As a mother, farm wife, daughter, veterinarian, and community minded person, I spent many years burning the candle at both ends. Like so many women today, I worked off the farm and on it, was raising two kids, following their activities, and trying to help care for aging parents. The perfect “SANDWICH” if you will.

This was my life from my mid 30’s until my early 50’s. I thought I could do it all. It turned out I could, for a while. Typical Type A perfectionist thinking. Burning both ends of a candle lets it burn brightly for a time but ultimately leads to it burning out. The burn out is at a rate double that of burning only one end. I knew I needed to change.

After leaving a job I had occupied for fifteen plus years with nothing on the horizon, being in my 50’s and feeling completely unemployable, I hit a bottom I never expected. We became empty nesters almost at the same moment this happened which added to the negative feelings I experienced. I mourned the person I was, the job I had, I was insecure about finances and the future. My perimenopause symptoms became almost unbearable during this time, stress will do that it turns out. However, after several months I also realized the only person who could change it was me.

I surrounded myself with supportive, empowering people. I rediscovered support and connection in my community I had completely missed while trying to excel at a job where very few people even noticed I left. I directed my energies into myself, for the first time EVER.

What happened was a 3-year journey of discovery, ups and downs and ultimately led me to more joy than I ever imagined. I tuned into what and how I was feeling, tracked my perimenopause/menopause symptoms, and tried to create some structure to my now empty days. I focused on moving, sleeping, removing as many stressors as possible from my life along with improved nutrition. I found a great care team including physicians, a counsellor, a life coach, a trainer, and a group of friends to keep me going. I started, slowly, to feel like myself again.

It turns out, like so many other things, there is no magic bullet. It is just taking a step or two forward each day. It is doing small things consistently that eventually build into bigger things. It is finding supports, advocating for your needs and a balance that works for you. No two journeys are the same, which is at the end of the day a beautiful thing.

Most of all, it is believing in yourself. And yes, it turns out even in my mid 50’s I am pretty darn employable.

That brought me to coaching. I had so many women ask me about my journey, what I did to feel better, more energized and find my confidence again. I want to share what I have learned and help other women through this time. I want to help sift through the explosion of menopause information we are currently experiencing and help YOU feel your best. Investing in yourself now is investing in your best future self. What you do today will reap dividends far into the future.