Episode 7 - Leading Through the Hardest Year

What happens when you have to lead an organization during the hardest year of your life?

In this episode of She Shed Unfiltered, Donna sits down with two members of her Senior Leadership Team, Michelle and Vanessa, to reflect on what it looked like to lead through personal trauma while still showing up every day as a CEO.

Recorded on the one-year anniversary of a life-changing moment, this conversation explores the reality behind the scenes of leadership during a personal crisis.

The days when showing up at 40% was the best that could be done.
The quiet ways a team steps in to carry the load.
And the women who supported Donna when she didn’t have much left to give.

Michelle and Vanessa are just two of the women who lifted Donna up during that year — the ones at work who stepped in and carried more when she couldn’t.

Co-host Meg frames the episode and joins Donna at the end for a reflection on resilience, vulnerability in leadership, and why no one should have to navigate hard seasons alone.

This episode isn’t about the moment everything fell apart.

It’s about the people who helped hold everything together.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:05

Welcome to Shape Shed Unfiltered. This is not a podcast for perfect women or polite conversations. This is for the women who've been divorced, dismissed, worked out, betrayed, and still somehow managed to show up, get shit done, and keep everyone else still alive. There'll be laughter, there may be tears, and you might even say, did they really say that shit? Just real women, real stories, and the kind of honesty that usually happens after the second glass of wine. The first season of She Shed Unfiltered is about the things we learned the hard way. The lessons no one warned us about. The moments that changed us. Whether we were ready or not. I'm Donna. And I'm Meg.

SPEAKER_03 0:52

Before we jump into today's episode, I want to share a little context here. I actually only met Donna about three months ago, and in that short time, we've built something really special together with She Shed Unfiltered. Recently, Donna told me about a conversation she recorded with two women from her leadership team, and women she considers really good friends now, on the one year anniversary of a really difficult moment in her life, the day her world changed in a way she had never expected. What I love about this conversation is that it isn't about blame or anger. It's about what it looks like when women really show up for each other during the hardest seasons of our lives. So what you're about to hear is a very real, very honest conversation between Donna and two women who were beside her during that year. And after the recording, Donna and I will come back and reflect a little bit on what it means now, one year later.

SPEAKER_00 1:53

All right, we're stripping in the shed today. Saving some hot flash. Today marks one year since my life changed overnight. One year since he left. And I'm not recording this episode alone. Because the truth is, I didn't survive this year alone. The women sitting with me today are my my amazing co-workers. The women who carried the load, who stepped up when I was not a hundred percent. And when I say I was not a hundred percent, I mean I was barely 40% most days. And honestly, that might be generous. I showed up, but I wasn't fully there. I was grieving, I was in shock, I was trying to lead while my personal life was imploding. And these women, they carried me without fanfare, without resentment, without making me feel small. So today isn't about heartbreak. It's about what happens when strong women hold each other up. And I just want to say thank you publicly to both of you, Michelle and Vanessa. So, first of all, be honest. Even though your reviews are coming up, it does not matter. What was I like last year?

SPEAKER_02 3:11

Um I don't think you're giving yourself enough credit, first of all, because I think work was your happy place. And I think you you came to the office and you showed up. You might not have been a hundred percent, um, but you you you were there. Um, and um I think there were lots of tears behind closed doors, and we had many of those moments over the year. Um, but um, but yeah, I think I think I don't think you're giving yourself enough credit.

SPEAKER_01 3:43

And I agree with Vanessa. I don't think you give yourself enough credit, and I mean, yes, we're your co-workers, but we're also your friends. And I think we just lift each other up because that's what friends do. Yeah. Were you worried about me? Oh, 100%. Every time every day. All the time. Yeah. We had we had private conversations, not behind your back, but behind your back, kind of, you know, just asking each other what each other thought and if there was anything that we thought we could do to help you get through.

SPEAKER_02 4:17

Yeah, there was lots of conversations of, you know, what what can we do to support Donna? Um, because I think the last year of your life has been very unfair in many ways. And um, we talked about this last night, how you know what happened in the last year of your life most people don't experience in a lifetime.

SPEAKER_01 4:37

I can't believe what you've gone through in the last year in your life. It just seemed like every other week there was something, and not just a small something. It was a life-changing thing that just the cycle just seemed to go on forever.

SPEAKER_02 4:50

I know people are like, wow, you have bad luck. Yeah, it was a it's a cycle, but it's coming to an end.

