🌿 Be Wild and Live on the Edge?
I’m Not That Person Anymore—And That’s Okay
By Jennifer Boon
When I graduated high school, my senior quote was:
“Be wild and live on the edge. If you fall off, it’s even wilder.”
It sounded bold. Daring. A little rebellious.
And it couldn’t be further from who I am today.
Now, I live in McLean, I’m a mom of two, and for the past 20 years, I’ve done everything but live on the edge. I was the mom who never let her kids leave the house without sunscreen. The one who triple-checked seatbelts, packed backup snacks, and color-coded every square inch of the family calendar.
These days, with two teens, I track their locations like it’s a full-time job—zooming in to confirm they’re still at their friend’s house and not wandering toward McDonald’s or the Silver Diner.
I built a life around steady steps—not daring leaps.
📉 Then Everything Shifted
At 47, I found myself at a professional crossroads.
After years in stable, traditional roles, I became one of many swept up in a wave of contractor layoffs. Suddenly, I was job searching—but nothing felt right. Each listing felt like a step backward, not forward.
That’s when a surprising thought surfaced:
Maybe I wasn’t meant to find another job.
Maybe it was time to create something of my own.
So, that’s what I’m doing. I’m building a business rooted in everything I’ve learned about leadership, connection, and purpose. And honestly? It feels like the boldest thing I’ve done since choosing that senior quote.
“Back then, I wanted to seem fearless. Now, I’m learning to be honest about my fears—and move forward anyway.”
🌱 Redefining the Edge
Risk looks very different at 47 than it did at 17.
Back then, it meant being rebellious.
Now, it means taking ownership.
Back then, I wanted to appear fearless.
Now, I’m learning to be honest about my fears—and move forward anyway.
Watching my daughter graduate this spring reminded me:
Transformation doesn’t happen overnight.
We grow. We evolve. And sometimes, we rediscover parts of ourselves we thought we’d outgrown.
As she steps into adulthood, I’m doing the same.
Just with a little more planning, a lot more sunscreen—and a whole new kind of courage.
This is my new edge. And I’m learning how to live on it.
👩💼 About the Author
Jennifer Boon is a leadership coach, organizational development consultant, and author of Leadership Unlocked. With over 20 years of experience, she helps executive teams communicate better, connect deeper, and lead with purpose.
She’s also the founder of Creative Impact LLC and creator of the C-Squid™ Framework, offering a thoughtful, human-centered—and refreshingly playful—approach to navigating leadership challenges.
