigger, particularly if we’ve already been struggling. This piece from
was a wakeup call and a reminder that thin doesn’t always equal healthy.
Last but not least, one of my favorite new reads has been
’s Unf*cking Midlife, which is probably the best newsletter name of all time. Kelsch is also an Austinite (although I’m not sure I still qualify as a suburbanite), and we had an awesome coffee/juice breakfast-that-ran-into-lunch this week, talking about writing, aging, working as journalists, working out and more. I love how real she’s willing to get in talking about perimenopause, shit and all.
What’s been filling your cup lately? Share any awesome reads or podcast recommendations below! This is the first roundup of recommended reads and listens I’ve done in a while. I’m still playing around with formats, but I think it makes sense to do them alongside a shorter post versus on their own. If you have thoughts, let me know!
Fantastic piece. Added too many things to my reading queue. Love heading into the weekend this way!
Thanks!!😊
I’ve followed the conference on IG for a while; it sounds like an amazing event. Thank you for including me here! I’m excited to check out the other work you linked to!