Meet Sue – a woman with a heart full of generosity, a cupboard full of animal treats, and a life story that shows it’s never too late to rewrite the script.
Sue has been on her own for over 20 years. After two very different marriages – one to someone who struggled with addiction, and another to a kind-hearted bush vet from Angola – she found herself juggling work, raising her youngest son alone, and even starting her own business to keep things afloat. Money was tight, and she received help just a few times in the form of food parcels. That experience left a lasting mark – and planted the seed for her lifelong dedication to giving back.
When her son got involved in charity work as a high schooler (even becoming Interact President for two years!), Sue was right by his side. And when he left school, she realized she missed that sense of purpose, and so she joined the Lions Club. That was 13 years ago. Since then, Sue has thrown herself into community service, even serving as Club President and receiving an international Humanitarian Award. Slowly but surely, her world began to open up again – with new friendships and a growing sense of belonging.
Life hasn’t been without its challenges. Last year, Sue faced a serious illness and had to make some tough decisions – including selling her home of 33 years and moving into a cozy new space with her beloved pets. It was also a time of reflection. She chose to let go of relationships that no longer brought her peace – including a longtime friend who had become verbally abusive, and even her foster daughter, who she had lovingly raised, but no longer felt emotionally connected to.
But Sue wasn’t ready to give in to loneliness.
When Sue heard about a new group forming in her area, a group that was bringing 55+ women together – she had a feeling this was her chance to reconnect. She still has some amazing friends, but many have moved away or are now living in retirement communities, which makes those spur-of-the-moment meetups a bit tricky. “I miss being able to just call someone and say, ‘Hey, want to walk on the beach and grab an ice cream?’” she says. So, she joined the group, and before long, she was leading it! The group’s grown like crazy, and now those spontaneous beach walks (with ice cream, of course) are back on the menu, along with monthly meetups and fun outings.
Though she’s still working (she loves what she does!), Sue is gently transitioning into a new phase of life – one where friendship, support, and spontaneity are just as important as schedules and responsibilities.
Sue’s three children are busy building their own lives, and while she treasures her family – especially her close relationship with her daughter-in-law – she knows the importance of having a support network of her own. After a stressful 18 months of making big life decisions solo, she’s learned to prepare ahead: she’s packed a hospital bag, taped up instructions for emergencies, and set up important documents like a living will and power of attorney. It’s not morbid – it’s totally empowering.
What Sue truly hopes for now is simple: to build real friendships with women who get it. Women who know what it’s like to love deeply, give endlessly, and still crave connection after the kids are grown and life has changed.
“I think a lot of us are in the same boat,” she says. “It’s comforting to know we’re not alone — and exciting to think of what’s still ahead.”
YEI: You’ve heard Sue’s story – now we’d love to hear yours! Do you have a journey, a moment, or an experience that’s helped you rediscover your purpose or connect with others in a meaningful way? Your story might be just the inspiration another YEI member needs to take that first step, try something new, or simply feel less alone. Sharing your voice could empower someone else to find theirs! We would love to hear your thoughts – you can comment in the comments section below, or if you have a story, do email us on info@youve-earned-it.co.za
