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We all reach moments where things stop fitting. Where the version of success we’ve been chasing starts to feel heavy. It can feel daunting, even a little scary. But what if starting again didn’t mean losing everything you’ve built?

In this week’s episode, I talk with Sheryl Garratt — writer, creative coach, and former magazine editor — about the beauty of starting again with everything you’ve already learned along the way.

Life Doesn’t Always Go in a Straight Line

Sheryl’s story is a reminder that creative careers rarely follow a tidy plan. From writing about Birmingham’s music scene to editing some of the UK’s most iconic magazines, she’s lived through many versions of success.

But when the media world shifted, she found herself at a crossroads, unsure what came next.

“When you look back,” she said, “you realise the dots do join up. Just not always in the order you expected.”

That perspective feels freeing. It’s a reminder that the twists and turns are all part of it.

What Reinvention Really Looks Like

For Sheryl, reinvention came through coaching – helping others reconnect with creativity and self-belief. But it didn’t happen overnight.

It started with curiosity. Listening to what felt exciting. Allowing small experiments.

That’s what true reinvention is – not burning everything down, but building from where you are, one step at a time.

The Role of Play

One theme that kept coming up was play. Sheryl believes play is at the heart of every creative life. When we let go of the pressure to be perfect or productive, we open the door to new ideas.

Try something small. Paint for ten minutes. Write without editing. Walk somewhere new.


Creativity needs space to breathe and play gives it that space.

Starting Again with Confidence

So if you’re feeling the pull to change direction, know this: you’re not behind, and you’re not starting from nothing.

You’re starting again but this time with experience, self-awareness, and resilience.

Trust that the threads of your journey will make sense, even if you can’t see the full picture yet.

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Have a great week & take care,

Michelle xo