40 Over 40 Spotlight: Meet Katie

Meet Katie…Katie’s life is shaped by teaching, motherhood, movement, and deep appreciation for community. In her own words, she reflects on becoming a mother at 40, honoring loss, and finding joy in everyday moments—often outdoors and often in motion.

“I am a teacher, a new mom, and an outdoors enthusiast who loves art, nature, movement, and community connection. I live for northern Michigan summers, soaking up any chance to run with my Springer Spaniel, mountain bike with my husband, or take my toddler to the beach. These outdoor moments are my moving meditation, my self-care, and my reliable escape from the steady to-do list.”

“After becoming pregnant at 40 and fulfilling my long-held dream of becoming a mother, I shifted to part-time teaching to be present for my daughter’s early years. Life as a new mom has given me a surprising set of emerging superpowers: interpreting one-year-old babble, predicting nap-time mood swings, and locating missing socks with near-psychic accuracy. My daughter has quickly become both my greatest joy and her most adorable workout partner—I’ve learned that carrying a toddler definitely counts as strength training.”

“When I’m not running across town or running after a small child, I can be found in the garden—my happy place—where I grow vegetables, herbs, and a deep appreciation for plants resilient enough to survive mild neglect. Growing yard produce is my quiet counterbalance to a wonderfully full life. This past summer, I even turned it into a small source of income, setting up a farmstand offering yard-grown flowers and fruit.”

“Though loss and grief have shaped me—becoming a widow in my twenties and later caring for, and losing, my father in my thirties—I do my best to meet each day with appreciation, curiosity, and an open heart. More and more, I’m finding that joy lives in the small, ordinary moments—often outside, often in motion, and often through connection with others.”