A look into Erica’s photoshoot for the 40 over 40 series, Redefining Beautiful!

This week’s feature stars the beautiful and fabulously 40 Erica who is an absolute delight!

She is a teacher and one of the most caring and thoughtful people you’ll meet and a total blast to hang out with! Her love of music and travel make for some great stories and I cannot wait to share with you her story.

So here are her words…

What was your motivation for doing this photoshoot? / Why did you choose to take part in this project?: Erin is a very talented photographer, and I've been wanting to have a photoshoot with her for a while. I also have not had my photos done professionally in a long time. I kept telling myself "when I lose weight," but the reality is, I need to embrace who I am right now.

How old are you now? : I turned 40 in May of 2022

How do you feel about being __ (years old). : I feel great! Every year has gotten better and better, so I'm excited to start this new decade.

What is your most powerful trait? : I am very outgoing! I have always thought of myself as a "natural communicator." This has also been detrimental to some of my relationships however, so learning to harness that ability is a constantly evolving task.

When do you feel most confident? : I feel most confident when I feel like I've had a successful day at work. I've done so many different things over the years, and I feel like my current occupation (teaching), forces me to learn something new about myself and my surroundings/environment everyday. It's a real adjustment understanding new content or implementing new district initiatives, not to mention how challenging virtual learning was. So many people left education, and there were some days I really thought I was going to be one of them, but this year is my eighth year, and I finally feel like I am doing a pretty good job.

When do you feel the most beautiful? : I feel most beautiful when I am comfortable!! I love a good pair of jeans or a great pair of black leather boots. That will also kick up my confidence as well! It's fun to dress up for special occasions, but I often feel like I don't look like myself, which causes me to fidget or be super self-conscious.

How has your relationship with time changed as you've gotten older? : It just goes by faster and faster, but I am trying so hard to make the conscious effort to appreciate the present and be excited for the future. I think I used to really dwell in the past a lot, and didn't really see myself having much of a future. It's kind of sad to think that, but I really didn't until recently. Especially when I actually turned 40. I was super afraid I was going to have a reaction to it (I did not handle 29 well), but I didn't, and I think that speaks to how much my views have changed.

How has your relationship with yourself changed? : I try really hard to appreciate how far I've come. Everything I have is a product of hard work. I have put on some weight these last five years, but I've also acquired way more responsibility than I've ever had. I can be hard on myself about my appearance, but I have to remind myself how different my life is now. I am often my worst critic, and my best friend frequently tells me to be kinder to myself, so I am also working on that.

What would you tell your 20 year old self? : To focus more on what you want, and to stop giving so much attention to people who do not deserve it. I wasted so many years crying about boys, when I should have just focused on what I wanted. Focused on my writing, my photography, my art, or anything else that used to be important to me. My girlfriends and I have recently started skating again, and I forgot how much fun it was! I am trying harder to nurture the things that make me feel happy and creative.

What advice would you give to a 10 year old girl?: Nurture all of the things that make you feel happy. Create something. Anything.

What do you value most now? : My relationships, which I think I've always valued a lot, but I've recently made it a goal to really nurture (there's that word again) those relationships. Especially with my girlfriends. It was my resolution this year, and I really feel I've accomplished that. I try very hard not to waste time on people who do not want my time. This is a lesson it took me years to learn, but I finally feel like I only have very good friends in my life now.

What are your ambitions? / What are you looking forward to?: I am looking forward to whatever is next. I know this will not always be my life. I am not always going to be a teacher. I told myself I would do it for 10 years (which is longer than I've ever done any one thing), and then I want to move on and do something else. Hopefully something more creative. I've been dabbling in a bunch of new hobbies lately, and I'm just trying to do something other than watch TV in my spare time. Thought I really do love TV :)

What beliefs about women growing older would you like to change? : I think women should be able to wear and do whatever makes them feel happy and confident. I will probably always love my jeans, boots, and (faux) fur coats. I love going to metal concerts and getting tattoos, and I will probably always love those things no matter my age. Though I am pretty sure the tattoos hurt more and more with each passing year!

How has participating in this project been for you? : I am so very happy with the way the photos turned out! I am not usually very happy with photos of myself, so I was skeptical, and honestly worried I would be super critical, not of Erin's skills, but of myself. I think seeing these photos made me feel good about who I've grown into. They had a very positive impact on my personal view.

What would you tell someone thinking of participating in this project? : I'd say do it! Don't wait until "whatever criteria you are setting for yourself." Photos are great markers of time and growth. I look at old photos and think of how far I've come. Maybe one day, I will look at these and hopefully think the same. I hope to never feel like I am done growing, but I really need to appreciate the person I am at this moment. I think these photos do that for me.

Want to take part in this series? I’d love to talk with you!