On August 28, 1985, I entered this world with a spirit that loved to care, nurture, and keep everything (and everyone) in order. For as long as I can remember, I’ve thrived on being the one in control, the one people could lean on, the one who made sure others were winning, even if it meant I was silently losing.

But then comes 40 and the shift was noticeable, VERY STRONG, recognizable to some women but still completely foreign to me. This was the reason for the 40 over 40 because I wanted to hear other women experiences and celebrate their stories while I celebrate mine. Now this shift, I realized I wasn’t in control the way I thought I was. My emotions had a mind of their own, pulling me into deep reflection. I was confronted with questions I had avoided for years:

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• What do I want?

• What do I need?

• Why have I or did I make these crazy decisions and choices?

• Where have I been silencing myself?

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I’ve always been a caretaker, the cheerleader behind the scenes. But in that role, I often left myself behind. My wants, my desires, my voice—they didn’t always make the list. At 40, something shifted. I decided it was time to stand up for me. This is my no-nonsense era. I’m no longer taking nonsense from others, and more importantly, I’m no longer accepting it from myself. The word I’ve chosen to carry with me into this decade is DISCOVERY.

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I am discovering Antoinette, LOL
her wants and desires,
her glow and her grace,
her quirks and her triggers,
her scent, her laughter, her power.

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It’s not about losing control. It’s about gaining clarity. And with clarity comes a new kind of control: the kind that doesn’t demand perfection but honors authenticity. So here I am, standing at the threshold of this next chapter, wide-eyed and ready.

 

Stay tuned—because we are officially on another adventure.

 

 Here’s to 40. Here’s to Discovery. Here’s to me.