“What do you do?” a man asks me as we both wait to get a drink at a networking event. I stand there, hesitating. I don’t know how to answer his question. In fact, I’m frustrated that I have to find a succinct, five-words-or-less answer to his generic query.
I sigh, take a breath, and finally muster up the strength to say, “I own a corporate wellness company.” He fakes interest, I fake enthusiasm, and less than a minute later, we part ways. And, once again, I wonder why I even bother going to networking events. Such a frickin’ waste.
I am the owner of Aerobics, Yoga & More Fitness, a corporate wellness company. I am the producer of a line of fitness videos, Altheatized, that were internationally popular in the early 2000s. I am an outdoor enthusiast who leads at least two retreats a year to locations like Puerto Rico, the Grand Canyon, Cape Town South Africa and the Georgia Mountains. I am the author of the increasingly popular novel, Losing Control. I am a DJ and MC that is known for getting a party started and keeping it hype for hours. I am a voice over artist that has done the narration for infomercials, commercials and videos. I am an intuitive empath and spiritual healer who does chakra balancing, meditation and yoga with private clients. I am a certified fitness instructor and personal trainer who provides continuing education and certification training to budding instructors. I am a small business consultant to entrepreneurs just starting out.
Each and every one of these things brings me joy, is my passion and earns income. So how do I answer the question, “What do you do?”
Sometimes, I just don’t feel like answering the question at all, so I tell another truth. “I’m a stay-at-home mom.”
Well, I am. I’m home with my boys until they leave in the morning and home to talk with them when they get back. I’ve volunteered in their classes and been the field trip chaperone for fifteen years. I am the cool mom whose house is open to every teenager in the neighborhood any time of the day or night. I am the mom that takes everyone else’s kids with me on my summer road trip to Miami, Orlando, Chicago, Baltimore, New York or wherever I feel like driving for a week in the summer with a vanload of boys. I’ve done a summer road trip with my kids and at least one other child every year since 2000 when my older son was two. Young people bring me joy. They make me laugh. I like being around them. So, yeah, I’m a stay-at-home mom… with a few side hustles.
I’ve given myself a moniker – The Renaissance Woman. The dictionary definition of a renaissance man or woman is a person who is well educated and sophisticated. He or she has a talent and knowledge in many different fields of study. I think that fits who I am.
So now my answer to the question, “What do you do?” is…
“I’m the Renaissance Woman.”
