How do we convert obstacles into opportunities? For each of us, the answer is different—but some basic principles, such as hard-work, persistence and ingenuity, seem to be universal themes. Today we speak with two individuals who describe their process of reclaiming personal power. Angela Coulombe survived the debilitating effects of Lyme Disease to run marathons internationally, while raising awareness of Lyme. Lael Couper Jepson, author of Unscripted: A Woman’s Living Prayer, founded the organization SheChanges to help women make important shifts in their lives.
Guests
Lael Couper Jepson
Lael Couper Jepson is the owner of SheChanges, a Portland-based business that supports women in more fully unleashing their power to be architects of change – for their lives, for their business, or as leaders within their organizations and communities.
As a certified professional coach with an extensive background in consulting and organizational change, Lael has worked with women nationally over the past ten years in her business, making a name for herself and her SheChanges community.
Lael is passionate about storytelling as a means for women to not feel so alone, and has held countless local events such as SheSpeaks, Homecoming, and Mustang Sallies to inspire women to share their stories and ignite courageous action. Most recently, Lael wrote about her own story in her book, Unscripted: A Woman’s Living Prayer.
Angela Coulombe
In 2007 Angela Coulombe had just finished running the Beach to Beacon 10K road race when, about a week later, her right knee became swollen and she started experiencing mild joint aches. Within three months, she found herself mostly immobile from the undiagnosed pain. Coulombe was eventually diagnosed with and treated for Lyme Disease. She was treated for two years and over that time slowly regained her mobility. She also developed an idea to recover, train for, and run a marathon. Despite the massive setback, three years after her diagnosis, she ran the New York City Marathon. Now she is on a quest to run all six of the World Major Marathons to raise awareness about Lyme Disease. On September 25, 2016 she will take on her fifth World Major Marathon, Berlin, to continue to raise awareness about Lyme Disease and to raise funds for the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Educational Foundation’s (ILADSEF) Physician Training Program. Coulombe has already run NYC, Chicago, Boston, London will run Berlin in 2016 and plans to run Tokyo in 2017