Who am I now — when the roles that defined me begin to change?
Mareya's daughter just got married. And while her heart is overflowing with pride and joy, she is also sitting with a question so many of us face in midlife: where did the time go — and what comes next?
In this deeply personal solo episode of The Real Dish, Mareya talks about the bittersweet reality of being a Gen X mom, empty nester, and member of the sandwich generation — watching our children build lives of their own while our parents are getting older and we are navigating our own evolution at the same time.
This is not a midlife crisis. It is a crossing — the space between who you were and who you are becoming.
Listen to Episode 169
Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music
"Maybe this is not a midlife crisis at all. Maybe it is a crossing — the space between who you were and who you are becoming."
— Mareya Ibrahim, EP 169
In This Episode, You Will Explore
- Why even happy life transitions can bring feelings of grief
- Motherhood, empty nesting, and changing identity
- The Gen X sandwich generation experience
- Finding purpose and confidence in midlife
- Why curiosity can become your compass
- Moving from "Who am I now?" to "Who am I becoming?"
- How to intentionally design your next chapter instead of waiting for it to happen
The Grief Inside the Joy
One of the most honest things Mareya does in this episode is name something we rarely give ourselves permission to say out loud: you can be deeply happy for your child and still grieve the chapter that is ending. Both things are true at the same time. The wedding was beautiful. And the house feels different now.
Grief is not a sign that something is wrong. It is a sign that something mattered. And when we allow ourselves to feel it — rather than rushing past it or pretending it is not there — we create space for what comes next.
The Sandwich Generation
Mareya speaks candidly about the particular weight of being caught between generations — watching your children launch into their own lives while simultaneously showing up for aging parents. It is a season that asks a lot of us, often without acknowledgment.
If you are in this season, this episode is a reminder that you are not alone in it. And that taking care of yourself — your health, your identity, your sense of purpose — is not selfish. It is what makes you able to show up for everyone else.
Let Curiosity Be Your Compass
Rather than trying to answer "Who am I now?" all at once, Mareya offers a gentler entry point: what are you curious about? What have you been putting off until the kids were grown, until work slowed down, until you had more time?
Curiosity does not require certainty. It just requires a willingness to explore. And in this season — when so much of your old identity is shifting — curiosity might be the most powerful tool you have for finding out who you are becoming.
The Questions Mareya Is Asking Herself Right Now
- What have I outgrown?
- What am I curious about?
- What is this season making room for?
- How do I intentionally design my next chapter instead of waiting for it to happen?
These are not rhetorical questions. Mareya is sitting with them in real time — and inviting you to sit with them too.
Ready to Figure Out What's Next?
FOUNDATIONS: Write Your Next Best Chapter
Mareya created FOUNDATIONS specifically for navigating life transitions, reconnecting with yourself, and intentionally designing your next chapter. If this episode resonated, this is your next step.