How I’m Making the Most of my 40s by Utilizing my Gifts and Talents while Scouting the Job Market

Starting over at 40 can feel like the end of the road. Especially when you’ve spent most of your adult life working one job, in one place, for one boss. For me, that place was an insurance office in Tobago... A job I’d walked away from and returned to more times than I can count. But this last time, something in me shifted.

After a misunderstanding at work, my boss told me to go home. I did just that, gladly, even. What I didn’t expect was that she’d immediately call my mother and tell her side of the story.

You see, my mother was the one who helped me get that job years ago. And yes, I still live at home, along with my siblings. So, by the time I walked through the door that day, the entire house knew.

My mother didn’t want to hear my version of what happened. She was furious and said something that stung deeply: “It’s impossible for someone in your age bracket, with limited education and experience only in insurance, to find another job.”

And truth be told, she wasn’t entirely wrong.

In Tobago, job opportunities are limited, especially for someone like me; two CXC passes, no diploma (at the time), and years of experience that seem to mean little outside the insurance world.

But what many didn’t know was that, while I was good at my job, I never loved it. I had stayed out of comfort and familiarity, not passion.

So, when that door closed, I decided not to go running back. Instead, I turned to what had always grounded me: writing.

Writing has been my escape and expression for as long as I can remember. It’s the one thing that’s carried me through heartbreaks, transitions, and uncertain times. Whenever life felt too heavy, I would write, blog, and journal, pouring out my thoughts, lessons, and gratitude for small wins.

This time, my writing became a way to rebuild myself. I started reflecting on my strengths, my voice, and the stories I wanted to tell. That’s when I realized that my calling had been right in front of me all along: sustainable food and drinks storytelling.

I may not be a chef (in fact, I hate cooking), but I love the stories behind food... How traditions are passed down, how flavors evolve, how local farmers, cooks, and small businesses shape Tobago’s culinary identity. These are the stories that connect people, and they deserve to be told.

So, while I continue sending out job applications, I’m also building something of my own. I recently completed a government-sponsored diploma in event management, and I’m using that knowledge to blend writing, mobile photography, and eco-conscious storytelling. It’s my way of turning uncertainty into opportunity.

People still laugh when I say I’m a “sustainable food and drinks writer.” They remind me that I’m in my 40s, that I don’t cook, that times are hard.

But what they don’t understand is that passion has no expiration date. And purpose doesn’t come from a degree or a title... It comes from following that quiet voice inside that says, “You were made for this.”

Maybe I’ll find a new job soon. Maybe I’ll create one for myself. Either way, I’m learning to trust the process and make peace with starting over.

Because at 46, I’m not done. I’m just beginning again... This time, doing what I truly love.