Beeksma Law

I turned 40 last month.

And a milestone birthday often causes us to reflect on the life that we have lived so far, and on the remaining years that we hope to have.

Looking back, my 20s were the decade of Establishing, Launching and Building.

I married my husband weeks after graduating from law school.

Was called to the Bar a year later.

Launched my career at a large Bay Street firm and continued building it at two other firms.

Rounded out my 20s with the purchase of our first home.

Establishing our marriage. Launching and building my career and our investment in real estate.

My 30s were the Birthing Decade.

Birthing (5!) amazing babies and birthing our business: Beeksma Law Professional Corporation.

Birthing and building a modern law firm that enabled us to build the family life that we wanted.

Relocating to the country from the city for a slower and more intentional pace of life, outside of our business and my practice.

Navigating the heartbreaking family losses of my older sister and of my father.

The trauma of nearly losing one of our own children.

Mental health (thank God for a wonderful therapist!).

Raising and homeschooling our older children.

Finding (and continually adjusting) our family/work rhythm.

Caring for aging parents.

And adjusting to the joy and demands of caring for a special needs child.

All while running a busy practice.

To say that I've entered my 40s with a lot on my plate is an understatement.

But I'm grateful.

Grateful to my amazing husband, kids, and village who make the life and business that I have possible.

Grateful to my wonderful clients and referral sources who continue to trust me and my incredible team with their estates, trusts, business and commercial leasing needs.

And most of all, grateful to Christ for sustaining me through the chapters in my story that were the darkest and for providing a way, when I couldn't see the way.

Character is developed and refined in the fire; not on the mountaintop.

I am a very different woman now, at 40, than I was at 30.

And I'm so proud of her.

Such a fantastic time speaking at the International Women's Day Breakfast this morning in Southampton, Ontario, organized and hosted by the Saugeen Shores Chamber of Commerce! It was especially sweet doing so while babywearing my 5 month old son in fabulous pink heels.

Thank you to Jon Fee and to the rest of the organizing team for inviting me to share my story of building a successful law firm while growing our family and navigating deep trials, tragedy and loss.

Give to Gain, this year's IWD theme, is a powerful thread woven throughout my professional journey. I am who and where I am today because of Christ and because of the countless folks who invested their time, connections, influence, resources, mentorship, opportunities and knowledge in me. And in turn, I pay it forward by giving in these and many other ways to others.

Last but not least, thank you to the other wonderful speakers at this event, MPP Lisa Thompson and Jill Roote for sharing their inspiring stories! May we continue to Give to Gain within our spheres of influence and in so doing, uplift the women around us.

̇nternationalwomensday