Meet Emily Wong (she/her), a MidstHer learning the power of saying no and setting boundaries
I’m a half-Chinese, quarter-German, quarter-Irish strategic communications director, avid reader, and yoga enthusiast living with my husband and our 12-year-old, one-eyed Shih Tzu in Chicago.
I’m in the midst of
Figuring out what’s next! Growing up, there were black balloons and “over the hill” signs when my dad turned 40, and I remember thinking, “Wow, being in your forties must be terrible.” Well, guess what, it’s not at all! I think this has actually been my favorite age decade so far. I’ve accomplished a lot in my life up to now: earning my MFA in poetry, careers in publishing/editing, higher education, and healthcare, and traveling to interesting places like Australia, Fiji, and Korea. But there’s so much more out there to experience! I’d like to try swimming, I’m curious about aerial yoga, I’d love to see the Grand Canyon–the list goes on.
The best thing about my current age (46)
I’m currently 46 and feel more confident about who I am than I ever did in my twenties and thirties. What they say about giving fewer f#cks once you hit middle age is true. But for me, it definitely wasn’t overnight, and I’ve been fortunate to have the support of friends and family–and therapy!
The best thing I’ve done for myself in this stage of life
Learning how to set boundaries. It sounds easy, doesn’t it? But it’s something I think many people, women in particular, struggle with. Stopping to consider what you really want, what you really need, and then deciding to say no is very powerful.
My current must-haves in life
My husband and our dog; my closest friends; good books; a regular yoga practice; cooking; a dirty (only slightly!) martini
What brought me to The Midst
I saw a Midst post on LinkedIn that sparked my interest, so I visited the website and just thought, “YES, this is the content that’s important to me right now!” I subscribe to many email newsletters, and I felt like I was aging out of them–some of the content was still relevant, but I also felt like something was missing. The Midst fills this communication/information gap for middle-aged women, and I appreciate it so much.
What I most want for/from the community of women I surround myself with
Friendship and support: being able to text my closest friends and ask for their advice or even ask if I can rant about something for a minute is invaluable, and I’m happy to have the tables turn and show up for them in the same way. And laughter! Two of my closest friends and I try to get together once a month, and my favorite hangouts are when we meet at one of our houses in comfy pants and spend the evening talking and laughing (and watching bad reality TV shows that we make fun of).
My Grown-Ass Lady heroes
Julia Louis-Dreyfus: If you haven’t yet, give her new podcast, Wiser Than Me, a try! And be sure to check out Amy Schumer’s skit about Louis-Dreyfus’s “Last F#ckable Day.”
Anne Helen Petersen: I always enjoy her take on the cultural topics she talks about, from Bama Rush to a deep dive into what’s up with women’s jeans.
Leslie Price and Michelle Curb: They co-founded Gloria, and I’m here for it. Interesting articles, fashion ideas, etc, for those of us who “aren’t yet ‘old,’ but aren’t still ‘young.’”
The progress I hope to see in society for future generations of women
Writing this right now, just after US Vice President Kamala Harris has accepted the Democratic nomination to run to be our 47th President, I’m actually finally feeling some hope about the future of women here in this country. I can’t let go of my pessimism and cynicism quite yet? But the possibilities of what a woman president–and a biracial woman president!–could mean for our reproductive rights, for women of color, it’s very exciting.
What’s next?
I read an article on Anne Helen Petersen’s Culture Study Substack about this idea of women entering a “portal” of sorts when you get into middle age. A Jungian psychotherapist she interviews says, “The portal might be seen as the work of people who have participated in everything society expected of them on one level or another, and are finding themselves wanting more out of life — and want to find more purpose in life as change makers.’” This really resonated with me–it put into words how I’ve been feeling when I wasn’t even sure myself. So, I haven’t quite figured out what exactly is next (as mentioned in the “I’m in the midst of” section), but I do want to find more purpose in my life and make a difference outside of my own little sphere.
Follow Emily Wong
LinkedIn: I will freely admit that I don’t post a lot because all of my social media brain space goes to content strategy and creation for the LinkedIn account I manage for the company I work for, but I like to network and make meaningful connections.
Join the Founding MidstHer community
We’re building a network of entrepreneurs, creators, and leaders on a mission to help women play by their own rules, together — because it takes a community to thrive in midlife.
Step 1: Become a Founding MidstHer here on The Midst Substack.
Step 2: Amy Cuevas Schroeder will email you with all the details and an invitation to our private Slack community.
