For many years I saw myself as nothing more than a wife and mother. As i walk an ever so pleasant path into my fifties, I find I am much more than that; a daughter, friend, sister, student, mother and guide- and that's just the short list! These days are the richest I've known, and with the blessings each aspect of my life brings to me I suspect the days will only continue to broaden, intensify and become richer still. 

How did you get to where you are now?

Through a lot of hard, gutsy, courageous work on ME!  I feel lucky, blessed, connected, and bright, as though I am on an ever expanding path.

How do you see yourself differently now than you did 10 years ago?

FUN!  I'm fun!  I have fun with my dogs. with my daughters, with my friends, with the person at the check-out counter, simply by being relaxed and being who I am in the moment. 

10 years ago I  was caught up in being whatever a mother and wife is 'supposed' to be.  In the middle of raising two hellacious teenagers circumstances forced me to choose; either I was going to kill them or they were going to kill me.  The inherent consequences of those options did not appeal therefore, I chose divorce!  These past two years have been the best years of my life, filled with self discovery, self-reliance and letting go.  I now have a fabulous relationship with each of my daughters, nurturing, loving, intimate and honest.  All in all, in choosing to take care of me first I have gained more friendships, beautiful relationships with my girls, and a life filled with joyous moments.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

With my hands swinging in the air while I yell "whoo hoo, whoo hoo, I'm doing it, I'm doing it." I see myself as a person with many avenues of interest and investment, among them; publishing a book on raising challenging teenage daughters, (and another on some other subject currently undetermined) traveling in relation to those books, speaking and encouraging those who share a similar challenge to search within themselves to find the answers.  Very likely by that time I will be fluent in Italian, soaking in a culture that finds older women sexy and smart! And if not Italy, I don't care where, it's all about being sexy and smart!

There's a song by the Weather Girls 'It's Raining Men'.  Let it rain- men, fun, friends, success, joy, life-let it RAIN!

Go baby, go!  Soak in every ounce of life while you can.  Everything's a gift, embrace it!  Find your passion, run with it, let the necessities of life fall into place.  You've been blessed in so many ways, let those blessings seed the courage you need to make your life everything it can be.  And when you find that place where you are full to bursting with joy, give back. Go baby, go!  Have fun!

Every woman who has the courage to become all that she can be.