I recently revisited Your Second Life Begins When You Realise You Only Have One by Raphaëlle Giordano, and it’s such a happy book – not just as a reader, but as a coach.
The book follows Camille, a woman who feels stuck in her daily routine. Her life works on the surface, but she’s gradually losing touch with what truly matters to her. Then she meets Claude, a “routinologist,” who helps her notice the ways she’s settling and gently guides her to make small, meaningful changes that bring purpose and joy back into her life.
What I love is how the book frames transformation. It isn’t about reinventing yourself overnight – it’s about becoming aware of the habits, choices, and mindsets that no longer have a place in your life, and shifting them, step by step, toward a life that feels more aligned with who you really are.
This hits home in my coaching work. Life transitions – finishing cancer treatment, changing careers, or navigating shifts in relationships – can leave us feeling unmoored, uprooted, not grounded. Yet even small changes in awareness and action can create profound impact – helping us reconnect with our values, make choices that feel right, and move forward with clarity.
No matter where you are in life, this book is a reminder that we all have the chance to start our “second life” – to live with intention, purpose, and a bit more joy each day.
