Growing Up in NYC, Assuming I Was Catholic

I grew up in New York City, where my parents sent me to Catholic schools because they thought I might get knifed in the public schools. Since Catholic school was all I knew, I grew up assuming I was Catholic.

Years later, a relative doing genealogy research tracked me down and let me in on the family secret: we were Russian Jews. This minor detail had apparently been hidden from me by my parents.

I wasn’t athletic growing up. That changed in law school, when I discovered that working out was the magic stress elixir. Who knew? I started running and eventually became one of those people who actually liked going to the gym. Eating healthy food was another matter. For 14 years, I was a “faker vegetarian”—no meat, fish or poultry, but not many vegetables either. Carbs and sweets are vegetarian, after all.

My First Act: Stressed-Out Corporate Lawyer

I spent 23 years as a corporate litigator for a mid-sized San Francisco firm. I loved it, fought hard, became a partner, opened and ran a successful branch office–and was a total workaholic.

Being a gym rat helped with the stress and came with one very unexpected benefit: I found my soulmate. But after we married, it became clear that being a stress mess wasn’t exactly a recipe for a happy marriage.

So at 49, I shocked my partners and retired. I had absolutely no idea what I’d do next. I just knew it wasn’t going to be baking cookies.

Early Retirement… Now What?

The morning after I retired, I woke up and realized no one needed me anymore—and I had no plan for the day. My entire identity was wrapped up in “Lorie the Lawyer.” My husband suggested golf. Epic fail.

Instead, I pursued an Aging Studies Certification and began volunteering at the Council on Aging Orange County. One open door led to another, and eventually I was teaching aging studies, writing, speaking and trying on a variety of second acts. Nearly 10 years after leaving law, I finally found one that stuck.

My Second Act: Finding My Passion

It started with a random Google search about why some people prioritize their health while so many others struggle to do it. That search led me to wellness coaching. It felt like the career equivalent of finding my soulmate. I knew almost immediately I had found what I was supposted be doing.

In typical Lorie fashion, I promptly over-credentialed myself, gobbling up everything I could learn about coaching, behavior change and nutrition. Then I bravely “hung out a shingle,” as we lawyers say. There were plenty of missteps along the way, but I had finally found exactly where I belonged.

Retiring Again? Not a Chance.

I LOVE my clients. Helping them make meaningful changes—and spreading the word that better health doesn’t come from the latest diet, hack or miracle cure—has become something close to my religion.

I intend to keep doing it until I drop.