Leslie Marchand: Finding Joy and Strength in Her 50s (50 Over 50 Portrait Experience, Vol. 1)

New here? Read the background to the 50 Over 50 Portrait Experience here, and all the campaign details here (including how to reserve your spot!).

One of the things about the 50 Over 50 Portrait experience that excited me most is the opportunity to share stories of everyday women who are incredible in their own right, and who have stories, wisdom, and life experiences to share. Giving a voice and a platform to a season of life that definitely has its challenges, but also offers real beauty and unique gifts, is an important part of the 50 Over 50 experience, and I’m delighted to bring you the first of 50 “volumes” of the Wise Women I’ve been fortunate enough to photograph.

I’ve been blessed to call Leslie Marchand a friend for more than 10 years. A mental health professional, mom, farmer, grandmom, avid gardener, and cancer survivor (just to name a few), Leslie has so much wisdom and encouragement to share. I can’t wait for you to get to know her!

The answers to the questions below are all Leslie’s answers. Enjoy her story!

How has your perspective on life changed as you've gotten older?

I’m a proud member of the “we do not care” club that has become a viral sensation among pre- and post-menopausal women on social media. It is much easier for me to focus on my own interests, dreams, and plans without worrying about other people’s opinions.

What is one thing you wish more people understood about women over 50?

We’re just getting started! Some (younger) people might think that someone should retire and start slowing down as they hit 50 and beyond. While I definitely do things differently than I did in my younger years, I literally feel like I’m just now hitting my stride. I’m proud of the life I’ve lived and my accomplishments to date, and I am so looking forward to what lies ahead.

What accomplishments are you most proud of at this stage in your life?

The day after my 50th birthday I received an email from a publishing company asking me to write a book! I was able to fulfill a lifelong dream of mine as I wrote two books over the course of the next year. Somewhere around the age of 47 my family ordered takeout food from a local Chinese restaurant. We sat around the table reading our fortunes from our fortune cookies to each other, and mine said “You will write a book someday.” That night I shared my dream with my family, and I declared that I would indeed write a book. I taped the fortune to my computer screen, where it stayed until I wrote my first book.

What are your hopes or dreams for the years ahead?

Oh girl, I’ve got BIG dreams and plans! I’m going to dig in the dirt and dig into my soul. I’m going to share with others about my journey finding health and happiness. I’m going to travel and explore the world. As I move through my 50s, I’m continuing to reinvent myself and my career. I’m in the process of making changes in my career that will allow me to continue to do work that I love while also freeing me up to spend more time with family and friends, more time enjoying our homestead, and more time being involved in our farm and wellness businesses.

Tell me about a challenge you've faced in your middle or older years and how you overcame it (or how you are in the process of overcoming it, or accepting it).

Wow. This is a loaded question for me. The short version is that I’ve been through the ringer a few times since turning 50, and I’ve come out the other side with more strength, passion, and determination than I ever thought possible. If you want the long version, it starts with the summer that I turned 50. We launched our second child into adulthood. We had our eyes on the empty nest years as we had three and four more years, respectively, before our two younger kids would become adults. I didn’t anticipate the challenges that were just around the corner. One of my parents was already experiencing significant health issues. I was traveling often on the weekends, and taking time off from work at times to assist with their care. I changed jobs after the company I was working for went through organizational changes. I could see the writing on the wall that my position would eventually be eliminated. I found a new job, one that seemed like my dream job, and quickly got settled in with a wonderful team. Then I faced my own health diagnosis and treatment for the dreaded “C” word. I scaled back on all activities outside of work and family while going through chemotherapy, immunotherapy, surgery, and radiation. My focus became crystal clear. My number one priority became my own health and happiness, followed closely by the health and happiness of my loved ones. As I was finishing up my own treatment and being declared free and clear from the “C” word, I lost both of my parents within the span of just over a year. In that same time period, I was laid off from my job as the company was partially acquired by a larger company. At this point, I have become quite adept at pivoting when life throws another curveball. My approach to life is different now. I make choices based on the strength, passion and determination that I have developed since turning 50.

“At this point, I have become quite adept at pivoting when life throws another curveball. My approach to life is different now. I make choices based on the strength, passion and determination that I have developed since turning 50.”

How do you define beauty now, compared to when you were younger?

I still define beauty in the same way that I always have: I am beautiful when I am the best version of myself, inside and out. For me, the best version of myself lives in the most natural and healthy way possible. What’s different now is that this definition gets challenged a lot more than it did in my younger years. It used to be easy to roll out of bed, throw on some clothes, and face the day. If I gained a few pounds or didn’t get enough sleep for a few nights, it was easy to tweak my routine and get back on track. Now, well, it’s just not that easy. The amount of time I spend researching, planning, and implementing health strategies is beyond ridiculous. It seems like that’s what it takes in this stage of life, so I’m here for it. I’m here to make the choices that will give me a better quality of life throughout the years ahead. I’m focused on things like strength, discipline, and radical self acceptance. For me, these things translate into beauty. When I look in the mirror, I see more salt than pepper in my hair every year. The fact that I have ANY hair is a reminder that I lost it ALL while going through chemotherapy. When I see some loose or lumpy skin, I remind myself that this body of mine has carried me through years of chronic stress. It continues to carry me through each day as I have regained my health. When I see lines on my face, I remind myself that those lines represent laughter and hard-earned wisdom. When I see my scars, I am reminded that I have literally been cut open to remove what no longer serves me, and now I am healed. For me, this is beauty inside and out.

What passions or interests have you discovered or rediscovered later in life?

For over a decade now, my husband and I have been on a journey to return to our roots of farming and homesteading. We grow, raise, and make most of our own food. We live in sync with the seasons. We work hard and we’re grateful for the literal fruits of our labor. We are grateful to share this way of life with others, especially our kids and our grandkids.

How do you nurture your physical, emotional, and/or spiritual well-being?

Yoga, gardening, and spending time outdoors with my family and our dogs.

What role do friendships and community play in your life now?

My circle of friends is smaller than it used to be, and the connections are much deeper than they were in my younger years.

Leslie’s Farm Website: Whitehurst Farm

Instagram: @rootsandwingsgardenstx, @lesliemarchandlcsw, @whitehurstfarm

Thank you, Leslie, for being my first Wise Woman to participate in the project, and for sharing your wisdom and experience with others!

Want to have your own incredible day in the studio and share your story with others? Learn more about the 50 Over 50 Portrait Experience here. Fill out the short form and I’ll be in touch soon!

xoxo,

Amanda