SPEAKER_00 4:56

We've uh knock on wood. Yeah, knock on wood. Yep. Did you ever think how is she still functioning? Absolutely. Every day.

SPEAKER_02 5:05

Yeah. You you carried more on your back than, like I said, most people would have um in a lifetime, and and you, you know, you showed up and you continued to try to figure it out because you had to.

SPEAKER_01 5:18

Yeah, and I mean we were generally concerned about you, and you know, we wanted to help as much as we could. And I mean, even though you went through all those rough times, you were still there for us. You, you know, you came through when you had to for sure, and if we needed you, we knew you were just a phone call away.

SPEAKER_00 5:36

So Well, I couldn't have done it without the two of you guys. You've been such a important part of my life, and and like you said, we're not just coworkers. I consider you guys two of my very closest friends. Um so I want you to be really honest with me. I really want to know, and I think it's important for our audience to know. What did both of you carry that I probably didn't even realize you were carrying? Like extra decisions, uh emotional steadiness, you know, protecting me, filling in gaps, shielding the team, like I all of that.

SPEAKER_01 6:15

Yeah, I think both of us did all that. I seen Vanessa doing it. Um, I know I definitely did it. I think all of those things we came together as a team and held you up.

SPEAKER_00 6:28

Yeah, you definitely did.

SPEAKER_02 6:30

And I think though we did a lot of the the shielding and and protecting, and you know, I think most people at work had an idea because you're very open and honest and raw with what was happening. Um, so people knew what was going on, but you know, I think we we all worked together um to make sure that you know, if you if you weren't there or um, you know, if you needed some time that your absence wasn't necessarily felt in a negative way. Um, like Michelle said, we just all worked together to just to make work function.

SPEAKER_01 7:05

And it wasn't always easy. There were hard days. There were days where you know I wasn't in that great of a mood and I had to come into work, and even though you know you were going through your thing, poor Vanessa would have to listen to the bitching and moaning that we would do, and you know, she always brought you back down to life.

SPEAKER_02 7:25

Yeah, but we all bounce off each other, and I think that's important. Um we were all there for each other, and there's been times when you were going through your stuff and I would come in and I'd be complaining about something, and you know, you would help me and talk me through it, and so it's definitely yeah.

SPEAKER_00 7:40

I think that's what makes us such a strong team. I mean, we have when I look at our senior leadership team, you guys are you know a part of that, and and even our other co-workers, you know, whether whatever your position was, you know, we we all support one another, and I think we're really lucky that um we've we have all created that kind of environment. I know you guys both felt overextended during that period of time because it wasn't just it wasn't just the breakup, it was, you know, my car catching on fire and my well collapsing and then my sister passing away. So it wasn't like, okay, we're gonna get her through, you know, the first couple of weeks or the first couple of months of this breakup. It was like March until December. You know, it was a long time. And um was there any, and this is not like I'm not putting you guys on the spot. This is about you know, showing vulnerability as a leader and also you guys feeling overextended. I know um, you know, Michelle, you and I had that conversation a few times because we had a lot going on. Um I don't think Vanessa, we ever really talked about it if you felt overextended during that time. Are you are you upset because I didn't have to answer? Yeah, was was there like was there resentment?

SPEAKER_02 9:07

No, I don't think there's ever resentment because you and I have been friends before we were colleagues, and um I feel like my nature is pretty easygoing, and it's just I see that there's a job to be done, you just need to get it done. Um but um you know I think where the most stress came from me um was a little bit of work, but it was more so on the personal side of things. We we talked a bit about worrying about you, and it was my mind was always going of how how can I help Donna?

SPEAKER_00 9:42

You were always like coming up with you'd call me and like I have this, did you you I called this person and they're gonna call you and then they're gonna come and see you, and I'm like, oh my god. Okay.

SPEAKER_02 9:52

And and that's and I wanted to help more, right? I want it to um try to help solve your problems. Um so my my mind was sort of always going of you know, where can I get a well? How can I get water in her house? Um, but yeah, I think you know, um getting back to us being friends and you know, we're we're all friends. I think we all get along um very well. And I don't have many closer other friends, that's for sure. Well, we spent a lot of time together at work, and then we spent a lot of time together outside of work.

SPEAKER_00 10:28

Yep, that's for sure. Um when did you guys see me coming back? Like, I mean, not physically, mentally and emotionally. Or am I back?

