AGE: 55

PROFESSION: Software Executive

What is the best thing about being your age?

Coco Chanel said it best: "The best part of getting older is that you don't care what other people think." Aging brings an enormous amount of freedom. As I race towards my own mortality, my appreciation for life, for others and for myself only deepens. Continuing to unshackle myself from social expectations on how to dress, and act and behave has given me more freedom to truly choose how I want to be experienced in this world The hardest part is loosening the ties that bind me to roles and responsibilities that OTHERS believe I should continue to align with - freeing myself from the expectations of the people that I love. The great thing about the freedom of aging is that it comes slowly - so you can pace alongside time.

​

What's your favorite thing you have checked off your bucket list?

Something I never thought I would do - raise a child.

​

What is a trait you are most proud of?

Sassiness. Which is a lot of sarcasm wrapped in wit and delivered with a whole lot of cheeky humor!

​

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Kindness. I would lead with kindness in every interaction.

​

What advice would you give your younger self?

Don’t sit at a table if you aren’t being fed.

​

Too often we con ourselves into believing it’s enough to have a seat at the table. But imagine you invite a group of people to your home for dinner. You set a place for each individual. As they all take their seats and you begin dinner service, you fail to feed one person.

 

Technically, they have a ‘seat’ but they are NOT being fed. Why would they stay? And why would they ever return - perhaps in hopes of being fed next time? Take a look at how and if you are being “fed” - is your soul being “fed”? Is your intellect? Your bank account? Make sure you are always clear about how you need to be fed (TLDR that changes over time! ) and, if you are not being “fed” - find a different table.