How do you feel your confidence has changed over the past 10 years?
I’ve been working within the field of personal development for the last 16 years, I am a fire-walk instructor and deliver high impact events that focus on fear and self limiting beliefs and alongside that I deliver confidence building courses.
I started peri-menopause during Covid and my own confidence was battered, I couldn’t run my business due to restrictions, I was exhausted and had low level anxiety for around a year. I was worried that I might be dieing, it’s awful and i wasn’t prepared for how badly it affects us.
Fortunately I have a brilliant GP who started me on HRT immediately and that has made the world of difference to me. I have a new energy and excitement for life that feels fabulous.
Why do you think that is?
Being in my late 40’s and coming through the pandemic has cemented for me that life is short and we really need to make the best of it, some things are outwith our control but the rest is up to us.
Do you feel invisible in some aspects of your life? How does that show up?
I don’t feel invisible. I decided to embrace aging in my early 40s and have had silver hair since then, I actually feel that people notice me more now with silver hair than they did when it was from a bottle.
Tell me about a woman who is older than you, inspires you and why? Describe how she makes you feel.
I have loads of great women in my life, I think theres an energy from surrounding yourself with positive people older and younger that makes life feel better all round.
One friend who was a manager in a previous life, retired and now has her own radio show on a local station, she’s been a big influence on my life and inspired me to travel.
What worries you about ageing?
I worry about losing my mental capacity, my gran had dementia and it’s an awful illness. Aside from that I am happy to be getting older, if i wasn’t I’d be dead.
My birthday is the same day as the Dunblane tragedy and every year on my birthday I feel really privileged to be here and getting older.
I take better care of myself now than I did when I was younger and I’m fitter than I’ve ever been.
I started weightlifting in my early 40’s I think it’s hugely important to have strong bones and I want to be able to still lift logs at 70!
What excites you about ageing?
It’s great getting to a point in my life where I don’t care about society’s expectations of me. My daughter just finished high school and there’s a liberation in that.
It’s a really great time in my life, my parents are still relatively young and healthy and are now my adult friends.
My daughter is old enough to do her own thing and we don’t have the same financial pressures that we had when we were younger.
There’s a great freedom to this age and stage.
What advice would you give your 15-year-old self?
I’ve made tonnes of mistakes in my life.
I’m a recovering alcoholic and that has shaped me probably more than anything.That said I don’t have regrets, I wouldn’t be me without those lessons and it’s unlikely that I would be a fire-walk instructor.
I’d tell a 15 year old that we don’t have to live life by the rules, they are all made up and it’s okay to follow your own path.
Choose a job that brings you joy.
Question from Sally
What gives you the greatest pleasure in life?
My family, laughter, wild swimming and my work- it’s the best!
You find out more about Lee & her fire walking company below