SPEAKER_01 10:40

It's a really long pause. I don't think you're back yet, I'll be honest. I think you're on the way. I've definitely seen glimpses of the old Donna and that that spirit, that look that you get in your eyes when you're going after something sometimes. I've definitely seen that come around, which I hadn't seen for a long time. But I'm gonna say January, I think, was where I noticed the bigger difference that strength, that strong person, instead of feeling knocked down, you were ready to get back up.

SPEAKER_02 11:14

But the I think that's the same time that the podcast was coming through, too. So um that gave you a focus um and it you'd been working towards a goal, and that goal was coming to fruition. So you were um feeling success with something when so many things over the last year have beat you down. So to no fault of your own, right? Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 11:41

Yeah, I definitely feel like there's a different version of me now. I said it in one podcast that I'm worried that the person I was seven or eight years ago might not ever come back, but hopefully the person who ends up uh you know coming out of this is stronger. Um but I do feel like there's been a shift in that whether Michelle, like you said, that like drive or passion that I have, I still have that, but I'm I don't know, maybe it's I'm guarded a little bit more, maybe I'm still grieving my sister. Like that that that loss is huge. And then, you know, just knowing that like Nelly is you know sick and you know could leave me any day.

SPEAKER_01 12:30

So like my heart's still heavy, but and we can feel that definitely, like we know that you know Nelly is probably going to be the next terrible thing to happen in your life, and then you know, we still don't know where you're at with the home, and you know, so it's it's not that it's over, but it's definitely you've gotten stronger since this has started, and I can see you shifting into pulling all that in and getting back on that straight path that you want to be on.

SPEAKER_02 13:07

But I would never expect you to be the same person after everything that you went through because everything that you experience definitely has an impact on your life. And over the last seven years, especially, like you, you know, you change as a person, you grow, all of the bot cells in your body change over seven years, so you are a new person, and everything that uh has happened to you has affected you, and whether you it's positive or negative, you learn something from it. And um, you know, you you definitely would be uh a different person. And I don't think it's for for I don't think it's bad, I think it's great. I think that you showed that you are strong and that you can do hard things and that you're still here and you're still trying to figure everything out, and you will, and we have confidence that you will.

SPEAKER_01 13:53

You're you're evolving, and not only are you evolving, but look what you're the example that you're setting for your daughter, right? Like that, you know, shit can take you out, you can get knocked down, but you can also get back up. So I think those are all great lessons that you know Lexi gets to see and Rowan for that matter.

SPEAKER_00 14:15

Yeah, no, definitely for sure. Uh even at the worst moments when I was like on the floor crying, you know, they they see that, but then they also see like, okay, she like wiped her tears, you know, got back up and she kept on going. So a little mini rapid fire. One word to describe me last year. Sad broken. One word to describe me right now. Fighter. Champion. One leadership quality that you see in me through everything that kind of has happened, like just the strength that you've shown to get through what you've gotten through and to still be there for us and lead us, and even if it it wasn't in the same way it was the year previously, you were still there, you still supported us, and you were able to do that through all that tears and heartache and everything else you were going through.

SPEAKER_02 15:19

I honestly feel that most people would have like taken sick leave or just went off work with everything.

SPEAKER_01 15:26

To be honest, we were waiting for that to happen.

SPEAKER_02 15:28

Yeah. Because it you would have made sense.

SPEAKER_00 15:32

Definitely. Yeah. I need it, you guys. Like I need it work and I need it, like I knew that when I was showing up, I wasn't showing up fully, but I had to show up. I think I would have I I don't think I would have made it through last year without without work, without you guys, without something to focus on. And um, you know, that's kind of where I have to lean in is like you know, to that comfort. And work is comfort for me, and and you guys are also like that big support.

SPEAKER_02 16:06

Um I think work was your safe place though, and it was where positive things were happening. Yes, yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 16:12

So it was a happy well wasn't collapsing at work exactly. And any little thing that happened, it was like, oh, that's no big deal. We're okay, we got this, guys. It's manageable. Yeah. In the grand scheme of things, oh that's no no problem at all.

unknown 16:27

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 16:27

Um, do you see a boundary that I won't bend anymore?

SPEAKER_02 16:33

That's a good question. That is a good question. Boundary you won't bend.

