I remember my mother (who I admire immensely – she started her own business at 55), talking to her friends about getting older and them all agreeing that the ‘turkey neck’ was the one thing they all struggled with. Just think about a turkey’s neck and you’ll get it. I was in my 30’s at the time so just batted it off with a ‘that happens to everyone so I guess you just live with it’.
There were times in my life when I didn’t think I’d get to 50 – growing older seemed, as still seems distant and perhaps avoidable! I spend may years feeling like a victim of circumstances, judging and blaming others instead of taking responsibility for the role I played in my own internal dialogue and drama.
As some of you know, I struggled with depression and anxiety for many years before I became a transformational life coach. I have a corporate background and always loved developing people’s potential but I always had a dream to start my own business, and live in a place with mountains and the ocean close by.
I ‘self-medicated’ my internal control freak at weekends with too much vodka, double espressos and anything else that made me feel better until the arrival of my fortieth year. Ten years ago, almost to the day, I got married and was pregnant within a month – and again within the year. 2 under 2 is no picnic – my world was inside out, I had no income and I felt lost, depressed and had no idea who I wanted to be in the world.
I had a recurring thought of becoming a life coach when I was at home with two littlies, drifting from day to day trying to navigate post-natal depression. Despite my own insecurities, my “who would EVER want to work with YOU??!!” thoughts and lack of income, I found a way and watched my life change in all manner of ways that I never thought possible.
My children are now 9 and 7, I live a life I don’t even recognize, my real self gets to ‘play out’ every day and though I still get bouts of self-doubt, I’m better at catching myself. I love that I get to help women live their purpose and be, do, have and give everything they always dreamed they could. I am lit up by the testimonials and success stories I have to share here and that I get as random excited texts out of the blue!
So my advice is go to work on yourself – you can’t change the turkey neck that comes with getting older – but you can change how you choose to respond to it – and any other situation or circumstance you would not prefer! Dream BIG!
Vicky Renouf
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