Can life truly begin again at 65?
For many women, the idea of starting over after decades of marriage, raising children, or building a life around others can feel impossible. But author Debbie Spence proves that some of life’s most meaningful chapters begin when everything you thought defined you falls away.
In this episode of La Vie Creative, I sat down with Debbie to talk about reinvention, healing through creativity, and what it really means to find home—not just in France, but within yourself.
After the end of her 40-year marriage, Debbie found herself facing a question many women quietly ask:
Who am I now?
Her answer became a journey of creativity, courage, and unexpected hope.
Starting Over After Divorce Later in Life
Debbie spent decades homeschooling five children and building a loving family life. Like many women, much of her identity was rooted in being a wife and mother.
When her marriage unexpectedly ended after 40 years, she had to face life completely differently.
One of the most moving moments in our conversation was when Debbie described realizing she had never truly experienced adulthood on her own. Suddenly, she was learning how to navigate life independently while also grieving the future she thought she would have.
Instead of asking, “Why is this happening?”
She slowly began asking,
“Who do I want to become now?”
That shift changed everything.
Creativity Became the Way Forward
Something I deeply believe—and something Debbie beautifully confirmed—is that creativity isn’t just about making art.
It’s about healing.
She shared how she experienced a period of deep depression before a single creative idea changed everything.
Almost overnight, she felt a renewed sense of purpose.
Not because her problems disappeared.
But because she had something meaningful to build.
She described creativity as the turning point that helped pull her out of one of the darkest seasons of her life.
It’s a reminder that creating something—a book, a painting, a garden, a journal—can sometimes become the bridge back to ourselves.
Searching for Home
Debbie’s book, Searching for Home: The European Journey of a Frazzled Mom, began as a travel memoir inspired by France and Europe.
But life changed before the final chapter was written.
After her separation, she wasn’t sure the story still belonged in the world.
Eventually she realized the ending wasn’t gone.
It had simply changed.
Finishing the book became an act of healing, allowing her to redefine what “home” truly meant.
France Has a Way of Changing Us
As someone who has lived in Paris for over a decade, I loved hearing Debbie describe the places in France that stayed with her.
She spoke about:
- Provence
- The Dordogne
- The Loire Valley
- Giverny and Monet’s gardens
- Colmar
- Sarlat
Rather than simply admiring beautiful landscapes, Debbie reflected on the stories those places carried.
Standing inside centuries-old homes and walking through historic villages reminded her that countless people before us have experienced hardship, loss, resilience, and hope.
History became comforting.
If they could continue creating despite war, grief, illness, and uncertainty, perhaps she could too.
You Take Yourself Wherever You Go
One of my favorite parts of our conversation was discussing the dream so many people have of moving to France.
Debbie admitted she once romanticized Europe.
And honestly?
Most of us do.
But she shared something incredibly important:
Changing countries doesn’t automatically change your life.
You still bring yourself.
Your fears.
Your habits.
Your mindset.
Travel can absolutely transform you.
But real transformation happens from the inside out.
Creating the Community You Wish Existed
One of the most inspiring things Debbie has done is launch Join Me at the Table Retreats.
Held at her rural Indiana home, these monthly gatherings invite women to slow down, create, share meals, journal, paint, and reconnect—not with productivity, but with themselves.
Rather than networking or discussing careers, the conversations revolve around dreams, creativity, purpose, and belonging.
It’s the kind of space many women realize they’ve been longing for all along.
What Does Home Really Mean?
By the end of our conversation, I asked Debbie to finish one sentence:
Home is…
Her answer surprised me.
It wasn’t a country.
Or a house.
Or even family.
She described home as:
- Safety
- Consistency
- Beauty
- Comfort
- A place that protects us while we face life’s hardest moments
Perhaps that’s the lesson her entire journey has been pointing toward.
Home isn’t always somewhere we arrive.
Sometimes it’s something we slowly build within ourselves.
My Biggest Takeaway
As someone who spends every week interviewing creative people from around the world, one idea continues to surface again and again:
Creativity helps us survive change.
Whether it’s moving to another country, ending a relationship, starting a business, becoming a parent, or beginning again after retirement—creating gives us direction.
Debbie’s story reminds us that there is no expiration date on purpose.
At 65, she’s writing books.
Hosting retreats.
Building community.
Encouraging other women.
And dreaming about what comes next.
That’s a beautiful reminder for all of us.
Listen to the Full Episode
If you’re navigating a major life transition—or simply wondering what’s next—I think you’ll love this conversation.
In this episode, we explore:
- Reinvention after divorce
- Finding purpose after 60
- Healing through creativity
- France, travel, and the meaning of home
- Why it’s never too late to begin again
- Building community as an adult
- Writing as a path toward healing
Sometimes the next chapter isn’t the one we planned.
It turns out to be even more meaningful.
