Donna O’Kane

American Bald Eagle Photographer @rocked_by_kindness A friend of mine is a birder, and she posted a picture of a bald eagle, and I messaged her and said, “Where did you take that picture?  -Donna O’Kane  You are about to hear one of my all-time favorite second chapter stories!   After spending 40 years working for the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority, Donna O’Kane decided to start photographing American Bald Eagles.   The mother of three grown children, Donna is also a breast cancer survivor who spreads kindness wherever she goes by leaving painted rocks beside park benches and on nature paths, in the hopes of making someone smile during the pandemic.  Follow her on Instagram @rocked_by_kindness.  Always the creative type, Donna noticed a post from a friend who followed eagles, watching their nests for signs of eaglets, and marveling at their mating behaviors.   She began taking pictures of eagles with her iPhone, soon graduating to more sophisticated cameras with lenses that capture the magic of birdwatching.   In this interview, Donna shares her life story, including sexual abuse by a babysitter at only 4, the physical punishments inflicted on her by her mother, the abiding love of her father, and the pain of a failed marriage. Throughout her life, and in everything she does, Donna embraces the gifts of creativity, kindness, resilience, and purpose.  “We all have choices.  We can sit and wallow, or we can get up and walk out the door every morning and rebuild our lives.” For 27 minutes that will leave you speechless and inspired, just hit that download button.  #americanbaldeagle #womeninspiringwomen#breastcancer #secondchapter