The Book
This book is being written in real time — shaped by women living midlife as it actually is.
Not edited for comfort.
Not cleaned up for appearances.
Just honest, human truth from the middle of it all.
A Book Built From Real Voices
This isn’t a guide written about women.
It’s a book created with women — built from shared stories, survey responses, laughter, tears, and moments of recognition.
It reflects the questions women ask quietly.
The experiences no one prepared us for.
And the strength we discover along the way.
Every story shared helps shape what this book becomes.
Soul's Story
IG: soulselections
Confidence Was Her First Ingredient
Some people walk into your life quietly and, before you realize it, they’ve become someone you treasure. That’s Soul.
I first met her several years ago when she was helping with one of my many ambitious food projects. We clicked immediately, but as our friendship grew, I realized there was so much more to her than the accomplished chef everyone sees on television.
Behind the smile is a woman who carries herself with a quiet confidence. She’s never the loudest person in the room, yet there’s something about her presence that makes you want to listen.
When I asked Soul where that confidence came from, her answer was beautifully simple.
“It was nurtured.”
She grew up in a home where her parents believed in her long before she learned to believe in herself. Her older brother constantly reminded her she was capable, and today her husband continues to encourage her every step of the way.
“I think one of the greatest gifts you can give someone is confidence,” she told me. “It can change lives.”
It’s a gift she’s now passing on to her son, Noah.
That confidence doesn’t mean life has been easy.
As one of the few women working at the highest levels of the culinary world, Soul has faced criticism, judgment and the pressure that comes with working in a profession still largely dominated by men.
People have even mistaken her confidence for arrogance.
“I used to worry about that,” she admitted. “Now I know who I am. My values and the way I treat people speak much louder than first impressions.”
One of my favorite moments from our conversation came when I asked if she’d ever thought about giving up on her dream.
She smiled before sharing the question that has guided her through life’s biggest decisions.
“Would I regret trying, or would I regret not trying?”
It’s a question she asks herself whenever she’s faced with a difficult choice. Whether it’s a new job, a new opportunity or a leap into the unknown, she’d rather try than spend the rest of her life wondering, What if?
For Soul, confidence isn’t the absence of fear. It’s having the courage to keep moving despite it.
When I asked what Not Done Yet means to her, her answer couldn’t have been more fitting.
“It means never getting comfortable. The moment you become too comfortable is the moment you stop dreaming, stop growing and stop achieving. I’m proud of everything I’ve accomplished, but my biggest chapter hasn’t been written yet.”
I couldn’t agree more.
Soul reminds us that confidence isn’t something we’re born with or something reserved for a select few. It can be nurtured, strengthened and shared. Sometimes all it takes is one person who believes in us before we’re able to believe in ourselves.
And perhaps that’s the greatest gift of all.
Your Story Matters Here
This book doesn’t exist without you.
Every story shared strengthens the whole.
Every voice added helps another woman feel less alone.
Selected contributors will always be contacted before any story is published. Nothing is shared without written permission.
Real Stories. Real Women.
Every spotlight here belongs to a woman who showed up honestly — with humor, grit, vulnerability, or all three.
These aren’t highlight reels.
They’re lived-in lives.
And somehow, reading them makes your own story feel a little more normal.