Navigating Mid Life with a Jellyfish, a Crab, an Albatross and a Salmon

This winter I found myself on a metaphorical voyage with four unlikely travelling companions: a jellyfish, a crab, an albatross and a salmon. Yes, there was definitely a watery theme — but the ship we were on was skilfully captained, which helped when the inner weather got a bit choppy.

Mid‑life can do that. One minute you’re fully immersed, getting on with things, the next you’re thinking Is this it? Or, in the words of David Byrne, Well… how did I get here? It’s a strange kind of disorientation — not necessarily a crisis, more a subtle sense that the old questions may not be quite the right ones anymore. It could even be a shift from What do I want? to What does life want from me?

Last year I made the move from salaried public health into self‑employed coaching and facilitation with Tiny Horse. It was a natural point of transition, and I wanted some structured space to explore it. That’s what led me to Second Wind: navigating the magnificent mutiny of mid‑life with Nick Thorpe, a coach and writer.

We worked with four animals as archetypes or energies — something felt in the body or as feelings as well as ideas to play with: crab resist, jellyfish surrender, albatross envision, salmon strive. Each has its superpowers and also its shadow side.

Crab shows you what you’re resisting and asks, gently but firmly, whether it’s intelligent resistance with some useful information, or whether you need to push through.

Jellyfish invites rest and regeneration, and wonders what you might need to let go of.

Albatross offers the long view — some perspective — but also reminds you to find somewhere to land.

Salmon gives you the drive to swim upstream when your energy and purpose are aligned.

Often we don’t know exactly where we want to get to — the destination is unclear — but we do have a sense of direction, usually shaped by our values. Metaphor helps us put down the planning mind and drop into something our instinct already knows.

So here’s an invitation.
Take a moment to notice which of these animals feels closest to how you are right now.
And which energy — resist, surrender, envision, strive — might quietly help you navigate the rest of the day.

If you want to find out more about ‘Second Wind: navigating the magnificent mutiny of mid-life’, visit Nick Thorpe’s website here.

Want a nudge when the next Tiny Horse post arrives? Add your email — new posts and small notes, never a stampede.