This Women’s Health Month, we’ll be highlighting the journeys of four incredible women from our community as they reflect on different decades of their lives through letters to their younger selves. No matter our age, life is something we’re all navigating for the first time. These stories offer a moment to pause, reconnect with your younger self, and reflect with compassion on the experiences that have shaped you.

As women and mothers, we might find ourselves constantly striving for perfection. We want to be the best version of ourselves, not only for the people around us, but also to prove to the world that we can do it all.

However, when we reach our 40s, we quickly start to realize that perfection doesn’t always guarantee happiness. Simply being present and showing up for our loved ones and ourselves is what will get us one step closer to feeling fulfilled.

While looking back on her 40s, Lisa recognizes this as well. She reflects on the many challenges and changes that guided her towards her truest path in life, highlighting the rewards of getting to know herself.

Take a moment to listen to the letter she wrote to her 40-year-old self. You might find that you relate to her journey of navigating this chapter of life.

Can you relate to her story? We’d love to hear from you – let us know what you think in the comments below!

Take it a step further – here are a few reflective journal prompts you can use to dive a little deeper into your own experiences:

• In what ways have your definitions of success and happiness changed over the years? What felt important to you in your 40s, and how has that changed now?
• If you let go of the pressure to be perfect, what would you make more room for in your life?
• If you could write a letter to your younger self now, what would you tell her? What would you thank her for, and what would you gently remind her of?