What year were you born?

I was born in 1965 in the spring on a Monday. My parents were about to sit down to a pheasant meal that my dad had hunted, and my mother went into labor. The doctor told my dad to go home and enjoy the meal with his friend – that the hospital was no place for a husband – so he did. There’s the lightness of the story and then there’s the heaviness of knowing that my mom was in a hospital room laboring all by herself while my dad was eating good food and probably drinking wine. We had pheasant on my 30th birthday. I love food. I love the spring. I love that my dad is a hunter and provides for his family. I love that my mom breast fed me when her doctor told her she was nuts. I love my parents and every way that they’ve raised me.

What was your life like growing up? What dreams and goals did you have for your life when you left High School?

I grew up in a beautiful location in the Finger Lakes in Upstate New York. There was lots of snow in the winter, and crickets and lightning bugs and frogs in the summer, and apples in the fall, and my birthday in the spring, and fantastic rain storms and beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Our nearest neighbor, you could just see the roof of their house up over that hill. I walked through the fields to my friends’ houses. We climbed apple trees, played kickball, walked streambeds, picked wild blueberries, and were kids. I took dance lessons and painting lessons and sculpture lessons. I sewed clothes for my dolls and clothes for me. I was happy when I was a kid.

When I left high school, I chose the school that was the farthest away from my parents that accepted me. I went to University of Utah and have a BFA in dance. When I was in my 3rd year, I told my parents that I didn’t want their money anymore and waitressed my way through the rest of my school. I needed to make my own decisions. I flew by the seat of my pants and somehow survived. Now I think too much about consistency and predictability and responsibility and money.

What is the one piece of advice would you give your younger self?

Trust yourself. You are enough just the way you are.

Name at least one outstanding experience you have had in your life. How did this or these events affect you?

Birthing my daughter. There was nothing but trust in the process. And when I lost trust in the process, I gave up all control and my body showed me that I could have trust in the process. I need to remember that.

When in your life, so far, have you felt most confident and why?

I feel most confident when I have trust in the process!

Get out of my head and let life unfold. (I’m saying this more for me than for you.)

How have your dreams and goals changed now that you are 40+?

Ask me this question when I’m 60+. I’m still stuck in the place of responsibility and “shoulds.” My dreams and goals are making it 60+.

Share an indulgence:

Wine. Good food. Copious amounts of unscheduled time. Sunsets. Lindt Lindor milk chocolate truffles.

What is your super power?

I care.
I’m insanely observant.
I can make something out of nothing.

Can you share what your favourite part of your body is? Why?

My heart. It’s where my soul lives.

Do you like being 40+?

Yeah. But my body hurts from time to time. But I’m comfortable in my own skin most of the time. I like the feeling of the weight of my walk. There’s confidence there. Purpose.

How has your relationship with yourself changed as you have gotten older?

I trust myself more. Most of the time.