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Midlife Reset: From Business Owner to Bestselling Poet
30 Mar
Summary
- Donna Ashworth achieved bestseller status in her 40s after a major life upheaval.
- She found global recognition by posting poems on Instagram during the pandemic.
- Ashworth manages ADHD, anxiety, and OCD, embracing her unique processing style.

Donna Ashworth achieved unexpected fame in her 40s, becoming the UK's best-selling living contemporary poet. This significant career pivot occurred after her son's ADHD diagnosis during the pandemic. Ashworth described this as a 'complete earthquake' that led her to sell her business, relocate, and move back home.
Her blog and subsequent Instagram posts, particularly 'History Will Remember When The World Stopped,' gained global attention. This brought her a celebrity following and established her as a source of hope during challenging times. Ashworth has since published 12 books.
Now 51, Ashworth openly discusses managing ADHD, anxiety, anorexia, and OCD. She notes that her 'brilliant brain' requires specific tools to navigate. She swapped alcohol for meditation and focuses on coping mechanisms for triggers, embracing her 'weirdness.'
Ashworth views aging positively, stating that life has become easier and more fulfilling as she approaches and passes 50. She emphasizes the importance of love, kindness, hope, connection, and faith, finding these elements empowering.