SPEAKER_01 16:39

No, I think trust is a big thing for you. I think it always has been. It was a year ago, two years ago, three years ago. And I definitely don't see you bending that boundary at all. I think you're you trust until you're given a reason to not be trusted.

SPEAKER_02 16:56

Um I don't know if you've ever bent bended boundaries that you've had. That's what I'm hung up on because I think you're a very strong woman and um you don't let people walk over you. So I don't think that you do let boundaries be bent. And I don't think you will in the future. I think this only strengthened that.

SPEAKER_01 17:16

Yeah, I don't think you ever have bent your boundaries. I think you've always, you know, held them to a certain standard, and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 17:27

Yep. Well, I think that you guys have that as well. I think, you know, the integrity and um that that we have as a team and as friends, and that piece is so important. And and also, as you know, uh, from working with me, but also knowing me personally, trust is, you know, I will trust people until until they break that trust, and then it we're done, right? Like, and I've always said that even at work, like I don't care what you've done, if there's a mistake, if you totally screw things up, just tell me and we'll fix it together, but don't hide it from me and don't lie about it. And um because I just think that we're a team, we get through it together, and and trust is the way that we can do that. Like, for me to be able to, I mean, I didn't walk away from work for a year. I still showed up most days, but I trusted you guys. Like, I didn't have to worry at all. And I just want you guys to know how much I love and appreciate you guys, and that I don't I know I one I don't even have to say I think, I don't think, I know I would not have survived this past year without the two of you. So thank you. And thanks for coming on the podcast, even though I forced you to do it.

SPEAKER_01 18:50

Just remember you're stronger than anything you are.

SPEAKER_00 18:52

That's right.

SPEAKER_03 18:54

What I really loved listening to that episode, honestly, with the three of you ladies was the mutual support and the ability to be truly vulnerable with each other. I mean, you're in a professional environment, which you mentioned a couple of times during the episode, but you were still able to strike that balance where you were working for and with each other, but also supporting each other personally and really being honest with each other and uh you know, which was very important, especially through those tough times. That as you said, from March to December. So I mean, that's basically a full year, that's a long time to go through what you went through. And um, you know, I also really liked what you said, Donna, about uh leading with vulnerability, you know, not not pretending that everything is fine, not putting on a mask at work. So I would love to hear kind of a little bit of perspective from you on how you felt during that time. Um, you know, just just being honest and really showing up as you were.

SPEAKER_00 20:05

Yeah, I mean, it was so tough at first, and honestly, I hid it a little bit from everyone except for uh Michelle and Vanessa. And um, you know, we have a big team, and I I just I also wasn't even sure what was happening between my ex and I. Like, was it just something temporary or was it permanent? So, you know, you don't want to give too much away or share too much of your your story, but of course, um we've always supported one another, and I've always tried to lead with that emotional intelligence for my team because we're all humans and life goes on around us, you know, whether it's a separation or divorce or a parent dying or somebody getting sick in your family, like we've all kind of gone through it, and I want my team to feel supported, you know, if something major is going on in their life, like it's okay. Work is work, your personal life is so important. That comes first, right? Your family comes before everything, and it's important for me to lead by example. Um, and I have just a really professional team, like we get the job done, whatever that takes. So, yeah, at first it was really hard to like talk about everything, just the support around me, so amazing. Because I lead by um being vulnerable, it allows my team to feel that way, that they can be that way as well. And and it's it's okay, right? It's okay if we're struggling with something. We're here.

SPEAKER_03 21:47

Yeah, I really like what you said by about leading by example because if you are honest about what you're going through, I mean high level, you're not gonna tell your whole team all the nitty-gritty details, you know, with within appropriate. Boundaries, of course, um, within, like you said, your your senior leadership team, folks that you can trust, but they need to understand where you're at and how that impacts your working life and your day-to-day, right? And then that also gives them the sense of safety where if they're going through something that may for better or for worse impact their working life, they can come to you and talk about that and you will be there and understand because you've been through some stuff and they're aware. So I think that's really important as a leader.

SPEAKER_00 22:32

Exactly. And the other thing is it's just being transparent. If I didn't tell them and I'm coming in and you know, I'm there for an hour and or two hours, and then I'm like, I have to go. Or if I'm calling in and just saying I'm not coming in today, like how like what rabbit holes could they start going down? Yeah, right.

SPEAKER_03 22:51

That's so true.

