A Hummingbird Who’s Found Her Favorite Nectar – Jack, 53

We couldn’t very well ask women to bare their souls with/to us and not reciprocate. Could we?

There is power in storytelling. There is power in the community. There is power in sharing. The more we know about one another; the more we understand; the more powerful we become.

We invite all of the KuelWomen out there to share their stories with us.

Here Is Mine (Jack’s):

KUEL LIFE: What are you pursuing now, after 50, that surprises you or might appear to others as if it’s come out of left field?

JACK: Having spent the better part of my adult-career-life assisting and enabling entrepreneurs with their dreams; I was a bit surprised I found one for myself. I always believed I was a ‘Hummingbird’ to quote Elizabeth Gilbert. Turns out I just needed to be in my 50s to find my KUEL LIFE!

KUEL LIFE: What’s a typical day like for you?

JACK: I have two types of ‘weeks’, really. The ‘I have my son’ and the ‘I don’t have my son’ week. They both involve exercise and work but distinctly different in the ‘chef, housekeeper, chauffeur, motivational speaker (nag) vs the playmate, dinner companion, live music aficionado’ roles. I love them both; in case you’re wondering.

I Always Feel Better:

“Don’t judge; it works for me.”

KUEL LIFE: With what do you struggle?

JACK: Difficult conversations; with people I love (to clarify). Good grief; do they ever get easier? Even now, at 53, when I have had a gazillion of them and KNOW that I ALWAYS feel better after having them; they still give me anxiety.

KUEL LIFE: How do you motivate yourself and stay motivated?

JACK: I am a LIST MAKER. The mere act of ‘crossing things off’ brings me joy. Don’t judge; it works for me. Staying motivated? That’s easy – I have such a long list to conquer – self-imposed; the sheer excitement of all the enriching options keeps me going. Especially when they make the list….

KUEL LIFE: What advice would you give fellow women about aging?

JACK: “It’s better than the alternative.” Really; this is actually what I say.

It’s The Ying And Yang:

KUEL LIFE: What does vulnerability mean to you? What has the ability to make you vulnerable?

JACK: Exposing my heart to pain. I feel the most vulnerable when I have allowed someone close enough that they have the ability to cause my heart to hurt. It’s the yin and the yang; how can you reap the rewards of loving someone, if you don’t let them have the power to hurt you?

KUEL LIFE: What are three events that helped to shape your life?

JACK: Having had the good fortune of a Pine Crest School education. Living in San Francisco for ten years. Becoming Aidan’s mother.

KUEL LIFE: Who influenced you the most in life and why?

JACK: My Dad. He came to the U.S., from Cuba in 1962, as a refugee; with a wife and a son and no English language skills. He went from an attorney in his homeland to a janitor in Pennsylvania. He fought and clawed his way back; providing me with the best education possible and unconditional love. How’s that for an amazing start to life?

“I am blessed with many intergenerational friendships and I am so much the better for it.”

I Am Blessed:

KUEL LIFE: What is the best advice you’ve been given from another woman?

JACK: “Play Through”. This is a phrase my sister has uttered to me many a time. It’s a way of staying focused on what’s in front of me and leaving that which is behind me in the dust.

KUEL LIFE: What woman inspires you and why?

JACK: The better question, and yes; I know these are ‘our’ questions is ‘which woman hasn’t inspired me?’. I am in awe of so many. I am blessed with many intergenerational friendships and I am so much the better for it.

KUEL LIFE: Are you grown-up?

JACK: Depends on the moment. I am no Peter Pan, but I most certainly am not done growing.

KUEL LIFE: What do you do for self-care?

Grow KUEL LIFE:

JACK: Exercise. Play the guitar. Take weekends away with close friends and/or my sister. I am lucky my best friend is my sister and she and I share a close-knit Urban Tribe.

KUEL LIFE: And last but definitely NOT least: What are the top three things on your bucket list?

JACK: Spend months, at a time, in different parts of the world experiencing the culture, language, and food. Play the guitar and sing, well-enough. Grow KUEL LIFE into a premier lifestyle and online community; allowing women everywhere to Share Your Story.

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