Fabulous40Plus: Kim Downey, 50
I am finding more time for myself to pursue my dreams and interest. I feel healthier and younger, I understand how to use my time wisely and how to surround myself with the right people and how to let go of people or things that don’t serve me.
I spend my leisure time with my kids, running, writing, reading or walking my dog.
I am highly motivated to do my best in anything I am pursuing at the moment; be it parenting, working, physical pursuit or creative pursuit. I am a lifelong learner who cares deeply about treating others well.
Taking running as a sport has been a major shift in my life, and I plan to run a 10k marathon race in the spring (2021) and who knows what will spring up from there. Running makes me challenge myself and seeing myself succeed in it gives me pleasure.
I am super excited about my future, this is the year I get to fulfill my childhood dreams but I am not sharing that yet LOL.
Every woman who’s had a baby feels self conscious about her body, specifically, mid section and thighs but I am working on this by eating well, exercising and taking care of my body. Even though there are no physical changes, the feelings about my body have changed.
“Beauty is confidence. But this doesn’t necessarily being bold and loud and fierce and having a take no prisoners attitude. That doesn’t necessarily suit everyone. Confidence can be quiet. It’s just knowing and loving who you are, and always adhering to your principles in your actions and words”
– Kim Downey
I am absolutely thrilled to be in my 50’s it has given me a clearly picture about who I am.
I am in a better space physically and mentally. I now understand what works for me and what doesn’t, what I need to feel my absolute best and what my boundaries are. I am so excited to be in this phase!
I am finding more time for myself to pursue my dreams and interest. I feel healthier and younger, I understand how to use my time wisely and how to surround myself with the right people and how to let go of people or things that don’t serve me.
I am not certain I have a “best feature” in terms of physical appearance but I do love my face and people always compliment my hair and I absolutely love the fact that I am calm thoughtful and not quick to react.
I see beauty in everyone and will have no problem expressing how beautiful any of my girlfriends. More importantly, though, my best friend is funny, kind, smart, and fun to hang out with. If she ever needs reminding of that, I will be quick to do so.
My first experience with professional photography was in my late 20s, I tried my hand at acting (I am not a natural actor, but I learned a lot from my attempt at it). I had professional headshots done. The headshots were absolutely beautiful, but the photographer had trouble capturing me. He kept telling me that I was hard to photograph. I’ve been quite camera-shy ever since.
After signing up for this photo shoot with Caroline, my biggest fear was that the camera would not be able to capture me as I really am, being that I am “hard to photograph”. Luckily, this didn’t happen! Seeing my pictures didn’t change the way I feel about myself it only affirmed what I feel about myself and it did make me consider wearing dresses more often.
I think that for any woman who is uneasy about “getting older”, the Confident Woman Project can help her shift her perspective on what a woman of a certain age looks like, and, more importantly, what they can do in life.
Are you a 40+ woman? Join the Fabulous40plus movement.
The Confident Woman project is celebrating Vancouver’s and Fraser Valley’s Fabulous40plus community. Your participation will include a portrait session that will change the way you see yourself, your special feature on blogposts like this and The Confident Woman magazine, your portrait exhibition at the end of the project and a new community with all the amazing Fabulous40plus women.