What year were you born?

I was born on a Thursday in 1965 at 6:11 AM. At Everett general hospital. What I have been told about my birth was that it was quick. I did not want to wait for the doctor to get there to be delivered. My mother always jokes that he barely caught me. He didn't have on a lab coat. He walked in just in time to catch me.

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

Growing up I had 3 sisters and a little brother so there were 5 of us kids all together.. I was closer to my little sister and my little brother than my older 2 sisters. It's funny to look back on my childhood because even though my mother was emotionally unavailable and my father worked a lot. We looked like a very stereotypical leave it to beaver type of family. Although we did not have a lot of money when I was growing up.

That being said though, my grandparents (my dads parents) figured out how to have my parents buy a lot at Sandy Point Shoes so we always had a place to go in the summer. It was so much fun spending our summers up at the beach with our cousins just a couple doors down and grandma and grandpa in the middle. We only had a small travel trailer for the 7 family members so when my little brother's crib was put in the middle of the trailer no one could get out of their bunks. So I would say my childhood was filled with a lot of play. We ran around outside all the time.

There was a dark side to our film that wasn't apparent to the world, mother’s father was an abuser, hence mother's lack of attachment. This trauma has affected our family on many levels.

I had pretty amazing friends in high school and they still are my friends even now.I was blessed in that category. High school came super easy to me as far as grades were and my parents didn't really pay attention to any of that so wanting to go to college was something that I was gonna have to do on my own. So I applied to the University of Washington without my parents knowing and was accepted. Unfortunately, I didn't know how to pay for it. So after one year I let that dream go. I thought I wanted to be a physical therapist until everybody on my dorm room floor wanted to be a physical therapist. So not knowing what I wanted to do with my life and not knowing how I could pay for school I left after my 1st year.

I always wonder what would have happened if I would have had parental support and guidance.

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

Look for a mentor, ask for help, it is ok to be seen and heard. Don't settle for less than you want.

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

Wow, I guess I am going to have to say my mission work with Great Shape! Inc. (Empowers the children and families of Jamaica and the Caribbean by providing access to education and health care.)

This year will be my 16th time. Participating in a project that allows me to use my acquired skill of dental hygiene along with a natural skill of puzzle solving to create a space that helps the other volunteers give back as well makes me happy and proud.

I have also made friends through this work who I can't wait to see, work and play with each year.

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

I would say on my dental mission, especially after last year running the largest clinic that Great Shape has ever set up, I know I am one of a very few people who can do what I did.

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

My dreams and goals are more focused on what will make me happy and will it make a difference on this planet.

Have your core values changed over time? What do you value now?

I don't think my core values have changed that much overtime. I still value freedom, adventure, loyalty, and friendship. I think the biggest change is the definition of success, when I was young money=success now it is happiness, joy, and adventure that equal success.

Share an indulgence:

I want to say travel, but I don't do that enough.

I allow myself to use my time however I choose.

How do other people to describe you or see you?

I don't have a great answer to this question. Maybe I should ask.

What is your super power?

I just know things, so probably my intuition.

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

My eyes, I think they are beautiful and I can express so much with them, my smile is a close second.

Do you like being 40+?

Yes and no. I give a lot less fucks about what other people think and that number goes down each day my age goes up.

I do miss some of the ways my body moved when I was younger. Although I am letting go of that stiffness as well!

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

I think I got to serious with myself in my forties and early 50's, so now I am learning how to have fun again and truly love being me.

What goals/ambitions/dreams would you like to be working on that you haven’t had the opportunity to start on yet?

I am walking the El Camino de Santiago May 2023. It is now an obsession.

I would love to create travel adventures for women in their 50's. So we could adventure together, feel safe, have community and just lots of joy.

What advice would you give your future self?

You can do and have anything you desire, just remember to look and see if the amount of work it will take will give the rewards (every day counts). Relax, BREATH, have fun, and find your medicine. (My definition of medicine is: anything that brings you to a higher level after health, awareness, and happiness).

How do you think women of your generation are perceived?

This is hard, I guess I don't think of myself as part of this group. It is hard to generalize so many individuals.

I guess maybe I don't care how "women of my generation " are perceived, because if you look back on history every generation provided a stepping stone for the next.

Are there any myths you would like to bust about the over 40s? If so, can you tell us about them?

What myths would I like to bust about women over 40? That we are past our prime. That there's nothing left For us to do.

Do you have a favourite book to recommend?

So many, but I loved the Nightingale, maybe because of the female struggle and the desire to do the right thing no matter the cost. May need to read it again.