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Retirement Looks Fun – Laura, 48

Enlight51
Laura Jones is one of our ‘unsung’ heroes. An elementary school teacher, Laura has helped shape the future a classroom, of 5th graders, at a time. For that we thank her. It is with great pleasure Kuel Life presents her story.
There is power in story telling. There is power in 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.
This is Laura’s.

KUEL LIFE:
What are you pursuing now, after 45, that surprises you or might appear to others as if it’s come out of left field? 
LAURA:
 I am seriously putting in my retirement package from teaching so that I may begin enjoying life and traveling at 48.
KUEL LIFE: What’s a typical day like for you?
LAURA: A typical day for me is probably like many others which entails getting up at 5:30, going to work with an amazing group of 5th graders, then straight to the gym after school. If I don’t go immediately, I will find every reason not to go. Then home to walk my three dogs and cook dinner. To be honest, I very rarely get an opportunity to sit down and watch tv. Ahhhh, to veg out would be amazing.
KUEL LIFE: With what do you struggle?
LAURA: I struggle with balancing my children and my fairly new marriage. At this age, my children who are 22 and 19, still want a large percentage of my time and that becomes an issue with the small amount of time I have available.
KUEL LIFE: How do you motivate yourself and stay motivated?
LAURA: In order to stay motivated, I work out to maintain my Type 1 Diabetes in check and I look forward to the weekends. 🙂
KUEL LIFE: What advice would you give fellow women about aging?
LAURA: Definitely work out as much as possible; even if that means only walking your dogs. Invest in good face products. Have fun as often as possible.
KUEL LIFE: What does vulnerability mean to you? What has the ability to make you vulnerable?
LAURA: Vulnerability to me means allowing people in who might hurt me. What can and has, made me feel vulnerable, is having people lie to me about things that have been personal.
KUEL LIFE: What are three events that helped to shape your life?
LAURA: The loss of my mother, at an early age, was the biggest event, getting divorced at the age of 32, and finding out I was a Type 1 Diabetic.
KUEL LIFE: Who influenced you the most in life and why?
LAURA: It is so cliche but it was definitely my mother!! She lived her life giving to others, loving deeply, and serving God. She was loved by so many people and this was obvious by the people who were there and surrounded her as she took her last breath. I think of her daily and pray that one day I can be half the woman she was and that I can serve and do for others to make their life as great as mine.
KUEL LIFE: What is the best advice you’ve been given from another woman?
LAURA: To quote a country song, ‘Live your life like there is no tomorrow’. 🙂
KUEL LIFE: What woman inspires you and why?
LAURA: My sister Liz inspires me by the way she enjoys life. She works hard and she plays hard; from golf, to scuba diving, to traveling the world. She does everything I want to do some day!!
KUEL LIFE: Are you grown-up?
LAURA: I definitely think I’m a grown-up. Having children forced me to
KUEL LIFE: What do you do for self-care?
LAURA: Work out a minimum of four days a week and go out with my hubby on date nights as much as possible.
KUEL LIFE: And last but definitely NOT least: What are the top three things on your bucket list?
LAURA: Jump in a stock car and travel the 180 mph around a NASCAR track, travel all through Europe staying in 5 star hotels, and have the body to be in a Victoria Secret run way show. 🙂 LOL!!

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