The 40 Over 40 Project
Laurie Mitchell,
Age 52
Tell me about yourself and how you feel about being a woman over the age of 40.
I am a wife to a wonderful husband of 32 years. I am a mother to two beautiful daughters, and am beyond blessed to be called nana by a sweet little girl. I have always had a passion for helping others. Rather it be volunteering at Vacation Bible School, my career in working with families, or hanging out with my grand daughter when my daughter is in a bind—people know they can count on me. To me, being over 40 is empowering. My journey to the women I am today started with the lessons my mother taught me as a child. My mother taught be to be kind, to have a servants heart, to be a hard worker and to not give up when I felt defeated. But, most importantly she taught me to love unconditionally. The empowering part to me is seeing this bloom in another generation. Knowing that I am able to pass the lessons my mom taught me to my daughters, who are now passing these lessons on to my grandchildren—none of which would’ve been possible without my husband by my side.
When do you feel most confident?
I feel the most confident when I am spending time with my family. When we are together there is always a lot of love and laughter. It truly brings me joy being surrounded by their unconditional love.
How did your painful times give you the gift of resilience?
In May of 2019, I was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosis. Prior to this diagnosis, I had a very full plate. I had a habit of scheduling my life in fifteen minute increments. Always going from one thing to the next, with little time to relax. While this news was hard for myself, and my family, it came with a valuable lesson. It is okay to slow down, to rest, and simply enjoy the moment.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Slow down, live in the moment, don’t forget to laugh, and breathe.
What would you tell other mature women about stepping out of their comfort zone and doing a photo shoot?
Do it! And do it sooner rather than later. Sometimes, we need to push ourselves out of our comfort zones. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience and being apart of this project. As a mom, we are always the ones taking the photos and never in them. I am so glad I have these photos for my family.