In this episode of Midlife Repurposed, Michelle Rayburn invites listeners into her century-old home—and into the vulnerable places of her midlife journey. Drawing parallels between opening her doors to strangers and sharing her inner self through writing, she reflects on the messiness, memories, and ongoing renovations of both her house and her life. Michelle explores themes of faith, change, and authenticity, offering encouragement to anyone navigating the complex process of repurposing their own story in midlife.

This episode is a voiceover of a Substack article.

Read the article here:

In this episode, Michelle unpacks the Dutch concept of gezellig, a word that embodies warmth, connection, and belonging—and reflects on how it speaks directly to her midlife longings. Drawing from her Dutch heritage, she revisits the faith-filled, family-centered rhythms that shaped her childhood and discovers how those same practices offer grounding and joy in this season of life.

Rather than viewing midlife as a time to step back, Michelle considers it a time to stay engaged, to keep gathering, and to welcome others into the cozy, lived-in spaces where real life happens. This episode offers an invitation to create a sense of home that goes beyond décor or atmosphere and becomes a lived expression of rootedness, faith, and shared experience. Some things can’t be defined. They can only be felt.

Read the full text from the article for which this episode is a voiceover:

Every January, the church flyers reappear. “Faith-based wellness.” “Biblical fitness.” And every time, I feel the echo of an old wound I’m still healing from. My faith and my attempts to change my body size have a long history. I’ve been untangling diet culture from that faith space in midlife.

This episode is a voiceover of the Substack blog post of the same title. If you prefer to get content in your earbuds, I have you covered! If you like to read, see the link below.

Read the post: https://michellerayburn.substack.com/p/when-faith-and-diet-culture-collide