Name: María Tomás-Keegan
Age: 65
Title: CEO and Founder of Transition & Thrive with María
Married/Single: third time is the charm! Ecstatically married to my HeartMate, Jim, for 22 years.
Kids: I skipped motherhood and went directly to grandmother-hood; so much fun!
City you live in: Goodyear, Ariz.
A typical day in my life includes…
up between 6-6:30am, it starts with taking a little time for me to get ready for my day—a little stretching, a little strengthening, a little gratitude, a little prayer—then I take care of my family of four fur-babies (two cats & two dogs) and make breakfast for myself and hubby. My workday varies including client sessions, networking, education, making connections and building relationships. Ending around 6:00 pm so I can spend the evening having an easy-to-fix dinner and a glass of wine with Jim.
I was born…
in the witch capital of the U.S. – Salem, Mass. Little wonder my three older brothers nicknamed me “Witch” after our parents told them to stop calling me “Baby.”
My favorite thing about Arizona…
the sunshine and gorgeous sunsets. Since moving here nearly 25 years ago from New England—where the winters are nasty, and the clouds can sock you in for days—I haven’t awakened in a bad mood.
I’m listening to…
Pandora: my taste in music is eclectic and depends on my mood. From Billy Joel and Seascapes to the Beatles and the Texas Tenors.
My family…
is filled with great people who genuinely care about the rest of us, and others. They are funny. They are kind. They are always there. They are one of my top five core values: family first.
If I could have dinner with anyone, it would be…
Maria Shriver. Her approach to life and change speaks to me. She is a role model. I am an admirer.
One thing I cannot live without…
the silly answer, and the first thing that came to mind, is WINE! To be more serious, there was a time in my life when I would have answered this question very differently. I would have said, “I can’t live without my mother, who is my best friend.” She is gone. I would have said, “I cannot live without the support of my three older brothers, who always have my back.” Two of them are gone. As I think about this question today, after so many major changes in my life, I recognize that there is nothing permanent. So, my answer is there is nothing I cannot live without. I will survive, and adapt, and I will find my happy again.
When I was younger, I wanted to be…
an interpreter at the United Nations.
I’m inspired by…
women who know what they want, reach out to get the support and resources they need and collaborate with others to make the dream happen. I’m inspired by the founders and members of Starshine Communities because they lift me when I’m in need of a hand up, they encourage me to do more toward my goals and they collaborate with me to co-create meaningful projects that are beneficial to others. I’m inspired by women who make a difference in this world and I’m honored to be a member of this community.
The one person who motivates me is…
me. There are a lot of people in my life who help me with ideas which motivate me like the peer mentoring Power Circles at Starshine, my husband and my accountability partner. But, I must choose to put one foot in front of the other every single day to make things happen in my life. I do it so I can make a difference for my clients and the women I can influence…so, in a way, they motivate me.
If I could change anything in the world, it would be…
to eradicate Alzheimer’s and Dementia. These insidious diseases have taken far too many of those I love and respect, even before they passed.
The perfect day would be…
taking a road trip with my husband and two dogs. Loosely planned, starting at sunrise and taking us to places we’ve not yet been, seeing parts of this country that leave us in awe of its beauty, stopping for a bite at an outdoor café that surprises us with fabulous food, watching a new sunset with a glass of wine as we settle in for the night, planning for the next day’s adventure.
My first job was…
walking polo ponies to cool them after each chucker of a polo match. I was about 15.
My favorite escape…
sitting by moving water – it could be a babbling brook or the ocean – and feeling the ebb and flow. It calms me. I feel at peace with the sound.
My life…
is blessed by the man of my dreams, a loving family, my fur-babies, and the opportunity to make a difference in other women’s lives. It’s pretty darn good, despite the difficulties.
I’m currently working on…
a new book: Upside Down to Right Side Up: Turning Transition into Triumph, available on Amazon. It reveals the stages of transition that I believe all women experience throughout a lifetime. I speak to those who feel stuck after loss or a disappointment whether it be personal or professional. The stories in the book are intended to engage the heart and establish a hope-filled mindset that a better life awaits. Plus, I offer a plan of action to transform even the most paralyzing circumstances into a personal triumph.
Always…
remember, you’re never alone!
Never…
go out with day-old undies (thanks, mom!).
Favorite Quote…
“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty” – Maya Angelou.
Biggest Dream…
owning a small cottage at the beach and a condo in Segovia, Spain to be near our family.
My Pet Peeve(s)…
filling the Keurig (there should be some automated way to connect it to the filtered water from the fridge), water spots on glasses and judgment (can’t we all just get along?).
