There are some things about us that make more sense once you know where we came from.
I grew up in an Army family, and by the time I finished school, I had attended 13 different schools. Yes, thirteen.
That meant new neighborhoods, new classrooms, new teachers, new friends, and plenty of moments when I had to figure out where I fit. At the time, I don’t think I was thinking about words like adaptability or resilience. I was simply living my life.
Looking back, though, I can see how much those years shaped the woman I became.
I Learned How to Begin Again
When you move often, you learn that starting over doesn’t have to mean starting from nothing.
You carry pieces of every place with you: things you’ve learned, people you’ve loved, experiences that changed you, and a little more confidence than you had before.
I think that lesson has followed me throughout my life. I’ve been a teacher. I homeschooled my daughter from kindergarten through twelfth grade. I’ve been a caregiver. I’ve built a business. And I’ve had seasons when life looked very different from what I expected.
Each season required some version of beginning again.
Maybe that’s one reason I believe so strongly that it is never too early or too late to take a new step. A fresh start doesn’t erase what came before it. You bring all that wisdom with you.
I Learned to Connect With Different Kinds of People
Thirteen schools also meant meeting a lot of people.
Different personalities. Different backgrounds. Different ways of doing things. When you’re the new girl, you learn to observe, listen, and find common ground.
Those skills became especially meaningful later when I became a teacher. They still matter in the work I do today.
Women don’t all need the same skincare routine. We don’t all practice self-care in the same way. We don’t have the same schedules, priorities, challenges, or goals. I can teach what I know, but I also need to listen to the woman in front of me.
Relationships have always mattered to me. I suspect growing up the way I did has something to do with that.
I Learned That Home Is More Than a Place
When the scenery changes regularly, you discover that home isn’t only an address.
Home can be the people who know you. The routines that make you feel grounded. The things you carry with you from one season to another.
Perhaps that’s also why I’m drawn to simple rituals now: a cup of tea, a good book, caring for my skin, sitting somewhere peaceful, or spending time with people I enjoy. Those small things can create a sense of steadiness even when life around us is changing.
And life does change.
Our children grow up. Careers change. Our bodies change. Our responsibilities change. Sometimes we choose the change, and sometimes the change chooses us.
Having something that helps us feel grounded matters.
What Those Years Still Teach Me About Aging Well
I didn’t know as a little girl walking into yet another new school that those experiences would someday influence how I think about aging well.
But they have.
Aging well isn’t about keeping everything the same. We can’t. It’s about learning how to care for ourselves as life changes. It’s being willing to learn something new, adjust when we need to, hold on to what matters, and keep moving forward.
That’s true in skincare. It’s true in wellness. And it’s certainly true in life.
One of the gifts of getting older is realizing that we’ve already made it through quite a few new beginnings. We have evidence that we can learn, adapt, and grow.
So, if you’re in a season that feels unfamiliar right now, I hope you’ll remember that you don’t have to have everything figured out before you take the next step.
Start where you are. Bring what you’ve learned with you. Give yourself grace while you adjust.
And keep taking the small steps that help you age well with confidence.
About the picture: This is my 4th grade photo, which means I was in New York at PS 209*.
*PS simply means public school
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