Confessions of a Freebird - Midlife, Divorce, Heal, and Date Differently with Somatic Experiencing, Empty Nest, Well-Being, Happiness
Hi, I’m Laurie James—author of Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go, somatic relationship coach, mother of four adult daughters, divorcée, and recovering caregiver.
I created Confessions of a Freebird as a heartfelt space for women navigating midlife transitions—divorce, empty nesting, loss, dating again, or simply wondering:
“Is this all there is?”
If you're longing for more authenticity, joy, freedom, and purpose, especially after years of putting everyone else first, you're in the right place.
Each episode, I’ll share:
- Practical tools and somatic coaching strategies
- Raw reflections and confessions from my own journey
- Expert conversations on everything from sex, grief, trauma healing, and finances to dating, caregiving, and reinvention
We'll explore what it means to come home to yourself through somatic practices—and how to design a life that feels aligned with who you are now, not who you were 20 years ago or who someone or society has told you to be.
Whether you’re in the sandwich generation, starting over after loss, or dreaming of your next chapter—Confessions of a Freebird is your midlife best friend. Think of it as a permission slip to evolve, heal, and fall in love with your life all over again.
Because the most important relationship you’ll ever have… is the one you have with yourself.
XO,
Laurie
Connect with me:
Purchase my book, Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go, https://www.laurieejames.com/book
IG: https://www.instagram.com/laurie.james/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurie.james.79219754
Confessions of a Freebird - Midlife, Divorce, Heal, and Date Differently with Somatic Experiencing, Empty Nest, Well-Being, Happiness
10 Science-Backed Keys to Happiness and How Somatic Healing Helps
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Why does happiness sometimes feel out of reach even when you think you are doing everything right? You take steps forward, check the boxes, show up for the people you love, but underneath it all, something still feels unsettled. Life can start to feel rushed, full, or emotionally heavy, yet you can’t quite put your finger on it.
This is what happens when you’re not prioritizing the foundational keys to happiness and, in turn, living with a dysregulated nervous system. When your body stays in a constant threat response—do more, earn more, and achieve more is when your nervous system becomes overwhelmed. Sleep becomes harder, and when you do wake up, you feel exhausted.
In this solo episode of Confessions of a Freebird, I reflect on the work of Dr. Laurie Santos, Yale professor, host of The Happiness Lab, and one of the leading voices in positive psychology. Her research offers a grounded look at how to feel happier, and I add a somatic lens to the conversation, because happiness is not only a mindset issue–it happens when you have a regulated nervous system.
In this episode, you’ll learn:
- Why chasing success before happiness has it backwards — and what the science actually shows
- The Somatic Experiencing perspective on each principle and why the body is the missing piece of the happiness conversation
- Why your nervous system state and learning nervous system regulation matter more than your mindset
- How self-compassion and emotional agility help feelings move through you with less shame and fear
- The 10 principles Dr. Santo says genuinely move the needle on human happiness, which include more human connection and social connection.
- What prosocial behavior does to your mood, and why the helper high matters more than you might think
- How to implement each principle with specific, research-backed practices.
This episode is for you if you've ever felt like you were doing everything right and still not feeling the way you thought you would. You are allowed to slow down, listen inward, and find your way back to what helps you feel more alive.
Much love,
Laurie
Click here to learn about my NEW “Nervous System Regulation Starter Kit”
Click here to purchase my book: Sandwiched: A Memoir of Holding On and Letting Go
Free Resources
Click here to schedule a FREE inquiry call with me.
Click here for my FREE “Beginner’s Guide to Somatic Healing”
Click here for my FREE Core Values Exercise
RESOURCES MENTIONED
Dr. Laurie Santos: Yale professor and host of The Happiness Lab podcast
The Happiness Lab Podcast: Available wherever you listen to podcasts
Somatic Experiencing: Developed by Dr. Peter Levine, PhD — a body-based approach to healing trauma and nervous system dysregulation
Researcher Sonja Lyubomirsky: Positive psychology research on happiness and success
The Harvard S
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