If you would have asked me 25 years ago what I’d be doing, it probably wouldn’t be coaching women in perimenopause to lead their lives with confidence, purpose and strength by pairing evidenced based personalized lifestyle habits with Biblical truths and guidance on hormones and supplements… but those next 25 years prepared me for this mission I’m now so passionate about!

I graduated from West Virginia University with a Doctorate in Pharmacy degree before entering my first pharmacist position in the retail pharmacy community.  It was there that I was Diabetes Specialist for a program coaching patients with Diabetes – my first experience working 1:1 with patients and the outcomes fueled my passion.  I spent some time working with nursing homes and then to a hospital setting where I initially spent the majority of my time in an outpatient clinic working with high-risk patients.  Following these patients and really getting to know them solidified my passion for personalized care.  With a better understanding of some of the challenges they faced, I stepped out of the traditional pharmacist role and into quality work to improve the system they received their care in.  During that phase, I had so many opportunities not only to address some of the concerns I’d learned about previously but to also learn through programs I completed like the America’s Essential Hospitals Fellowship and John C. Maxwell Coaching Certification program.  As I transitioned from one leadership position to the next, I was fueled by the mission of the organization, the amazing people we served, and the people I was fortunate to work with also dedicating their lives to the mission.  I ended my career as an Assistant Vice President at the place I came to know as home, when I felt God’s calling to do something different… although He hadn’t fully revealed that to me yet.

As I look back on my career, there was a certain turning point in how I felt.  I first couldn’t place my finger on it, but knew I didn’t feel like myself… self-doubt crept in and confidence started to slip.  I feared sharing with colleagues at the risk of seeming weak – in a position that was already out of my traditional training.  Then symptoms like weird weight gain, hair loss, unusual skin reactions, difficulty finding words, and difficulty sleeping started.  I saw my doctor but didn’t share all the symptoms because I didn’t want the diagnosis of “anxiety” forever associated with my medical history.  But inside, I feared that’s what it was.  I’ll never forget when the gynecologist used the word “perimenopause” when my symptoms became visual to her… I had no idea it could be perimenopause!!  I was in my 30’s!! I didn’t put all the symptoms together just yet, but hormones offered some relief. It took me years to figure out my personal strategy and then came menopause – a whole new set of challenges! Reviewing research was part of my job that I started doing in the evenings for my own journey.  The pillars of lifestyle medicine include sleep, nutrition, movement, social connections, stress resilience, and avoiding toxic substances.  Those became my building blocks and without much guidance, I learned how to prioritize them, personalize them, and build an unshakable foundation.  On this journey, I also had to change my prayer and relationship with My Creator.  He wouldn’t change the symptoms but He would change my perspective to one of learning, adjusting, and loving the body He entrusted me with.  I’m far from perfect, but my confidence is so much greater than it ever has been.  Confidence in the plan God has for me, confidence that I am stewarding my body through habits and hormones, and confidence that I can show up as my authentic self.  

After taking some time off, aligning my focus on the Word, and working with a coach, the vision of Pausing Well came alive.  I received some additional training through Harvard Medical School and researching more the tactics I utilized for regaining my confidence.  After months of preparation and nearly a decade of lived experience, I launched Pausing Well. Nothing brings me more joy than equipping women to lead their lives with confidence, purpose, and strength!!  Not just in their careers, but in every area of life!  This second half of life is full of clarity, purpose, and love 

I hope this inspires someone to explore their own strategy, not live in fear of the unknown, and prepare for the future by building an unshakable foundation.  If you’re interested in learning more about what your roadmap could look like – fill out the form to book a free call! You have nothing to lose and a healthy lifespan to gain!

With Love – 

Rebekah