I know what it’s like to lose yourself and rise wiser.

I grew up in a home shaped by my mother’s untreated mental illness — a truth I only learned fully in my 50s, opening the door to healing.

My first marriage — my “practice marriage” — taught me what I value. My husband was a good father with many fine qualities.  We grew apart under the weight of misaligned values and poor communication.

Leaving became the start of my rebirth.

Grief also shaped me. I supported my father, alongside my sister who was his primary caregiver, through his final months in 2021. When my mother entered hospice in 2024, I stayed by her side daily, finding unexpected love and beauty even in goodbye.

I retired from a public service career to guide women through their own thresholds — helping them reclaim joy, power, and purpose.

Marlene lives in Ottawa, Canada with her husband, Bill. Together they enjoy a rich life of Latin dancing, cycling Ottawa’s scenic pathways, and exploring the world through travel and connection. Their blended family includes four adult children, their partners, and cherished pets. Marlene believes in the power of ritual, the medicine of laughter, and the beauty of beginning again—at any age.