Seeking positive career change stories to reassure me - accepted a job today for a completely different role, in a completely different sector, and am panicking now... Been unhappy in current industry and particularly with current employer for a while. Realised after trying and failing to secure new job in same sector that my heart wasn't in it so I looked into working with at-risk young people and have managed to secure a job with a specialist children's charity. It's a hands-on role working with teens, rather than a desk-based role like I'm doing now. Involves shift work too which will be a change not just for me but for DH and DC. I know change is scary and that the scariness isn't a reason not to change things. I know I wasn't happy where I was. And this has always been an area that I've thought I would work well in. I also have my eye on the future and think it could be a springboard into related careers, possibly a degree apprenticeship in social work. If anyone has had a similarly dramatic career change in their 40s that has worked out for them, please share! Likewise if it didn't work but you're now happy anyway. Trying to reassure myself this isn't a crazy permimenopausal, mid-life crisis thing ;)