SPEAKER_00 22:52

And so for me, it's just I've always been someone who's very transparent, and you know, I keep my teams in the loop for what they need to know, right? But I just find when you don't communicate and you're not transparent, then people start to, you know, create their own narrative or start to worry. And so at least this way they knew that, you know, oh, she's not leaving us, she's just going through, you know, some personal stuff. And um, because there were days I would come in and somebody would come to my door and they would look at me and they're like, Are you okay? And I would just ball, right? So hard. And uh, you know, there were just days I just couldn't be there. Of course. Um, and and then that was okay. And then uh, you know, I worked from home a lot because it was easier to cry at my desk at home than it was to cry in an office where there's 30 people coming and going.

SPEAKER_03 23:45

Absolutely. Yeah, that's very relatable for me because I was in a job during the pandemic where um, you know, many of us had to work from home who were previously in the office, and honestly for me, that was a blessing in disguise because I was going through my divorce. So I was absolutely taking crying and hyperventilating breaks between calls, etc., meetings with like 12 people, and that was my saving grace because I actually, because I was new to the role, um, I did not feel comfortable sharing that uh with with some of my team members, especially early days when it was really raw. Um, I eventually confided in a few folks, but uh yeah, you need to you need to find that balance and just for your sanity to be able to take those breaks and and process and not necessarily, you know, in front of your whole team.

SPEAKER_00 24:33

Well, exactly, because I mean you're supposed to be this strong leader, and then if they see you like falling apart, it's like, oh my god, like do they think that I can't lead? Or you know, and I remember being nervous telling my board chair because I knew I knew I wasn't, you know, I'm somebody who gives 110%. And, you know, there were days when I was barely giving 40%, and I'm like, okay, I can't let this affect my performance, of course, right, without, you know, some kind of conversation. And I and I remember being like so nervous. And again, I have like an incredible, not only team, but I have an incredible board of directors. Yeah. And my board chair was just, you know, so good about it. And he was like, whatever you need, take time. And you know, he didn't share it with the entire board. He's like, This is the this is between you and I. Like that's so respectful. Yeah, so respectful. And and um, you know, if I I think I told like one or two other board members probably three or four months down the road, yeah. But it was just good to know like I had that support and not just from the team, but from my boss as well, right?

SPEAKER_03 25:45

Uh okay, so for the record, one thing I should say is, you know, you talked a lot in this episode about um how supportive your team members were, and you know how you went through a lot emotionally, mentally, intellectually, but the Donna that I met three or four months ago, I would never have guessed any of that. I definitely you felt you seemed very put together, driven, passionate. You knew what you wanted to do. You were very focused in terms of what you wanted to accomplish with the podcast. So obviously I learned more about you gradually as we got to know each other, which was great as it should be, but I would never have guessed anything that you talked about on this episode when we first met.

SPEAKER_00 26:34

By the time I met you as well, I was feeling I was getting my confidence back in who I was. And really, you know, my sister passed away on October 2nd, and I think we met early December or late November. That's right. Yes. And um, I think you know, my sister kind of gave me that inner strength to like push forward, and um I was a different person, a different version of me when we met. And I think I I'd be curious, like, have you seen trying not I'm not trying to make this whole episode about me as a leader and then as a partner uh on the podcast. Have you seen a change? A change. Like, have you seen a change in me from that first meeting to like three months into the podcast?

SPEAKER_03 27:24

Yeah, I would say increased confidence overall. Um, and I feel like you and I have gotten into a bit of a groove. I think there was mutual um case of a bit of the nerves because we were excited to embark on this adventure together, but neither of us had started a podcast. I had no idea what we were doing. So there was some fumbling, but I think that was equal on both sides, because you know, new to both of us. Um, but I feel like we've kind of fallen into a groove, which I'm excited about, and you're really easy to talk to. Um, it really excites me that people thought we'd known each other for years. I know. I feel like that's a huge compliment. I'm like, oh, thank you guys. So I feel like, you know, um good chemistry is there, but yeah, I would say overall, like just um clarity of your kind of mission as far as she shed goes, and also just um boost in confidence, which is awesome to see from where I'm sitting.

