Divorced at 42: How I Reinvented My Life One Quilt at a Time - Lorie Kleiner Eckert

What do you do when the only life plan you ever had—being a stay-at-home mom—suddenly ends in divorce after 21 years?Lorie Kleiner Eckert found herself facing this exact crisis at age 42. Instead of freezing, she decided to turn her hobby of quilting into a professional speaking career—inventing a "quilt lecture circuit" that didn't even exist! Fast forward 30 years, and Lorie is now a motivational speaker, artist, and the author of five books, including her latest, *Chai on Life*.This episode dives into the FailCraft theme of embracing the messy, imperfect middle of reinvention. Lorie explains why she proudly calls herself "Flawsome" (flawed but awesome), the hilarious reason a complicated chicken soup recipe cured her perfectionism forever, and why everyone should consider hiring a therapist as a "paid professional friend."In this episode of FailCraft, you’ll discover:* The Forced Reinvention: Starting a career from scratch after a 21-year marriage ends.* The power of trusting your inner voice when you don't have a roadmap.* The Chicken Soup Epiphany: Why rejecting perfectionism and accepting "good enough" will change your life.* Why Lorie treats her therapist as a "paid professional friend" (and why you should too).* Being "Flawsome": How to accept your weirdness and still think you are awesome.* Why Richard Bach was right: "We teach best that which we most need to learn".* Lorie's definition of true success: Being a good "Marmal" (Grandma) above all else.This episode is for anyone facing a major life transition, recovering perfectionists who need permission to simplify their lives, or listeners looking for a warm, witty conversation about aging with joy.Connect With Lorie Kleiner Eckert:* Website & Blog: https://www.loriekleinereckert.com/* Book: Chai on Life (Available on Amazon & Barnes & Noble)* Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loriekleinereckert/Chapters:00:00 Hook: Creating a Career Out of Thin Air01:10 Introduction: Lorie Kleiner Eckert & *Chai on Life*02:01 Divorced at 42: The Forced Reinvention05:28 The Power of Trusting Yourself & Setting Micro-Goals08:42 The Chicken Soup Epiphany: Rejecting Perfectionism11:14 Why You Need a "Paid Professional Friend" (Therapy)15:21 Embracing Your "Flawsome" Identity17:24 Lorie's Definition of True Success19:15 How to Connect & Get the Book