What does it mean to be fierce after forty?
According to our recent Spark Alumni Nancy, it takes equal parts ferocity and vulnerability. There’s a movement sweeping national dialogues– that of bringing conversation and awareness to the second puberty that women’s bodies experience – menopause. Women are learning to embrace the changes in their bodies and to use their voices to advocate for themselves and for younger generations. It’s a movement all about normalizing aging, valuing women of all ages, and lifting others up as much as it is about self-expression.
As part of our project, Nancy, self-described as compassionate, inquisitive, and kind, shares her fierce after-forty journey of overcoming fear, embracing change, and using her voice to empower herself and the women around her.
Read her interview on the importance of speaking up, the beauty of aging well, and the fierce spirit that defines a woman over forty. This is more than an interview; it’s a call to action for all women to find their voices and use them to create a more supportive, empowered future.
What are you proud of yourself for having overcome in your life?
“I am proud of overcoming a fear of change. I’m thankful for that rage that women experience when going through menopause – it actually helped to inspire me to make a very difficult and emotional change that was needed. It was one of the worst things I’ve ever had to do, but now being on the other side of it, I don’t regret my decision. It took a lot of bravery, courage, and accepting help. That’s the other side of fierce.”
What have you learned about yourself and life since stepping into your current decade?
“What I learned about life is to judge less because I don’t want to be judged. No one’s perfect. I’ve been learning to recognize more of my emotions, behavior, and patterns so I can pause before I speak and act like it’s really going to make a difference– because it does.”
What do you value now that you didn’t in your earlier years?
“Now I value time in a way I didn’t in my earlier years. I specifically value time with my thirteen year old daughter. I value it enough that I alter my work life in order to get those precious ten morning minutes in the car when I take her to school..”
What do you want others to know about what it means to be a woman over forty?
“I want women approaching forty to not be afraid of all the changes mentally and physically that are ahead of you. There will be many of them, so you really have to learn to embrace them. I’ve decided that I’m going to age well.”
What are you looking forward to in the coming years?
“I’m looking forward to finding more comfort in knowing who I am. We’re always going to be asking questions and figuring out who we are because we’re changing. We’re not the same people we were in our 20s. When you reach that level of comfort, then other things have a way of coming and showing up in your life.”
What has being part of this Fierce After Forty Project meant to you and why did you choose to be a part of it?
“I chose to be a part of the Fierce After Forty Project because I think the more that women can represent themselves in this way, they aren’t just lifting themselves up, they are uplifting everybody. I think more and more women are speaking up about their truths and experiences. This project is a manifestation of women’s voices not just being heard, but being projected through art.”
What advice would you give to yourself 20-30 years ago?
If I could give my younger self advice, I would tell myself to take more risks and speak up. I’ve always been an adventurous person who stayed on the safe side. I think back to different situations where I should have spoken up. If I had, maybe I wouldn’t have suffered as much as I did in bad situations and bad relationships.”
What does your Fierce After Portrait say about you and the message you want to share with others?
“My Fierce After Forty Portrait says there is strength and beauty after forty.”
The Fierce After Forty Project, designed by Show Your Spark Photography Studio, seeks to highlight powerful women over Forty through photography and storytelling. In doing so, we inspire countless other women to embrace and celebrate their journey, bodies, and power – no matter their season of life.
If you want to show off your After Forty Fierceness, contact us today!
Remember, you are powerful, courageous, and one of a kind! Show Your Spark!
Here’s what to expect when you contact us!
- Schedule a free consultation call to have all your questions answered and start planning your Spark Experience.
- Select a Spark Session date that fits your schedule. (Studio located in Braintree, MA)
- Rock the session like the bright light that you are, and create beautiful, tangible artwork to inspire you for the rest of your life.
Remember, you are powerful, courageous, and one of a kind! Show Your Spark!
