ONE TOUGH MOTHER

MY INNER QUEEN

BY CHRISTINE PIACENTINO PHOTOS BY DOUG MITCHELL

My inner queen to identify the path to my newly empowered self

Recently, I found myself standing on the precipice of change. I lost who I am.

As a result of feeling off track most of my life, knowing that I will most likely outlive my son, and coming close to retirement age in the corporate world, I knew I needed help finding myself. women should marry, stay home, and have children. I didn’t feel that I fit that mold. I wanted to succeed in my own right. I wanted to attend college and succeed wildly. I did attend college and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and a minor in Computer Science.

I had to put some thought into it. Most of the time, I have stumbled into something, or it has been born from absolute necessity. I wanted to focus on understanding my true passion, and how I could develop it more to give me fulfillment and inspiration for my next chapter in life. I decided to work with Dr. Pam Denton and take her Jumpstart Your Red-Carpet Coaching Program. Her breathing and visualization techniques were fundamental to claiming my “HER” power. You may be asking why the “Red Carpet?”

• I wanted to find myself • I wanted to know my true purpose • I wanted to own my power. • I wanted to understand my true passions.

I spent my life proving that I was an intelligent, beautiful, and empowered woman. Self-doubt had crept into my psyche. My father had a 6th-grade education and owned a pool hall. My mother was a historical librarian. Many of my classmates didn’t think I was worthy of running in their circle because of my father’s occupation. I grew up in a very affluent town in New Hampshire. My father was a traditionalist. He thought I spent my career trying to succeed in a male-dominated world as an Information Systems Auditor in the Banking Industry and Software Quality Assurance Engineer in the manufacturing and pharma industries. I had learned to be successful in that world.

But I still felt that I wasn’t successful. I felt overlooked. I got married in my late 20’s. Marriage was something I didn’t plan or seek. My career was out of sync. My family’s needs came first as a wife and mother. Particularly to my son, who was diagnosed with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy at age 4. The Doctor’s told me he wouldn’t survive his early 20s. Accepting this diagnosis was heartbreaking. The initial few months after the diagnosis, I was angry, crying, and grieving for what I wanted his life to be and what my life would be. milestones were on track. When he was younger, he could do things independently and didn’t need my help. I have spent the last 24 years devoting my non-working hours to my son’s needs and finding the best care for him to continue to battle Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. I stretched my comfort zone while educating myself on this disease and creating a care team of experts when a standard of care didn’t exist. I worked full time, cared for my son, maintained my marriage, and raised my daughter. Now at 28, he needs assistance with all aspects of living.

To quote Jack London, “Life is not always a matter of holding good cards, but sometimes, playing a poor hand well.” I’ve always felt that life never gave me good cards, but I have learned to play poor hands. I’m still not sure if I’ve played them well or not.

After completing the Jumpstart Your Red-Carpet Coaching Program. I now know I am an intelligent, strong, and empowered woman. I have reclaimed my throne! Nothing can stop me; if I put my mind to accomplishing a goal, I can and will achieve it. Stretching your comfort zone to accomplish something is a good thing!

Join me at Your Red Carpet Event on September 24th, where I will share more of my story on stage. Discover your true purpose and power! Purchase your tickets; your time is now!

https://yourredcarpetevent.eventbrite.com

“Life is not always a matter of holding good cards, but sometimes, playing a poor hand well.”