A woodland reflection by Dr. Denise Taylor
There’s more richness and immediacy in the video itself. These words are here to accompany, not replace it.
This time I filmed from a different part of my woodland, my base camp, where logs are stacked and thoughts are often stirred. What emerged today was this: we can choose a new start any time we like. Not just at New Year, not just when life forces our hand, but on any ordinary morning when something inside us says: things could be different.
It might begin with work. We might realise we’re coasting through a job we’ve outgrown, or clinging to a role that no longer fits. And while change is never easy, we’re allowed to revisit our choices. Maybe we decide to love the work we’ve got. Or maybe we finally admit it’s time to pivot.
It might be about retirement, or not retiring. About a shift in pace or purpose. Or it might be about relationships. Sometimes we settle into what’s familiar, not because it’s fulfilling, but because change feels daunting. But if something in us stirs, if we start imagining a life with more joy, more vitality, more alignment, then maybe it’s time to listen.
One thing I’ve found helpful is to think about my future self. What would she thank me for? What would she regret if I didn’t act? That reflection has shaped many decisions in my life, from ending a marriage that no longer felt right, to strengthening my body with gym training in my late 60s. It’s why I began travelling adventurously at 49, not waiting until retirement to really start living.
We don’t always get a second chance to explore. I’ve backpacked through jungles, trained as a game ranger in South Africa, and lived alongside a Maasai tribe. Would I do those things now, as I approach 68? Perhaps not in quite the same way. But I’m so grateful to my younger self for starting when she did.
Right now, I’m at another crossroads. While I still coach people navigating midlife and retirement, my heart is calling me back to the woods. I want to do more nature-based work. I want to host people here, in this quiet, grounding space, to give them the time to breathe and think and remember what matters. Because this place, this way of working, feels like home.
As we grow older, our worlds can easily begin to shrink. We stop driving at night. We avoid the unfamiliar. But I think growth still matters, even now. Especially now. I’ve booked festivals to attend on my own this year. I’ll keep going to gigs. I like solitude, but I also enjoy good conversation. Life is rich when we stay open to both.
Let me ask you this: what change is calling to you? What might your future self wish you’d started today?
Take a moment. Step outside if you can. Imagine your life five or ten years from now. Then ask yourself: am I on a path that feels true to me? If not, what small shift could begin the change?
And if you ever need a place to reflect, you’re welcome to join me here in the wood.
Until next time – Dr. Denise
A woodland conversation
