Sally went to Geneva as an au pair when she was a young woman. It was there that she met her future ex-husband and had 3 kids with him.
In 2012, at the age of 45, she left him after 22 years of marriage, and psychological abuse. When her third son was about 6 years old, she studied to become an English teacher to non-speakers in both group lessons and business environments like banks.
In 2018 Sally knew she needed more. “I decided to go into health coaching,” she says, “because I realized that I could help women and that above all I needed a higher purpose in life. I enjoy helping people and would have loved to have known what I know now when I was younger, married and unhappy.
Friends were very supportive both physically and on social media and my children are constantly encouraging me to continue. The best thing ever is when they actually try and or share my advice because I know I’ve given them the best possible tools I could.”
There were no difficulties transitioning to a new career and a new life as a single mom, related to being an older entrepreneur. Sally thinks it is because she doesn’t feel her age. “I am so full of energy and this is how I perceive age — as being energy. The difficulties are more now during this Covid period because I have had health and financial problems.
Since Covid 2020 things have been really tricky — teaching from home ( my main job ) and finding time to study, publish, and keep up on social media and of course we have been in some sort of lockdown for more than a year now (in France and Switzerland) so all this has taken its toll. Although I have had a few clients and offer free sessions to women in need, it is nowhere near being a business that could support me financially.” However, the goal is to have a thriving coaching business that supports her and even with this time of difficulty, she keeps her eye on the prize.
Sally was never an overweight kid but after her third child, she couldn’t shake some of the weight gain from the pregnancy. Being in an abusive environment probably didn’t help. After many years not being happy with how she looked or felt, she had finally had enough. 3 months before she left her husband, she lost a lot of weight (20kgs) but it wasn’t a healthy loss. She did it too quickly. As anyone who has had to lose weight and did it in a quick and unhealthy way knows, as soon as you stop using whatever quick fix method you were using, you gain it back. Sometimes you gain back more…. Over the next year and a half, that is what happened to Sally.
Once she was single, everything changed. Whereas she wasn’t able to do group sports and exercise when she was married, she could now engage in activities like Zumba, which she did with her daughter. She eventually became a Zumba teacher which was challenging but very rewarding. She also competes in Spartan Races, a series of obstacle races of varying distances and difficulties.
Now during Covid, by the time she finishes teaching each day, there is a curfew, so after sitting in front of a computer for 7 or 8 hours, she pretty much sits some more. Spending so much time at home also means more elaborate home cooked meals so she is eating a little more than she normally would without an opportunity to burn it off. That combined with a slower metabolism, not uncommon as we age, has resulted in Sally gaining a little weight back. Her confidence has taken a blow but she is always sure to stay optimistic. “I struggle with imposter syndrome and also body-confidence ( which is omni-present on my insta ) but, this is all part of the journey and I need to learn from it in order to better help others.” She notices that at 53, she is better able to keep the reality of her situation, weight gain and inability to do sports, in perspective much better than she could at 30 0r 40.
She is able to focus on the bright side. She will lose weight the right way when she is able to. She still has a very high muscle mass from working out. She is a healthy and strong “mum” to her 3 kids, “in both body and mind.” And she is in a healthy and loving relationship.
We don’t want to say “current” husband about Delfin, the man Sally is married to now because it implies he is not forever. As adorable as they are together, we believe they are forever! She says, she “met him online and we dated long distance for 4 years ( with occasional visits). It was a huge deal as he is much younger and so obviously we got all the typical comments from friends and family alike — “be careful ! He will leave you when you’re older ! He just wants a visa! You can’t give him kids..etc but 7 years later we’re married, physically together and wonderfully happy.” GOOD FOR THEM. “He is everything I never had first time round — I feel free but supported in everything I do — He is attentive and caring and wakes up with a smile on his face. I never gave up thinking that we all deserve LOVE and then trusted my heart rather than other people’s views on my relationship.”
“I am a great believer in the possibilities of life. You can literally do anything. It might not be easy but you are the only person holding yourself back. A colleague at work asked me if I shouldn’t do a bit less ( stop doing Spartan’s as there’s an age for everything ) so I went to Paris and came 4th in my age category for Paris Stade de France Spartan race. The best thing is having shown my children that they also can do anything…It’s not just words …I lead by example and they were my motivating force.”
You can follow Sally on Instagram @sallyb_holistically and at www.holisticallyhealthyme.com
