This week on The Sharon Fitzmaurice Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Leslie A. Rasmussen, a woman who truly understands what it means to start over and to keep rediscovering herself through the seasons of life.
Leslie’s journey is one of courage, creativity, and reinvention. From writing beloved sitcoms like Roseanne and The Wild Thornberrys in Hollywood, to running her own nutrition business, to becoming a novelist and speaker, Leslie has lived many creative lives - each chapter guided by a deeper sense of curiosity and authenticity.
Leslie’s honesty about how life’s transitions can be both daunting and defining. She began her career wanting to be an actress, but when the industry’s treatment of women dimmed her spark, she chose to pivot rather than lose herself. That decision led her to writing comedy - a space where her voice could flourish without compromise. Later, as a mother, she made another heartfelt shift, training as a nutritionist so she could nurture both her family and her own interests.
And then, as life gently nudged her once more, she returned to her first love - writing. With humility and determination, she began again: reading, learning, researching, and taking baby steps toward a dream that had never truly left her. Today, Leslie is the author of three novels, including her latest, When People Leave (May 2025), a moving exploration of family, forgiveness, and the quiet resilience of women navigating loss.
What I find so inspiring about Leslie’s story is that it reminds us creativity isn’t a straight path - it’s a living, breathing journey that evolves as we do. Every turn, every pause, every new beginning is part of finding the rhythm that feels most true to who we are.
Sometimes we think we’re moving away from our purpose, only to find that we were actually circling closer to it all along. The careers we choose, the roles we play, and the shifts we make are not detours - they are pathways toward self-discovery.
Leslie’s story is a beautiful reflection of how we learn who we are through the choices we make, and how we shine brightest when we align our lives with what we love.
We don’t have to have it all figured out. We just need to listen to the gentle callings of our soul, to the quiet excitement that comes when we do something that feels right, to the creative spark that asks us to begin again, no matter how many times we’ve already started over.
Because, in truth, starting over is not about beginning again from nothing. It’s about beginning again from wisdom.
Sharon Fitzmaurice
Holistic Wellness Coach, Author & Podcast Host