I am a Renaissance Woman—not by choice, by event positioning.  I love helping women who feel like they are crash test dummies in the game of life. I should know. My life is a perfect example of this.

 

 While launching my Powerful i AM program a while ago, people kept telling me, “Stephanie, you’re three feet from gold”. I thought, “Screw the three feet. I want the gold NOW!” Life, I believed, had dealt me a nasty hand.  I left a verbally abusive marriage which, when I left, lasted more than half of my life. A few years after that, I had a brush with death due to a Small Bowel Obstruction. A year later, my world changed again when I was involved in a serious automobile accident. “Why me?” was all I could think as depression sunk in. I was determined to come out stronger, and be an encourager of women who have gone through similar things. Four near-death experiences in 4 years helped me create this mantra: Live Lightly, Live Large & Live A Legacy.

 

Those challenges, and the resiliency I developed, helped make me the woman I am today. Since I was a kid in junior school, I have been giving advice to people about their problems, as could see the bigger picture. I guess I am a natural listener? Coaching, therefore, was a natural fit. I decided to pursue training through the Spencer Institute. To this day, I continue to take NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programing) courses to augment my Coaching skills. My past challenges are the topics of many of the talks that I give. I believe that having classical vocal training, and the experience performing in front of large audiences have helped my stage presence for sure. And creating unique voices for my brothers’ and children’s bedtime stories honed my storytelling skills. Who knew? I am proud to say that my past foibles have paved the way for my podcast launching in September called Trail of Gold. Most importantly, I hope it will inspire, guide and empower women.

 

On a more lighthearted vein, I love all things coconut. I adore young coconut jelly, dried coconut straight from the shell, coconut water…bring it on! I even put coconut oil in my hair and on my skin. If you can create something that is made with coconut, nuts and dark chocolate, I’ll love you forever! I am also enthralled with Ducati motorcycles. Have you ever seen one? I rest my case! Coconut and nuts enrobed in dark chocolate while sitting on a Ducati…Sensored!

 

When I’m not working or eating something coconutty, I spend my free time laughing with the shenanigans that my three girls, my grandson and I get into. People who really know me can tell you that I’m a hoot! You can see that in my pictures—I love to laugh! And give hugs. I give great hugs! Maybe it is because of my hugs, but I have become a surrogate Mom to quite a few Gen-Xers. It gives me great pleasure to cook for them, and for anyone who would eat my food! I also get my social accountability fixes by volunteering with World Vision, local schools and Women’s Organizations. It just feels so good to give back to causes that have helped me.

 

Are you a woman who feels like you have been a crash test dummy for your life? Do you feel like the events that you have experienced have knocked the wind out of you and left you in a deflated heap? I feel your pain! I invite you to connect with me here. I will love to discuss how I can help you recreate your life, get recharged and feel empowered again.

 

Hugs,

Stephanie