What are your thoughts on aging?

The confidence aging gives you is empowering because you have the experience to feel confident when making decisions.

How is your age group relevant?

Our age group is valuable because of our life experiences, knowledge, and stability.

Younger women, might think that it's scary getting older. What wonderful things can women look forward to at your age?  

Hopefully, by this age, you can feel confident in yourself and not care as much about what others think of you. You gain this confidence by figuring out what works for you and what doesn't. Listen to your gut.

Share tips on how you celebrate yourself, what you do for fun, and self care.

I recharge by spending time with family and friends. It refills my cup to spend time talking and catching up with people I care about. I like to try new places to eat and enjoy the company of friends and family. I love to travel, experience new places, and see the world through the eyes of my children. I also like to ride with my husband on the back of his motorcycle and see the beautiful scenery along the way. Life is a gift from God.

Share one experience or piece of advice that would lift other women up and empower them.

I have four kids ages, 15, 12, 8 and 5 years old. I didn't have my first kid until I was 36 years old, and my last when I was 45 years old. I have met women who felt they were too old to have kids and they have told me that I give them hope that it might not be too late for them.

What would you tell your 14-year-old self? 

Listening to your gut is always good advice.

Who inspired you as a little girl? Who inspires you now? 

My grandma inspired me when I was little. She had 7 kids and one of them wasn't expected to live past 8 years old. My uncle couldn't walk, talk, or feed himself due to his medical condition. My grandma bathed him, fed him, changed his diapers, and loved him unconditionally in her home for 53 years until he died. Her biggest fear was dying before him. My grandma lived to be 99 years old, 3 months shy of her 100th birthday. She never learned to drive, and she spent most of her life as a widow and full-time mom. She lived a long and happy life.

My husband inspires me today. He has endured so much throughout his life that could have shut him down, but he continues to get back up, fight to overcome setbacks, and inspire others by not giving up.

What is your definition of success? 

Feeling confident knowing who you are.

What is the best advice you have been given?

My mom always said, "The only one who can make you happy is yourself'. When I was a little girl it made a lot of sense to me, but then growing into an adult you start to notice you are looking for happiness in other people, in jobs, in material things, in experiences, etc. As you mature and go through tough times like failed relationships, bad bosses/jobs, etc. Your instinct might be to blame others for your "miserable" life. Maturity comes when you realize your own thoughts, actions, and perceptions of these things are what can move you forward or hold you back depending on your negative or positive response to life situations. Make it a priority to find your happy.

Share anything else you want here. 

My husband is a motivating speaker. As a Marine, he is often giving words of motivation and affirmations to others. He often refers to me in his speeches as his "Smoking Hot Wife". Over the past couple of years, it has become apparent he often says this because when he left his last unit, they presented him with a plaque and referenced his "Smokin' Hot Wife". It is endearing to know at my age, he still sees me this way.