The Threshold Season: Living with Grace Between What Was and What’s Next

It seems many of us are living in a kind of liminal space these days. I know I am.

I’m not starting out, nor am I starting over. I’m somewhere in between.

The space between the life I know and the life I haven’t yet stepped into.

It’s unfamiliar and, if I’m honest, it sometimes leaves me feeling restless, bored, and confused.

At first, I thought maybe I needed a business coach. Then I considered a therapist. But how can anyone guide me if I’m not even sure what I want?

This feeling is hard to name. It is not quite sadness or grief. It is more like a quiet pull under the surface, an inner knowing that something is about to shift, even if my mind has not caught up yet.

Some call this a threshold — the hallway between what was and what is not yet.

The wilderness of waiting.

We have all walked it before, after leaving a job, a place, or even a version of ourselves behind.

For me, this time feels different. Maybe because I have been doing the same kind of work for so long and I am searching for a fresh sense of meaning.

Maybe because I turned 60 last year and I am aware there is more life behind me than ahead.

Whatever the reason, I find myself asking, What’s next?

In this in-between, I am practicing stillness. Listening. Staying curious.

As a child, when I complained of leg aches, my mother would tell me, “Jackie, those are just growing pains.” I realize now I am still experiencing them, not physical ones, but the kind that come with growth and change.

What I know for sure is that something always has to be released in order to make space for something new. Maybe it is a habit, a role, or even a person who no longer fits where we are headed.

And while it often feels like I am waiting alone in an empty room, I remind myself that time is at work. The universe is quietly arranging the details behind the scenes or underground.

As Dr. Zelana Montminy wisely says, “Not all forward motion is progress. And not all stillness is stagnation. Sometimes what looks like a pause is actually a profound recalibration.”

What helps me most is surrounding myself with people who inspire me, through travel, conferences, and community. And writing to you, here.

Many of you have told me you enjoy these newsletters, and that encourages me to keep going. Thank you.

I don't know yet what I am growing into, only that I can feel a change coming. I want to remain open, to learning, to creating, to becoming. My hope is that you are too.

Let's learn from one another. How do you navigate your in-between seasons?

Jacqueline Whitmore is a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) with 26 years of experience in executive presence, business etiquette, and international protocol. She is the author of Poised for Success: Mastering the Four Qualities That Distinguish Outstanding Professionals and Business Class: Etiquette Essentials for Success at Work. Follow her on Instagram @jacquelinewhitmore. To schedule a workshop or keynote for your group, visit EtiquetteExpert.com or email info@etiquetteexpert.com.