SPEAKER_00 28:19

Yeah, no, thank you. One of the things that this past year has helped with whether whether it's a personality trait or just like always being, you know, in charge. Yeah. Um, and you probably see this sometimes in me that I am a control freak. Um, and I tend to like just do things myself. But because I've had to lean on my team so much over the past year, Michelle mentioned it, trust is huge for me. I need to um, you know, trust the process and trust that it's being done. But I do like sometimes because you guys don't know me, I'm like, they probably think I'm a controlling bitch. But it's really just like I'm just so used to like doing it. Yes, I have a very hard time like with delegation, and I'm like it's something over the years I've worked on, and I have a team that I trust now, and and like I said, I was able to like step away for a little bit and know that everything was getting done. And so um, you know, sometimes I just get inside my head, I'm like, oh my god, they probably the she shed team, they probably think like she's so like controlling, but it really is just I I get very passionate about what I'm doing, whether it's I do have a hard time letting things go.

SPEAKER_03 29:38

It's honestly relatable for me because I feel like that's one of the reasons why I wanted to go into business for myself, because um, I'd been in so many experiences where you work with um challenging or just very different personalities, and I definitely have a control freaky streak as well. Like I'm very uh open about that. So, I mean, a lot of these projects through my company I will take on solo, um, which is easier because then you have that direct line with a client. Um, and I can just let my control freaky flag fly. Say that five times fast. But uh it's it's helpful for me, I feel. And then also for larger projects, I do recruit um other consultants or freelancers to build a team, and then I have to remind myself, okay, this is a joint effort. We have to really set expectations up front, say who's doing what so that I'm being respectful of everyone else and not stepping on any toes. But I mean, the beautiful thing about that is I choose collaborators that I love and respect the people. I've worked with them before, I know they're good at what they do, that like we just vibe well because we've worked together before. So I feel like I'm very spoiled in that regard. Or like I have a short list of folks.

SPEAKER_00 30:59

It makes a big difference when you know the people that you're working with and you know what their work ethic is and and like what levels they go to. Yeah. And so again, it's it comes down to that trust, right? So when you're working with other consultants that you've worked with before, you know, you know, you know the type of work they do, and you know that they're gonna meet the the timelines and they're gonna meet the budget and all of that stuff, right?

SPEAKER_03 31:24

And there's not gonna be those like awkward moments where I'm like, oh, I guess I just have to do it myself. No, I don't. Like my role is clear and their role is clear, right? And then we come together and collaborate when we need to. So uh so yeah, all that to say, yeah, I definitely don't think you're maybe a boss bitch, but not a bossy, not a bossy bitch. Uh and also kind of don't, I don't like the word bossy, I prefer assertive, but um, but yeah, I think you're just very um focused and you know what you want and you know how you want it done. But I mean, obviously in your current professional role, it sounds like you know, you manage a team, you understand the ins and outs of that. And I do think, based on what I know of you, that you have a pretty high EQ, which for folks who don't know is emotional intelligence. So I think that helps too, you know, when you're when you're managing people, because not everyone is destined to be an effective manager of people. I think there are a lot of good project managers out there, but I've met so many people managers that should just be managing projects and not human beings.

SPEAKER_00 32:29

Well, so yeah, I mean, I I remember I had uh someone working with me and they were surprised that I came out and talked to like restore staff and volunteers, and I'm like, what do you mean? They're part of the team.

SPEAKER_03 32:43

Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 32:43

And they're like, Well, nobody's afraid of you, and you're the CEO, people should be afraid of you. And I'm like, nobody, I don't want anybody afraid of me. That's such an old school way of thinking. But I was just like, wow, I couldn't imagine. Like, I've I've never I never want to be the person who sits on their throne and just tells people to do, like, or tell people what to do. Or be intimidating. No, I don't want people to be afraid of me. I want, I want, like, I know all the people that I work with, and I know the volunteers that come in and and work as well. And that's what I want. I want to know, like, you just had a new grandson, or you know, you have a new puppy, or you're going on a trip, or you're taking dance lessons. Like, I want to know that. I love that. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_03 33:29

I love that. As we close things out, I just want to say, Donna, thank you for being vulnerable about what the the last 10 to 12 months has brought into your life. Maybe we'd like to think a little too much character building. Hopefully, there will be a little bit less of that in future, and you can just, you know, enjoy yourself. Uh, but I'm really happy that you invited Vanessa and Michelle into the shed and had that honest conversation. And I have to say, I really enjoyed listening to it. This has been She Shed Unfiltered, where midlife isn't polished, it's real. From divorce and career pivots to perimenopause and everything no one warned us about. These are the honest conversations we've lived, survived, and shared with you today. Until next time, stay brave, be curious, and keep it unfiltered.