miling a little more, and experiencing life in ways we never imagined possible. My hope is that you will discover your second act, connect with your passion, and get out there and go after life with all you’ve got. Can you imagine what will happen as you grab at life, seize the possibilities, and make them yours? It’s coming. Watch out world!

Mary Beth’s Story

The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.

— Eleanor Roosevelt

“Wake up. Life’s half over.”

Those are the words, delivered in a passionate coaching-military drill sergeant way each Friday morning at 6 a.m. by my spin teacher Andrew.

For the past year, I have plunged into this whole exercise/fitness/wellness lifestyle. Why? Because as I approached fifty, I realized I was carrying many things: sadness from a shattered marriage; the sudden loss of two close friends and my cousin, just a year younger than me; the stress of trying to raise three teens on my own; and the frightening possibility that I would be just that  —  alone  —  forever.

I was scared and confused and didn’t know where to turn. So, I decided that what I could do was get out of bed every day and haul myself to a gym. I hoped that maybe by pumping some life into the fibromyalgia syndrome TV commercials insisted was right around the corner, I could refocus