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“I’m Shulamit, a 58-year-old feminist, anarchist Jewitch. I grew up as a latch-key kid and am a survivor of multiple sexual assaults and domestic violence. Without glamorizing it, I will say I have become very resilient, independent, and compassionate as a result and I love that about myself. I live in rural southeastern Ontario with my beloved husband, 2 draft horses, 2 barn cats, 1 house cat, and a rescued English Shepherd. When I’m not meeting with clients in my role as the Entrepreneurs’ Therapist, writing my book, or resting, I am learning to sing bluegrass and old-timey style or knitting while listening to audiobooks. My two favorite literary genres are feminist sci-fi and contemporary romance. I’m an enthusiastic newbie knitter (but honestly it’s just an excuse to buy yarn), and I love a good knit-along or sing-along.”
You can connect with Shulamit on Instagram.
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IN WHICH GENERATION DO YOU BELONG?
Generation Jones: 1955 – 1964
DO YOU WORK? IF SO, WHAT DO YOU DO?
I’m the Entrepreneurs’ Therapist. I provide emotional support for women entrepreneurs and business owners as they ride the emotional rollercoaster of running a business.
HOW ARE YOU MOST DIFFERENT FROM THE 25-YEAR-OLD VERSION OF YOU?
I’m wiser. I have perspective. And I’ve become more resilient.
My experiences and history of adversity have shown me how every time, things eventually worked out for me. They didn’t work out the way I had hoped or planned or even how I wanted them to. The outcome was never what I could have imagined. I certainly never wished for whatever bad thing was happening. Yet, every time, it eventually turned out that I was OK. I decided to tell myself the story that everything works out for me. I set an alarm on my phone for a reminder every day.
Bad things are hard, sometimes really hard, but I have ways to manage better now than I did in my 20s. To me, that’s wisdom and perspective that serve resilience.
GOOD OR BAD, WHAT ABOUT MIDLIFE HAS SURPRISED YOU SO FAR?
Body changes. I didn’t think I had “body image” issues until my body started changing. Then I had to confront internalized ableism and ageism.
WHAT ONE HABIT ARE YOU ACTIVELY WORKING ON THESE DAYS?
I will be having hip replacement surgery in September 2022. I have been unable to walk more than a few steps for about a year and my focus for this coming year is regaining my mobility. This means re-introducing movement habits like walking and physiotherapy daily.
Update: Shulamit did have hip replacement surgery, which was a success. Last time I checked with her, this is what she had to say: “I’m celebrating walking (with a cane) outside every day. What a joy! Until the surgery I hadn’t been able to walk more than a few steps with a walker.”
WHAT BRINGS YOU THE MOST JOY THESE DAYS AND WHY?
Knitting and listening to contemporary romances on audiobook, especially those with characters and authors who are LGBTQI2S++, Black, Indigenous and of the global majority.
WHAT ARE YOU MOST EXCITED ABOUT THESE DAYS?
My book. I’m writing a book on women entrepreneurship and mental health.
IF YOU COULD GIVE A 20-YEAR-OLD PERSON SOME WORDS OF WISDOM OR PIECE OF ADVICE, WHAT MIGHT IT BE?
Dive deeply into the practice of mindful self-compassion. Not as a thought or an idea or even acts of self-kindness and self-care, but deeply, as a moment-to-moment practice and as a way of relating to yourself.
AND THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION: WHO WAS YOUR FAVORITE SINGER/BAND GROWING UP?
Cocteau Twins
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