I’m a mum to four sons, an author, speaker and coach. After silently battling depression for years, and recently realizing that Meno’s annoying little sister, Peri had been hiding in my house, I’m determined to shine a light on all things menopause to help other women feel less alone.
Hi!
I’m Jo. An ‘English Rose’ living in the US for the past 28 years! Don’t worry, I’m not serene and proper as you might expect with the term English Rose - in fact, I like to call myself an English Rose with a side of Rugby Girl! I played rugby at university many moons ago!
I love to LAUGH. I sometimes have a mouth like a sailor. OK, I often have a mouth like a sailor. I have a grit and determination that has got me far in life. I’m highly creative and love to make people smile.
But it wasn’t always this way.
I’m a wife and mum to four sons, and for many years completely lost myself feeling isolated, far away from my family and friends, juggling the pressures of being a working mum and climbing the corporate ladder.
I pushed myself to the brink of a breakdown. For years, I silently battled depression, physical and mental exhaustion. I was lost, alone and felt unheard.
In my early to mid-forties things got even worse.
I lost the ability to cope, I couldn’t hide it anymore.
I was physically struggling - had gained a lot of weight that I couldn’t lose, felt sluggish with no energy, and had brain fog to the point where I seriously thought I was losing my mind!
My depression was worse. I was highly stressed and anxious and had NO IDEA that all of my symptoms were all related to perimenopause!
So, I set to work on quest to feel better.
In 2020, I was furloughed from my job. It was the ideal time to dig in, do the inner work, and figure out what the hell I was doing with my life!
I spent many days focused on personal growth, including therapy, coaching, meditation, sound healing, and breathwork.
I studied hard and got my coaching certificate, and I began to WRITE!
I self-published 5 books in 3 years!
I formed my own company, Jotopia Productions, LLC. and decided it was a place where I would focus on writing and coaching, creating content that would help children and adults alike learn to shine, even on their darkest days.
I found my SPARKLE. I found my JOY.
And the rest is history!
Ever since I said YES to allowing my sparkle to shine to its fullest potential, my life has changed in so many ways. I created MenoShine, found a new talent for writing sweary little poems, and have big plans for 3 more books within the next year!
I’m READY for a life of abundance and joy. I turned 50 last year, I’m saying YES to the best years of my life being ahead of me - and I want that for you too, which is why I created MenoShine.
