Early this month, I turned 46. My birthday always makes me stop and reflect on my life, where I am, and how I feel about it.
And I could not be more in love with my life.
For real.
In a world obsessed with youth, 0% of me wishes I was 27. Or 32. I LOVE my 40s and I wouldn't change a thing.
So today's newsletter is a little different… I want to share my thoughts on being in my mid-40s, some lessons I've learned to create a life I love, and a few personal updates.
Ladies, life can begin at 40!
Here's the thing… we are bombarded with content celebrating youth: celebrities who are aging backwards, Forbes 30 Under 30 lists, and 25-year-old self-made millionaires.
It can feel like the end of the world if you don’t have it all figured out by the time you’re 30. I talk to people every day who feel behind because they don't have a family, killer career and world domination by the time they're 30…
Or who feel like it's too late to meet someone, pivot careers or make a big change because they are now in their 50s.
And I'm not immune to this. I've felt it all!
Turning 46 made me think about getting older. I'm no longer in my early 40s. I need glasses to read the menu. Y'all, it's weird!
But the truth is, we can't focus on a number. I know people in their 30s who feel ‘old' and others in their 50s who have never felt better.
We get to choose how we want to live at every stage of life.
My life changed drastically when I was 35 and got divorced. I wasn't sure I'd meet the right person or ever get married again. I had a few really tough years. I ended up in a toxic relationship and a job where I was unhappy.
Then, at the age of 39, I landed my first VP role and met the love of my life. And life has only gotten better every year after that. That doesn't mean everything is perfect – it just means I'm living a life I'm grateful for and that feels aligned.
At the age of 46, I have a beautiful, healthy family. I’m probably the healthiest I’ve ever been (seriously!). I have a business that lets me live my mission, and I have the freedom to travel and experience so much.
I feel incredibly grateful for this life. And in reflecting on this, I wanted to share some key lessons that have helped me create the life I have today.
3 lessons that have made my life better:
1. Chase your dreams and leave what doesn’t serve you unapologetically
I've stayed too long. I've invested time with people who made me feel like crap. I've worked in places where I didn't feel valued. None of these are going to help you create a life you love.
Go after what you want! You're either going to risk failure or live with the regret of not trying, and trust me, the second one is worse.
And when you're not appreciated, kindly walk away. You're not a tree. You can leave. Leaving the situations and people who no longer served me was the best decision I ever made.
2. Get clear on what YOUR dream life looks like – stop focusing on your peers
Ever heard the quote “Comparison is the thief of joy“? Well, it's true. And I get how tough this is.
But the best hack is to create YOUR vision of a dream life and work towards that. Write out your life vision or create a vision board. Look at it often and focus on that, not what your neighbour is driving or how much your college roommate is making at their big job.
If you struggle with this, pay attention to your habits. Consuming a ton of social media can easily lead to the comparison game. So turn off your phone and look around at everything you already have.
3. Invest in your health. You can feel old at 35 or young at 65, and it’s all about the way you choose to live.
This is so relevant for me right now, because let's face it, I'm getting older. But I feel SO YOUNG! Even saying that I'm 46 out loud feels a little odd.
But I'm not bothered because I know that I have control over how I age. I can decide that I want to be hiking in Hawaii when I'm 55 or traveling the world at 65.
The truth is, you can choose a life that keeps getting better. And so… here come some updates!
I was in Montreal with Taylor for my birthday. He's my life partner and best friend, but we're not actually married. Well… we got engaged that weekend!
And if that wasn't enough dopamine in my system, just a few days later I hit a milestone I've been working towards for a while now… 100K followers on LinkedIn (my bestie surprised me with these balloons – what a girl!).
I'm sharing these updates with you for two reasons: 1. You're in my community, and most of the time I share tips and tricks, but I want to let you into my life and
2. I want to remind you that it's not too late to fall in love, do big things and hit your goals.
Wherever you’re at, I’m always over here cheering you on!
And hey, if one of your big goals is to start showing up with more executive presence and influence, don't miss the Own The Room Summit in Toronto this summer.
It's a one-day event all about building your confidence and executive presence so you can lead and influence like the badass you are. Think: interactive workshops and sessions that will have you leaving as a more confident and influential leader.
I'm writing this newsletter on my way home from a conference, and it confirmed for me that there is nothing more valuable than getting in the right rooms with the right people.
I'm inviting you to spend the day with me to perfect your elevator pitch, create your collection of influential leadership stories, learn to speak with confidence and authority, and gain clarity into the authentic leader you are ready to be.
You can't miss this!
Until next time friends… ✌️💜
Katy
