Midlife Reimagined

“Feeling so pleased and grateful that I allowed myself this time to focus on me. When booking I thought it was self-indulgent but now I realise that it was absolutely the right thing to do at this point in my life. As I leave, I feel peaceful, calm and reflective. I have a better idea of what really matters to me and what I plan to do next with my life and for those I love and value.” Participant, 2025

Midlife Reimagined is a five-day restorative programme for people at a key stage of professional and personal transition. For many people, midlife brings questions about life and work that require time and thoughtful attention. After years of adapting, carrying responsibility, and working at pace, it’s not unusual to feel less connected to what once worked well, with little time to reflect on where you are now.

Midlife Reimagined offers time away from daily pressures, alongside a small group of people who are also reflecting on this stage of life. The week brings together facilitated group conversations and individual time, supporting the sharing of perspectives, alongside time for reflection.

Led by experienced practitioners, Midlife Reimagined offers a supportive, carefully held week for people in need of time and perspective as they consider how they want to live and work in the years ahead.

April 20th-24th 2026

October 5th-9th 2026 (Women only)

(Arrive 3pm Mon, leave lunchtime Friday)

Cost: £995 (payable in 3 instalments)

Venue: The Coach House, Sharpham Trust, Devon, UK

To book a place or find out more, contact Alison here.

Our Life Story Approach

Midlife Reimagined is developed and facilitated by Alison O’Connor and Karin Diamond and shaped by more than twenty years of life story practice — supporting people to make sense of their lives and work at key points, and to explore what feels present and important.

This approach is also shared in our book, Creating Life Story Theatre (Bloomsbury Methuen Drama, 2025).

The residential is structured across the week through facilitated group conversations, reflective exercises, and individual time, supporting the sharing of perspectives with others, alongside personal time for rest and integration.

Through our life story work — and our own midlife reflections — we’ve seen how midlife brings complex questions about life and work, which benefit from being given time and thoughtful attention. This in-person residential is designed to support that process with clarity and care.

For more about this programme, visit https://www.midlife-retreats.com/