Perrysburg Pulse Magazine Perrysburg Pulse November | Page 15

because it all goes by in a blink? Yep,
they were right about that one, too. “The timing isn’t right. This can’t
happen now.”
And I’ve enjoyed most of it. Minus a
few awful relationships I shouldn’t have
been in and jobs I shouldn’t have taken.
And minus that period in my 20s when
I had absolutely no clue who I was and
what I was meant to do. To be honest, I did say that to myself,
every single time. My answer is what
made all the difference, “There’s
never a perfect time for anything.”
Followed by a “And really, what the
hell are you waiting for?”
When I think about the biggest
highlights so far, they seem to revolve
around the choices I’ve made (or have
been made for me) that led me to
something new and scary before I
thought I was ready. I love what Brené Brown wrote in her
book Wholehearted: “Midlife: when
the Universe grabs your shoulders
and tells you ‘I’m not f-ing around,
use the gifts you were given.’”
I could’ve waited longer to leave the
practice of law, hoping it got better or
more fulfilling or somehow I would
magically morph into the kind of
person who would love a career as a
litigator. Instead, I did the scary thing
and walked away and into a new career
and a new city where I had no contacts
and no clue what was ahead.
Our first son Nate came much earlier
than planned, the product of a “make
up session” from one of our biggest
fights ever. Was I ready to be a mom?
Was John out of med school yet? Did
this fit our plan? No, No and Hell No.
I was terrified, but that little nugget
ended up coming at the perfect time,
making me grow and stretch as a
human and learn a whole new level of
love.
Then there was starting my own direct
sales business. I could’ve easily said it
was a horrible time to add something
to my very full plate (a baby, a toddler,
a full PR client roster, community
volunteering, trying to lose baby
weight). But I got a bigger plate and, as
they say, the rest is history.
And intellectually it probably appeared
like a horrible time for me to write my
book. Our business was exploding, the
kids were getting busier with extra-
curricular activities, I was getting
busier with volunteering and
philanthropy, and we were going to be
spending a month traveling around
Australia. But I did it anyway.
I’m grateful that it didn’t take me to
mid-life to stop f-ing around and get
to the gifts I was given and to do the
things that I wanted. Yet with each
passing year, I’m f-ging around less
and less, saying No more and more
and unapologetically pursuing the
endeavors that I know will allow me
to serve others while also lighting up
my soul.
If you’re procrastinating the BIG
STUFF, it’s time you asked yourself
what the hell you’re waiting for. If
you have the courage to dig deep
enough, I bet you a big slice of
gluten-free birthday cake that at the
root of your hesitation is fear. Maybe
fear that you don’t have enough time.
But more likely fear that you can’t do
it, you won’t be good enough, you’ll
be judged, you don’t have what it
takes or you aren’t worthy. I know,
because I’ve asked myself all of these
and more.
Here’s what I know as I stare down
40+ birthday candles and countless
lessons learned: It’s always the perfect
time to go after what we really want.
As I blow out my candles, here’s my
wish for YOU: On your next
birthday you’ll be able to reflect on
the past year and declare, “That was
the age I stopped procrastinating the
BIG STUFF.”
It’s about time.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
ROMI NEUSTADT is a former
corporate chick (first a lawyer, then
a PR executive) who traded in the
billable hours for more time and
financial freedom through a career
in network marketing. She built a
lucrative business that's allowed her
and her doctor husband John to
design the life they really wanted.
She loves unlocking the potential
in others so they, too, can choose
how they live, work, parent and play.
Romi's book, Get Over Your Damn
Self: The No-BS Blueprint to Building a
Life-Changing Business, has consistently
ranked NO.1 on several Amazon lists
since its release in the Fall of 2016,
and received a GOLD AWARD from
the Nonfiction Authors Association.
Romi lives in San Diego with John and
their two proudest achievements,
Nate and Bebe, who are growing up
way too fast.
RomiNeustadt.com
It would’ve been really easy for me to
say to myself at all of these crossroads,
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