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A Birthday Week Heart-to-Heart: Letting Your Life Evolve (and owning your magic anyway)
Hi friend. Welcome back to the podcast.
This is a birthday week episode, and it’s a little different—because I don’t really have a plan. I just wanted to share what’s been on my heart.
My birthday is on Thursday, and because I’ve been doing my “5 Lessons We Can Learn from Disney Movies as Entrepreneurs” series on Thursdays, I didn’t want to interrupt that vibe with a random birthday episode.
So today is just… a heart-to-heart.
I’m turning 36 this week—mid-thirties… creeping closer to 40 than 30… and honestly? I still feel like I’m 29 on the inside. Tell me I’m not the only one. 😅
I’ve always loved birthdays. I’ve never really dreaded them (okay… maybe a couple milestone-ish moments), but overall? I love this time of reflection.
And I’ve been reflecting hard on how wildly different life looks compared to what I thought it would look like.
Gratitude has always been part of my life
I don’t talk a ton about faith here because everyone’s journey is different, and it’s never been a central part of my brand… but it is a big part of my life.
From a really young age, I would end my day praying and listing out what I was grateful for—counting blessings, thanking God, noticing the good.
And as I got older and stepped into personal development, I learned there’s real power in gratitude—not just spiritually, but mentally too.
It changes how you experience life.
And on my birthday this year, I’ve been thinking about the “before” and “after” versions of me… and how both are valid.
The life I thought I’d have (and what actually happened)
Growing up, academics were everything to me.
I graduated valedictorian. I went to college and graduated with honors. I was always in that “next step, next achievement” mindset.
When I started teaching Spanish (high school Spanish teacher—still the same job all these years later), I immediately started my master’s program in Spanish language and culture. And in my head, the plan was:
Master’s → PhD → professor → academia forever.
I even looked into PhD programs—especially at Ohio State.
But every PhD option near me required in-person commitment that would’ve meant changing my work schedule significantly… and for me, debt-free living has always mattered.
So I didn’t pursue it.
And that’s one of those moments where life doesn’t go the way you picture… not because you failed, but because you chose what was right for you.
The Spain dream… and the moment life changed
I was accepted to teach abroad in Spain—twice.
The first time, I didn’t go because my mom’s breast cancer came back.
The second time, I didn’t go because it was the year after my mom passed away, and I couldn’t leave my dad. I just couldn’t.
And when you’ve lost someone you love… time does this weird thing where the years keep stacking up, but emotionally it still feels close.
That loss changed me. Completely.
And honestly? It changed the direction of my entire life.
I didn’t plan to be an entrepreneur… but it was always in me
When I look back, business wasn’t on my radar… but the entrepreneurial gene absolutely was.
I was always:
- starting clubs
- selling things
- trying to “make a profit”
- working jobs as soon as I could
- chasing financial freedom
- juggling a million interests at once
I had my first job at 15. Then I got a second job at 15½. I worked a lot. I liked independence. I liked leadership. I was involved in everything.
And now I’m like… okay yeah, that’s where my love for systems and productivity probably started. 😂
And then life surprised me again…
Here’s another “life looks different than I thought” moment:
I was the girl who thought I’d marry my high school boyfriend.
We started dating when I was 15, and we were the couple. I even got voted “most likely to get married.” (Which is honestly hilarious now.)
Because here I am at 36:
- never been married
- no kids
- and genuinely… I’m okay with that
I’ve also started having those “real adult” conversations like:
- what does freezing my eggs look like?
- what if I want kids later?
- what if I don’t find a partner but still want to be a mom?
That’s a whole layer of life I didn’t expect to be navigating—but I’m sharing it because I know I’m not the only one thinking about it.
The pivot that changed everything: network marketing → business coaching
After my mom passed away, I went into a deep depression—the kind I hope I never experience again.
And after that season… I found Beachbody.
That was my entry point into network marketing—and whether you love it, hate it, or feel neutral about it, I can say this:
It changed the trajectory of my life.
It led me into:
- entrepreneurship
- personal development
- content creation
- podcasting
- coaching women who are juggling full-time life while building something of their own
And that’s what I do now—help women who want more freedom, more income, more purpose, and more “this life feels like mine.”
Your “best day ever” gets to look however you want
I took a half day off work yesterday for a doctor’s appointment, and I remember thinking:
“This was the best day ever.”
Not because it was glamorous—because it was a mix of:
- teaching in the morning
- lunch at home
- letting my dog out
- an appointment
- a client call
- three hours to myself
It felt spacious. It felt like mine.
And that’s what I want for you too.
Whether your dream life is:
- a full-time job you love
- a job + side business
- a 100% entrepreneurial life
- travel whenever you want
- massages on a Friday afternoon
- being home more
- building a legacy
I’m here for it.
But I want you to do it the safe way—the steady way—the “we’re not skipping rungs” way.
Baby steps count. Incremental steps count.
The biggest lesson: it’s okay to change
This is the core of what I want to say today:
It’s okay if your life looks different than:
- society says it should
- your 18-year-old self planned
- your aunt Janet expects
- your old version of you imagined
It’s okay if:
- you want kids
- you don’t want kids
- you want one
- you want five
- you want marriage
- you don’t
- you’re starting over
- you’re ending something
- you’re beginning something new
And it’s also okay if the people who were your biggest support system 10 years ago… aren’t your people anymore.
Not because anyone did anything wrong.
Because you evolved.
A reminder I need you to hear: step into your full name energy
My tagline is create and own your magic, and I mean it.
This is your permission slip to step into the fullest version of you.
The version who says:
- “I’m doing what’s right for me.”
- “I’m proud of my growth.”
- “I’m not shrinking.”
- “I’m not apologizing.”
- “I’m not waiting for permission.”
Step into your first-and-last-name energy.
I’m stepping into full-blown Lindsay Dollinger… and if someone has a problem with it?
They’re not my people.
Because my people want to see me shine. And your people want the same for you.
And here’s a dream I’m saying out loud
I’ve never really shared this publicly… but I’m saying it here because dreams get stronger when you speak them:
I want to create a nonprofit for kids and families who have lost a parent—most likely a mom (but not exclusively)—to breast cancer.
And I want to fund a healing trip to Disney World.
A trip where they can:
- be kids again
- make new memories
- find joy
- hold space for grief
- begin to rebuild in their new family structure
I don’t know what it will look like yet.
I don’t know where to start yet.
But it’s on my heart—and I know it will happen.
And if that dream feels “bigger” than what people expect from “Lindsay the Spanish teacher”… that’s okay.
Because every piece of my story makes me who I am.
And every piece of yours makes you special too.
If this resonated…
This episode was different. It was more heart than strategy.
But if it hit you in any way, screenshot it, share it, tag me—because I’d love to know you listened.
More than that:
I want you to know I’m cheering for you.
Like, truly.
I would be honored if you let me be your biggest cheerleader.
Now go out there and create and own your magic.
And as always—if a girlfriend needs to hear this, send it to her.
Let’s go do amazing things. ✨
