You Can Love Your Old Life and Still Outgrow It

What happens when the career, the title, and the version of you that once made sense… no longer do?

We’ve all heard it before: “Life is short. Don’t wait. Go after what you want.” It’s something we nod along with, post about, maybe even say to others — but I didn’t truly feel the weight of it until I lost my younger brother.

He was full of life, with dreams that were just beginning to take shape. Losing him, along with both of my parents in a span of just a few months, brought a level of grief I never expected. There are days when the sadness still sneaks in, deeper than I knew was possible. But there are also days I feel overwhelming gratitude — because I know I’m still here, and I believe God still has plans for me.

After those losses, I couldn’t ignore the question tugging at me: What do I still want to do with this life I’ve been given?

For me, the answer was simple, even if the path to it wasn’t: I had always dreamed of owning a boutique… and a coffee shop. I decided to start with the boutique. That spark of a dream became cYou, and it’s become so much more than clothes. It’s become a space for connection — for real conversations, laughter, and quiet moments where a woman feels seen.

Before all of this, I had a long, successful career in corporate leadership. I loved it. I led high-performing teams, coached executives, and built something I was proud of. But somewhere along the way, I realized I wasn’t growing anymore. So I stepped away — from the identity, the title, the structure I had known for years.

And that’s where things got messy.

Because what happens when you leave behind what made sense… and walk into something new that doesn’t fit as neatly?

At times, I missed the certainty of the boardroom. The clarity. The fast pace. I started asking myself, Who am I now? Can the woman who ran large teams also be the one curating a boutique? Do those versions of me even go together?

Here’s what I’m learning: they do. Because I’m still leading — just differently.

I’m leading women to feel confident again. To trust themselves again. To get dressed in the morning and feel good, not just about their outfit, but about who they are becoming. It’s a quieter kind of leadership, but no less powerful.

And I haven’t let go of my passion for coaching. I still work with executives, helping them navigate their teams, their goals, and even their personal style — because how we show up matters, in more ways than one.

If you’re reading this and feeling that same in-between — that stretch between who you’ve been and who you’re becoming — I want you to know you’re not alone. You don’t have to have all the answers to keep moving forward.

You are allowed to change. To grow. To explore a new lane that doesn’t look like your old one. You’re still leading — even if it doesn’t feel like it. You’re still building — even if the blueprint looks different now. And you’re still worthy — especially on the days when it’s hard.

I believe in living beautifully. Not perfectly, not always confidently — but intentionally. And if you’re finding your way, I hope you’ll come walk beside me. Because you’re not starting over — you’re just becoming more of who you were meant to be.