Life doesn’t stop changing ~ Neither do we
I’ve lived, worked and volunteered in more than 20 countries, started businesses, changed direction more than once, and discovered that life rarely follows the plan we originally had in mind.
I’m Michele Hartley, a writer, author, life and nature coach, and longtime expat now living in Portugal.
Over the years, I’ve learned that starting again isn’t something we do only when we’re young. Sometimes it happens because circumstances change. Sometimes we choose it. And sometimes we simply wake up one morning and realise that the life we’ve created no longer quite fits the person we’ve become.
I know that feeling.
I’ve experienced the excitement of new beginnings, the uncertainty of unfamiliar places and the occasional uncomfortable question: What on earth am I going to do next?
At over 65, I haven’t stopped asking questions, exploring possibilities or being curious about what life might bring.
And perhaps that’s why I particularly enjoy connecting with women who are navigating change, rediscovering themselves or wondering what they want from the years ahead.
I don’t believe we need to reinvent ourselves completely every time life changes. Sometimes it’s more a matter of remembering who we are, recognising what’s important to us now, and having the confidence to take the next step.
That’s what much of my writing—and my coaching—is about.
I’ve started over as well
When I moved to the Algarve during Covid, I was navigating a lot of changes myself. I think we all were at that time.
The cork oak hills, coastal paths and quiet countryside became places to reflect, breathe and find perspective. Moving to a quiet village in the Algarve countryside was a gift, providing me with new insights, new friends, and inspiration to keep moving forward and embrace life.
WHEN LIFE CHANGES SO DO YOU
You may be an expat adjusting to a new country. You need to learn a new language, discover a new culture.
You may have spent years looking after everyone else and suddenly have more space for yourself.
You might be widowed or divorced and need to learn to navigate life alone again.Â
You may be considering a change in work, relationships or lifestyle.
It´s possible the life you once imagined simply doesn’t feel quite right anymore.
You just have a growing feeling that there must be more to this next chapter.
There is no single definition of a life transition.
And there is no single way through one.
My role isn’t to give you a formula or tell you who you should become.
It’s to help you explore where you are, understand what matters to you now, and discover what you want your next chapter to look like.
WHAT WE MIGHT EXPLORE TOGETHER
There isn’t a fixed agenda for coaching. Our conversations will depend on you and where you are in your life.
We might explore:
Finding yourself again ~Who are you now, beyond the roles you’ve spent years fulfilling?
Navigating change~How do you move forward when something in your life has changed—or needs to?
Starting again~Whether you’ve moved country, changed direction or simply feel ready for something different, we can explore what beginning again means for you.
Finding clarity~Sometimes you don’t need more information. You need to understand what you already know.
Creating a life that fits~Not the life someone else thinks you should want. Not the life you thought you were supposed to have.
A life that feels right for the woman you are now.
LIFE COACHING ~ YOUR WAY
My approach is a combination of coaching, conversation, reflection and the experience I’ve gained through many years of living and working in different countries and cultures.
I’m a qualified life coach, mindfulness teacher and NLP trainer, as well as a writer and author.
I’ve studied different approaches to personal development, but I don’t believe in forcing people into a particular method.
You are not a problem to be fixed.
- We begin with you.
- Your circumstances.
- Your experiences.
- Your questions.
- And your hopes for what comes next.
Coaching for your next chapter
I work primarily with women navigating change, adapting to life abroad, or wondering what they want from the years ahead. My role isn’t to tell you who you should become. It’s to help you explore where you are, understand what matters now and find your own way forward.
I’ve experienced starting over, adapting to unfamiliar places, changing direction and asking myself some of the same questions that you might ask:
Who am I now?
What do I really want?
And what might the next part of my life look like?
I don’t believe you need to have all the answers before you begin. Sometimes you simply need some space to think. And someone to think alongside you.
We don't always find clarity by trying harder to find an answer
Sometimes a walk helps. Sometimes a conversation does. Sometimes writing something down reveals what we couldn’t quite say aloud. That is the kind of thoughtful space I hope to create through my coaching.
WHY NATURE COACHING
Being outdoors can make conversation feel easier. Nature offers room to pause, reflect and notice things we might miss in the rush of everyday life. There is something different about having a conversation while walking beneath trees or looking out towards the sea.
We are no longer sitting across a desk trying to solve a problem.
We are moving. Breathing. Noticing what is around us. Somehow, conversations can become easier.
Nature coaching isn’t about pretending that a walk or simply being in the fresh air or enjoying a beautiful view will solve everything. It’s about creating a different kind of space for reflection.
For some people, being outdoors makes it easier to talk. For others, it simply provides the quiet they need to think. Sometimes the landscape gives us a useful metaphor for what we’re experiencing ourselves.
A path.
A crossroads.
A change in direction.
A place where we stop for a while before deciding where to go next.
A little more about me
Writing has always been an important part of my life. It is one of the ways I make sense of the world, and it has shaped the way I work with people. I’m fascinated by people and their stories—the decisions we make, the changes we resist, the lives we create and the moments when we realise that something needs to be different.
Working with people and organisations around the world has been an incredible adventure. There is always something to learn, new people, new ideas, and new opportunities. But I also envy those who lead a rich life living in the same place they grew up and maintain relationships that last a lifetime while building a foundation for future generations.
I chose to become an expat 30 years ago and am happy with that decision, happy with my life. Moving abroad can be exciting and liberating but it can leave you asking questions you didn´t expect.
Who am I without the familiar people and places around me?
Where do I belong?
What do I want now?
Those questions are particularly interesting to me because I’ve asked them myself. I continue to ask them. Perhaps that’s one reason I enjoy working with people who are in transition. I don’t have all the answers. But I’m very comfortable considering the questions.
You don’t have to know exactly where you’re going. Sometimes the first step is asking where you are now. — Michele
AT MY AGE I KNOW LIFE NEVER STOPS CHANGING
I’ve reached an age where I have enough life behind me to appreciate how often things change—and enough curiosity to know that there can still be plenty ahead. I don’t see getting older as a process of becoming less.
I see it as an opportunity to become more selective about what matters.
To let go of some of the expectations I´ve carried for years.
To become more honest about what makes me happy.
And perhaps, finally, to ask:
What do I want for myself now?
That is a question I believe is worth exploring at any age.
If you’re wondering what’s next…
You don’t need a five-year plan—or even to know whether coaching is right for you. A discovery conversation is simply an opportunity to talk and see whether we’re a good fit.
You can tell me what’s happening in your life, what you’ve been thinking about and what you’d like to change.
I’ll tell you how I work and we can decide whether it feels like a good fit.
No pressure. No obligation. Just a conversation.
AND IF YOU ARE NOT READY FOR COACHING...
That’s completely fine.
I also write about the things that matter to women as we move through life’s different stages:
Relationships, wellbeing, personal growth, living abroad, change, identity, ageing, starting again—and the everyday things that make life interesting. Of course, I write about Portugal as well.
If you’re navigating your own transition, or simply enjoy thoughtful writing about life, you can join me here.
A little inspiration for your next chapter
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