At 45, Heather knows that life can change in ways you never could have anticipated.
A veterinarian who loves hiking, horseback riding, spending time in nature, and lifting weights, Heather describes herself as someone who’s protective of the people she lets into her life. And after everything she’s experienced, it’s understandable why.
Two years ago, Heather lost her husband to suicide following his struggles with mental illness.
“It completely destroyed me. I survived, but I am not the same version of myself.”
Losing her husband changed nearly everything about how Heather experienced the world, including how she saw herself. But through the grief and the process of rebuilding her life, she’s also discovered just how much strength she has.
“It has taught me I am strong and can survive anything.”
When Heather came across my 30 Over 30: Proof of Her project, she decided it might be time to do something just for herself.
She had also started letting go of some old beliefs about her appearance. Where she once thought she needed to be thinner or have cosmetic work done to feel beautiful, she’s come to a different conclusion.
“I now know I am good enough as I am.”
Still, knowing that and actually feeling it can be two different things.
On the morning of her session, Heather was nervous and even a little hesitant about coming in. But once she arrived, those nerves began to fade.
“The moment I arrived, I felt at ease. The entire team was so welcoming, supportive, and encouraging.”
With her hair and makeup done, outfits selected, and plenty of guidance through each pose, Heather found herself relaxing and genuinely enjoying the experience.
“I had so much fun and was so much more relaxed than I thought I would be.”
But it was the image reveal that really surprised her.
“I left for the lunch break feeling pretty good about myself, but then I saw the pictures. For the first time in years, I truly felt beautiful.”
After two years of grief and trying to figure out who she was in this new chapter of life, seeing those photographs gave Heather something she hadn’t experienced in a long time.
“I hadn’t felt that good about myself in such a long time. I left feeling like I was on cloud nine!”
In her post-session questionnaire, Heather rated her body confidence a 10 out of 10. When asked what she would change about the experience, her answer was simply, “It was perfect.”
And what would she tell herself before the session?
“Don’t be nervous.”
What stands out to me about Heather’s story is that she never claimed to have everything figured out. She acknowledges that losing her husband changed her, and that she’s still finding her way through what life looks like now.
But she’s also making room for experiences that make her happy again.
“This experience was so much more than just getting my hair and makeup done and taking pictures. It gave me a confidence boost I didn’t even realize how badly I needed.”
When I asked Heather to describe the woman she’s become, she chose two words:
“Incredibly strong.”
And for any woman who’s been putting off doing something for herself, Heather has some pretty straightforward advice:
“Do it. You are good enough.”
Sometimes we don’t realize how long it’s been since we genuinely felt good about ourselves until we finally have a day when we do, and for Heather, this was one of those days. 🥰
Enjoy a very small sample of her gorgeous gallery below!
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