This week has been a full one; juggling a busy work week and a calendar packed with doctor appointments. Truthfully, it reminded me how easy it is to put our health on the back burner when life is moving fast, but those routine checks, those quiet moments to listen to our bodies—they matter. Slowing down isn’t just about rest; it’s about making space for what sustains us. Self-care isn’t indulgent, it’s maintenance. Just like our work schedules, our health needs rhythm, routine, and respect. So today, I’m leaning into gratitude for both the busy and the pause. A gentle reminder for all of us: keep your appointments, honor your body, and give yourself permission to breathe. ✨ What’s one small way you can care for yourself this weekend?

This week was a whirlwind—appointments, work, and all the moving parts of life that don’t always align neatly. The truth? Being flawed and fierce isn’t about handling it all perfectly. It’s about showing up anyway, adjusting the sails when things shift, and giving yourself credit for navigating the messy middle. If your week felt like a juggling act, you’re not alone. Fierce doesn’t mean flawless; it means choosing to keep going, even when the schedule is overflowing. Here’s to the women who balance work and life in real time, knowing the pauses and the pivots matter just as much as the progress. 💪

A win doesn’t have to be big to count. Sometimes it’s as small as sending the email you’ve been putting off, walking away from your desk for five minutes to breathe, or choosing patience instead of frustration. When we pause to be grateful for these small steps, they stop feeling “small” at all. They become proof that we’re showing up, moving forward, and building momentum one choice at a time. #LeadAnewWithKim #SoarWithPurpose #YourSecondSeasonRedefined #LeadAnewInsightsandGrowth

In this edition of Lead Anew: Insights and Growth, I share what happened when I googled, “How do I restart my career at 51?” and why the honest answer wasn’t online. This issue focuses on trading “busy” for aligned, asking braver questions, and reconnecting with the values and passions we’ve sidelined (for me: health equity, education, writing, mentoring). If you’ve felt like a placeholder in your own life, this read offers a simple way to metaphorically “google” yourself and begin again with purpose. I once googled, How do I restart my career at 51? The results were…mixed. However, what I truly needed wasn’t online. It was hidden in the parts of myself I had quieted while trying to be everything for everyone, and staying in a job that no longer fit who I was. Somewhere along the way, I stopped asking what I truly wanted and started asking what would make the most sense to others. That was the first sign I had drifted from my own path. It’s easy to mistake productivity for purpose. I remained occupied, and reliable. Yet, I felt adrift. I lacked a sense of purpose and fulfillment. I felt like a mere placeholder in my own life; present, yet devoid of direction. I contemplated the possibility of a new job title or project. However, what I truly required was to reconnect with the values that once ignited my passion. So, I sat down, both metaphorically and literally, and began asking myself some uncomfortable questions: What do I miss? What am I avoiding? What would I do if I weren’t afraid of failure or the prospect of starting over? That reflection was far from glamorous. It resembled scribbles in a journal, voice memos at red lights, and moments of honesty that shattered my preconceived notions. In this process, I rediscovered the passions I had suppressed: health equity, education, writing, and mentoring. These became my guiding principles. Suddenly, it wasn’t about selecting the ideal next step; it was about choosing something that resonated with my values. It was about aligning my actions with the kind of leader I aspired to be, not just the kind of employee I had been.

We rush so often that even the good things, joy, connection, meaning, can blur into background noise. What if today wasn’t about slowing down the pace, but about noticing what’s already here? ☀️ The way the morning light falls across the table ☕ The first sip of coffee, warm and steady 💬 The short text that makes you smile unexpectedly Slowing down isn’t always about doing less. Sometimes it’s about letting the small things be big enough. What is one simple thing you’ll dedicate your full attention to today? #LeadAnewWithKim #SoarWithPurpose #YourSecondSeasonRedefined #LeadAnewInsightsandGrowth