The 40 Over 40 Project
Amy Lessly,
Age 43
Tell me about yourself and how you feel about being a woman over the age of 40.
I'm livin' the dream in my 40's! In my 20's and 30's I did all the things I thought I was supposed to do - I went to college, got my degree. By age 28 I had great job that I enjoyed, bought a house and was debt free aside from my home at age 30. Yet my hearts desire was to have a family of my own. For me marriage didn't happen until I was 36, and children, a little girl at 38. These are things I desperately desired in my 20's and 30's, but did not happen for me until later in life. Now, I'm happy to say that I've have moved on from the corporate hustle and enjoy the title of wife and mom and am currently building a photography business; a love that I had given up on 20 years ago! And there is wisdom with age; I know I'm a better mom at 43 than I would have been at 23 or even 33. Now more than any other time in my life I'm enjoying where I am and what I'm doing, and have more purpose than ever before.
When do you feel most confident?
Lately so much of my confidence has come from building my photography business. I never dreamed I'd own my own business and while it's one thing to take a good picture, running a photography business is an entirely different ball game! I've had to learn SO MUCH about photography in the digital age (because I learned on film, that whole over 40 thing) AND running a business! Learning how to use new equipment, nailing my editing style, keeping up with mileage and receipts for taxes - all that when executed and in action makes my confidence soar! All that while providing beautiful images to my clients that they love and rave about to their friends and family gives me all the feels!
How did your painful times give you the gift of resilience?
Oh goodness, at 43 I've experienced a lot of loss. By the time I was 23 I'd lost all 4 of my grandparents and my dad. I am an only child; my parents divorced when I was 3 and I flew back and forth alone from Hawai'i to Texas every summer to visit the other. Drugs and alcohol were present throughout my childhood. I learned very early on that life isn't fair. A hard lesson but one that is so true! This world is not our home; pain and sadness is to be expected. Yet here I stand today, a whole person who knows joy. However, tough and hard life was and is at times, the tough experiences helped shape who I am today and I love that. I love that I have experiences that hopefully can help someone else who is going through something similar. I love that God can use me in this way. At 43 I know there is more hard stuff to go through, but with the bad there is good too, yet either way, it will be ok. I will be ok.
What advice would you give your younger self?
It will be OK! Simple but true. Trust God; trust his timing and lean into Him and let him carry you on the hard days. It will be ok.
What would you tell other mature women about stepping out of their comfort zone and doing a photo shoot?
Just do it! Don't wait to loose those 15 pounds, or until this or that gets done. Life happens. There is never a perfect time. Just do it. Do it for you. And I promise you'll enjoy it more than you think!