Here, allow me to explain in more detail ....
Yes, a neurotypical may not do as I do. Actually, nobody else may do as I do - and me as me today at 58 I am OK with that. Finally! I stand in my own image, finally!
Do you ever get the feeling sometimes you are not presenting completely 100% as yourself? Or is that just me?
I have spent decades not being me. 15 years ago was the catalyst for my forever change, it was time to come back, come home (to me). I signed up to a free personal event where Richard Branson was the headline. I have NEVER looked back. Funnily enough though, it wasn't Sir Richard who changed my life, it was the following 3 day event that brough me to my knees and I saw my image, as clear as clear. So here I am, infront of you, presenting as me - you get to see the me, me plus the professional me. It's the ONLY way it will work; all my openness and love.
.... AND this could be you too, standing in your own image, once and for all. If there are things you don't like, change them. If you don't know where to begin this is where I can be a part of your journey. I want to inspire YOU to do what YOU want to do in YOUR midlife era!
A snapshot of me - My top loves are sport, I have participated in sport my entire life (running, tennis, military challenges). I am obsessed with human psychology and behaviour. Travelling the globe feeds all of this to me.
I have worked in the travel industry for 33 years - airlines, hotels, wholesalers, retailers and eventually online for myself. I am as professional and dedicated in my business arena as I am fiercely loyal in my personal space.
No matter the size of my life or yours, because in this instance size doesn't matter (like, seriously!) because your experience (the good with the bad) matters just as much as mine does.
Hi I'm Penelope, the Founder of Switchlife. I'm currently 58. I've been told I am 'too much'' my whole life. I am an ADHD spicy neurodivergent (late diagnosed) and I run on high energy fuelled passion. I focus like a ninja and my attention to detail is phenomenally on point. So if this is too much for some, then that's OK.
I always have run on a certain energy BUT I've had to tone it down, for as long as I can remember. GenX were to be seen and not heard - and I've hated this part of who I had to be, just to suit others and I used to be harsh on myself for actually listening and staying in the corner they put me in.
According to others ..... I laugh too loud. I speak too loud. I even think too loud. My ideas are too loud or too grand! AND of course, my hair is too loud (have you seen it? My hair IS loud, it has alot of energy! lol)
I don't know if you see yourself in any of this, but if you do, please know I am here; friend and ally. Coach and Guide - I have combined my personal development business of 10 years with my travel expertise of 33 years into a kind of movement for the GenX. An Era to step into, to see what happens next, how strong and adventurous we can be!
So, over to you .... who are you? What's your background story?
ps. Best way to get to know me in an online 'real life' is follow and engage with me on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and Youtube.
*A brand new subscription community will be online soon with plenty real time, resources, courses, downloads and discounts for all members.
Love Penelope xo
Around 8 years old. Standing in my childhood backyard, barefoot, not knowing what the world would yet throw at me. BIG dreams. BIG love to give. Animal lover. People lover. Open. Honest. Sensitive. Kind. Not the loudest in the room but maybe the giggliest and 100% already a leader.
A very pivotal time in my life. 1984, I left Australia as a 17yo to spend 12 months in a foreign country, Thailand. To live with a local Thai family. Learn the language, embrace and immerse the culture. I did exactly that. I became a semi-pro Thai Dancer, Mastered the Language in spoken and written form. I grew up FAST, and I mean FAST!
I LOVE being a mum. It's all I ever wanted to do. I didn't even want a career, I just wanted 6 kids to be mum to. I ended up having 4 pregnancies and gave final life to 2 of my greatest loves. I have brought my two girls up on my own in every way. They are young women now and we have come far as a trio, and I am emotionally so proud. After changing the locks on our home 15 years ago and saying no to domestic abuse, BIG changes were necessary. It was tough. I made it through.
I love writing. In my shed I have an entire suitcase full of personal journals. I used to write, write and write. It helped me relax, which at the time I didn't know. I just knew I loved writing. It cleared my head and permitted me a safe place to air my thoughts. I am a published Co-Author in two books. Nothing makes me prouder than the zones I step into fully in the quest to ADVENTURE the legacy of my life.
I have a need to do better, to do what's right. I am compelled toward justice (it is an ADHD trait) and strutt my best me when the ducks are lined. Life has this habit of tweaking the ducks, so I have learned how to adjust when this happens. Personal development saved me 15 years ago, without it the self awareness I live and breathe now would not be so prevalent in my life. I used to write and run events for teens - here are my co-hosts, my 2 girls, who were teens at the time. They were incredible hosting side by side with their Mama changing the way teens saw themselves today! This era was one of my most rewarding and proud.
I mentioned before that I was lucky enough to travel from an early age. My thirst has never disappeared, never waivered. It's been an ongoing love of mine since those young impressionable days. I love culture, language and people. I'm not particularly a foodie so the culinary sensations are just part of the the cream on top of the whole travel experience! Having lived and worked on 5 different continents, I feel blessed to have explored some familiar and unfamiliar territories. I made it all happen, my obsessive curiosity drives me!
Then there is the professional business me. The one that is so passionate, so driven and so experienced in all that I do. I have run my own business for 25+ years. Worked in travel for 33+ years. Been a qualified life coach and counsellor for 10 years. I love what I do and am serious about helping you with your life, your travels and your own midlife adventure era. Thank you for trusting me, if you do decide to come on a tour with us. Or you find one of my personal development courses handy for your own life era! Penelope xo
I can be a bit of a grubb! lol ... only when I am knee deep in mud at a True Grit Challenge, which I LOVE. Next year 2026 will be my 5th challenge, I will receive a medal, purely because I showed up and participated! As a person I'm pretty driven and laid back at the same time - my head never stops but the outer me knows when to. When we do our Camino tour in 2027 it will be my 60th Birthday year. and I love nothing more than a travel adventure, a social outing with people to connect, talk and laugh, OMG I love a good laugh, there were too many times in the challenging days there wasn't enough laughing. Ps. I do live with PTSD and anxiety, lots of it, I became a life coach to help me help myself and to help my kids with their anxiety when we went through family court and intervention orders etc. I haven't mastered the anxiety to go away, but I manage it daily when it comes knocking. Overall I know my triggers and where and who I need to be with to keep myself aligned, happy, and moving forward.
I travelled from a very young age and I know my resilience and tenacity came with me for the ride.
I went to a multicultural school and Fiji was my first taste of an international country, then Malaysia, next Thailand, then the world.
I grew up young, became independent young and now having lived on 5 different continents, I know why I came out the gates as me.
Life choices (yes I own my own sh*t) were thrown at me, and thank goodness I love solutions, because I found the right ones for each challenge. I rise and I rise - from the built in (innate) tenacity that mainly runs my blood flow!
Life did take hold of me and I took hold if it right back. I find life weird and wonderful at the same time, because it seems to guide you (but you have to be listening) back to some of the roots and to our passions .... MEANWHILE trying to put infront of us, WHAT IS GOOD FOR US and WHO we should be DOING life with AND where.
Choosing to live non defensively and with eyes wide open, keep our hearts soft and go head on in, face our fears (like I did my water fear and learned to scuba dive) and keep that momentum up beat!
I think it's impossible to realistically enjoy every single moment, BUT I do know we can live to our very best, it's a non stop journey.
So, enough of this depth (I go deep, I know, I know lol). Let's talk travel. Let's talk travel + personal growth, let's talk you too.
Are you ready? I sure as heck am.
Love, Penelope xo