Midlife Experiences Across the World with Christine Santos
In this episode, Jo Clark welcomes podcast editor Christine Santos from the East Coast of the United States. Christine shares her journey from growing up in challenging circumstances with a hardworking single mother to building a 27-year corporate career and ultimately making the brave leap to entrepreneurship. When faced with caring for her stroke-affected mother while wanting to be present for her daughter's final years at home, Christine found the courage to redefine her path, discovering that the road to fulfillment rarely follows a straight line.
Key Takeaways
Small Steps Lead to Big Changes
Christine didn't leave her corporate job overnight. She took incremental steps—experimenting with t-shirt design, exploring podcasting, and following her intuition—which eventually led her to discover her passion for podcast production. As she puts it: "It's just taking that next step forward... you just start, and keep stepping forward."
Intentional Choices, Not Sacrifices
When transitioning from corporate life, Christine made "intentional choices" rather than sacrifices. For example, she chose not to own a personal car to redirect those resources toward her business and family priorities. These deliberate decisions aligned her life with what truly mattered to her.
Listen to Your Intuition
Christine reconnected with the intuition she had as a child by creating space to hear her inner voice. She suggests starting with small acts of following your intuition—like checking an unexpected place for lost keys—to rebuild trust in your guidance system.
Build Your Support Network
Having support is crucial during major life transitions. Christine credits her husband's encouragement, her close friendships, and professional coaches for helping her navigate changes. She emphasises that "this is not a solo journey"—seeking connection through shared interests can lead to meaningful relationships.
Find Joy in Creation
Christine found unexpected fulfillment in creative work after leaving her structured corporate environment. Now, she eagerly anticipates each workday: "I enjoy what I do so much that I don't want to go to bed at night. And when I wake up in the morning, I cannot wait to start working."
What would your 80-year-old self say about the choices you're making today? Christine hopes hers will say, "She chose the life that she wanted and made it happen." Your journey doesn't need to be dramatic—even small steps toward what brings you joy can lead to profound transformation. Take a moment to reflect: What brought you joy as a child that you've neglected? What one small intentional choice could you make this week to honor your deeper desires? The path may not be straight, but as Christine's story shows, each step forward opens new doors of possibility.
Connect with Christine
Email: hello@christinebsantos.com
Instagram @christinebsantos https://www.instagram.com/christinebsantos/
Wonder Boldly podcast https://wonderboldly.com/podcast/
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/christine-santos-63307234/
YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrMuZeVnMl2o7pV-K8AsBeQ
Connect with me
Join Better Than Before: joclarkcoaching.com/better
Share your journey with me by sending me a message on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/joclarkcoaching/
Email me your success story at jo@joclarkcoaching.com.
What you do today shapes your tomorrow. Your health matters because YOU matter.
Here’s to redefining midlife and making our next half of life even better than the first.
