A Little More About Me
A full life. A fearless voice. And a story still unfolding.
Hello, I'm Rene.
I'm an author, speaker, life and business coach, wife, mother, grandmother, retired educator, and someone who has spent a lifetime learning that other people's expectations don't have to become our limitations.
I've lived a life filled with unexpected turns, difficult lessons, bold choices, and more than a few adventures.
And if there's one thing I've learned, it's this: Finding your voice is only the beginning. Learning to trust it can change everything.
Where My Story Began
I was never meant to fit someone else's expectations.
I was born prematurely with cerebral palsy, and from the beginning there were questions about what my future might look like.
Some people saw limitations. Over time, I learned to challenge the assumptions placed on me and discover what was possible on my own terms.
That journey wasn't a straight line. There were victories, setbacks, moments of determination, and lessons I never expected to learn.
My experiences taught me that a diagnosis doesn't tell the whole story of a person. Neither do the expectations of family, society, or the people around us.
We're all more than the labels we inherit.
A Life in Motion
I've never been very good at sitting on the sidelines.
For me, movement has been about more than physical activity. It has meant learning, growing, adapting, and discovering new possibilities.
30+ Years
In Education
A retired educator with more than three decades of experience.
16 Sprint Triathlons
Completed
A commitment to taking on challenges and continuing forward.
Championship Racing
Dragon Boat & Outrigger Canoe
Experience competing in championship dragon boat racing and six-person outrigger canoe racing.
The lessons I've learned through teaching, competition, and everyday life continue to shape how I encourage others to keep moving forward.
Beyond the Finish Line
Some of the hardest challenges aren't the ones people can see.
Not every struggle can be overcome by determination alone.
Some of life's most complicated challenges happen quietly — within our families, our relationships, and the expectations we place on ourselves.
I've learned how easy it can be to lose pieces of who we are while trying to be who everyone else needs us to be.
Learning to recognize those patterns, establish healthier boundaries, and trust my own voice has been an important part of my journey.
It's also become central to the stories I write and the conversations I hope to inspire.
Why I Write
Sometimes the stories we share become the permission someone else needs.
My Voice Is Not Disabled explores family, identity, and the courage it takes to speak the truth. It is deeply connected to the experiences that shaped my understanding of my own voice.
My next book, Can I Take My Bra Off Now?, continues that conversation with humor, vulnerability, and hard-earned perspective. It's an invitation to question inherited rules, release the constant need for approval, create healthier boundaries, and live life on your own terms.
And yes, sometimes freedom really does begin with taking off the damn bra.
A Few Things I Know for Sure
You don't have to become someone else to live more freely.
- You are allowed to change.
- You are allowed to take up space.
- You are allowed to trust your own voice.
Healing doesn't require perfection. Setting boundaries doesn't make you unkind. And someone else's disappointment doesn't automatically mean you've done something wrong.
The Everyday Me
Still learning. Still growing. Still paddling forward.
These days, I live in Southern California with my husband. I'm a wife, mother, grandmother, writer, coach, advocate, and someone who still believes there's always another lesson to learn.
I continue to write, encourage others, and embrace life with as much authenticity and humor as I can.
Because the goal isn't to live a perfect life. It's to live a life that feels like your own.
Let's Keep the Conversation Going
Your voice matters. And your story isn't finished.
Whether you're here to explore my books, find encouragement for your own journey, or invite me to speak with your audience, I'm glad you found your way here.
