The Empty Nest is Not the End of Your Story

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The sudden silence of an empty nest can feel deafening. After dedicating nearly two decades to raising children, organizing schedules, and building your life around their needs, that final graduation ceremony signals a profound identity shift that few discuss openly. But what if this transition isn't an ending but the beginning of your personal renaissance?

Drawing from my own journey through the double transition of becoming an empty nester while finalizing a divorce, I share how this initially lonely period transformed into a season of rediscovery and purpose. From small beginnings to my transformative 18-day solo camping adventure across six states, I reveal how stepping into the unknown—despite fear—rebuilt my sense of self and possibility. This wasn't about filling time; it was about reclaiming my soul.

The empty nest offers unique opportunities to reinvent relationships with adult children, build meaningful communities, and finally pursue those whispered dreams that waited patiently while you raised your family. Fear may have stopped you from living fully before, but resilience grows when we do the scary things anyway. Remember that you're not done, not shelved, and definitely not too old or too late. Your comeback doesn't require a perfect plan—just the courage to take that first step toward whatever makes you come alive. The quiet house isn't your final chapter; it's simply the middle of a much longer, beautiful story that's still being written. Ready to start your comeback? Let's build it together.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:19):
Free audio post production by Alphoniccom
podcast.
I'm Toni Thrash, a certifiedlife coach, and I want to share
the tools and practical steps tohelp you create a winning game
plan to move into your newadventure.
Hi, welcome back.

(01:03):
You're listening to episode 84.
I'm so glad you're here.
Let's start with this universaltruth May is a beast period.
It's worse than December, ifyou ask me.
May is packed with finals,end-of-year ceremonies,
graduation parties.

(01:24):
May is packed with finals,end-of-year ceremonies,
graduation parties, collegetours and somewhere in there
you're supposed to function likea normal adult.
If you have a senior, youalready know the checklist is
long and the emotionalrollercoaster is real.
But for some of us, May doesn'tjust mark the end of school.
It marks the end of a season, Aseason of raising your kids,

(01:49):
chauffeuring them around,staying up late for projects we
didn't assign but we definitelyfinished and building our lives
around their schedule.
Suddenly it's all done schedule.
Suddenly it's all done.
That last cap toss in the air.
It's a signal.
The nest is empty.

(02:10):
Let me tell you something Emptynesting is not for the faint of
heart.
It's not just about a quiethouse or fewer groceries to buy.
It's an identity crosses inyoga pants.
You've been a parent for 18years or longer and whether you
stayed home or worked full-time,your life revolved around that

(02:33):
child or children.
And now, silence, stillness, afreedom you didn't ask for and
aren't quite sure how to use.
I've talked a lot about thisbefore, especially during the
season when I became an emptynester and finalized my divorce

(02:55):
Double whammy.
That was the loneliest time ofmy life.
But today I want to flip thescript.
Today I want to flip the script.
I want to share what I learnedand, more importantly, how I
found passion, purpose andadventure.
Let me say this loud and clearDon't you dare roll over and

(03:15):
give up.
I know it's tempting.
The quiet settles in and thedoubt creeps in.
But hear me, as long as there'stime left on the clock, you get
to live your life to thefullest, Not halfway, not kinda,
but full out.

(03:35):
You see, when the kids left, Istarted trying new things, Very
small things at first, becausewell, I was afraid, A class here
, a trip there.
But in the summer of 22, I didsomething that changed me.
I packed up my camping gear andwent on an 18-day camping trip

(04:00):
across six states, solo, Just me, my tent, firewood and God.
During the course of those 18days, I hiked over 25 miles, I
cooked on the fire, journaled bymoonlight and rediscovered my
own voice.
That trip didn't just fill mytime, it filled my soul.

(04:23):
Now I'm still single, 11 yearsand counting, and no, I'm not
against dating, but my life isfull.
I chose to use this season topour into relationships that
matter.
I spend time with my adult kidswho, by the way, are incredible
humans.
We laugh, we eat, we talk aboutlife.

(04:46):
I've learned to not parent themall the time Okay, well, most
of the time.
Let's not pretend I don'toccasionally slip a little
unsolicited advice in there.
But the best part, we justenjoy one another.
This season of empty nestingdidn't destroy me.

(05:07):
It refined me.
I didn't go into a midlifecrisis.
I leaned into my midlifecalling.
I became a certified life coachand now I get to coach women
and young adults through theirown transitions.
Listen, young adults arefiguring out who they are, but

(05:28):
women, they have to remember whothey are and both need guidance
.
Both need examples.
That's you.
You see the young adults.
They're watching how we handlethings.
They're watching how we walkthrough grief, how we treat
others, how we recover fromsetbacks.

(05:50):
Whether you realize it or not,your life is a testimony and I
promise you someone is takingnotes.
Let me tell you another thingthat changed my life, and that's
community Friendships are vital.
I'm not saying every day ispacked with girls' nights and

(06:11):
brunch dates, but I made anintentional decision to build
connection.
If you're sitting therethinking I don't have close
friends anymore, let me lovinglychallenge you.
It's time to start over.
I know, I know it's awkward,yes, it takes effort, but it's

(06:34):
also the lifeline that keeps youout of the dark.
And while we're getting real,let's talk about fear.
You want to know what stoppedme from living full out for too
long Fear.
You see, I'm a six on theEnneagram, which basically means
I have a sixth sense for worstcase scenarios.

(06:55):
I don't like looking dumb, Idon't like to try new things and
I definitely don't like risk.
I want to be safe and secure.
But here's what I've learnedFear.
Resilience is built by doingthe scary thing anyway.
That camping trip, Terrifying.

(07:15):
The first coaching session Iever had, Sweaty palms, the
first coaching session I everhad sweaty palms, Saying yes to
a new adventure, not knowing howit would turn out, Absolutely
pure panic.
But I did it, scared, Over andover again, and every time I

(07:36):
reminded myself that feardoesn't get to drive Not anymore
.
So let's cut to the chase.
Empty nesting is not the end ofyour story, it's not even the
end of the chapter.
It's the middle of the race Godhas called you to.
You're not done, You're not puton a shelf, and you are most

(07:58):
definitely not too old, too lateor too far gone.
I want you to remembersomething God finds great joy in
you.
You still have purpose, youstill have dreams, you still
have impact to make that thing.
You haven't told anyone aboutthat idea that keeps whispering

(08:21):
in your ear.
It's time.
So what do you do now?
Well, you start your comeback.
Don't wait for a perfect planor for someone to come knock on
your door with an opportunity.
Be the one who knocks Afraid.
Try something new, Afraid.

(08:43):
Reconnect with your people.
Take the trip, Sign up for theclass, Write the book.
Take the trip, Sign up for theclass.
Write the book, Start thebusiness.
Do the thing that makes youcome alive.
Listen, if this episode stirredsomething in you, if you felt
seen, heard or maybe justunderstood, I want to invite you

(09:06):
to take the next step Schedulea coaching call with me.
The link is in the show notes.
Let's talk about what your nextmove is.
You don't have to figure thisout alone.
You're not stuck, You're notinvisible and you are definitely
not behind.
You're just getting started.
So go to TonyThrashcom or clickthe link in the show notes to

(09:34):
book your free discovery call.
Let's build your comebacktogether.
Until next time, keep your headup, your heart open and your
feet moving forward, becauseyour next chapter it's calling.
I'll get you off the bench tostart your comeback.

(09:54):
I want to give a special shoutout to Country Club for the

(10:15):
original music.
You can find them on Instagramat Country Club free audio post

(10:46):
production.