Finding our Creative Path

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

When life changes, so can you - Redefine Freedom and Balance

Through Chuzeday, Deborah is helping solo business owners reclaim their time, honour their wellbeing, and build a life that truly fits.

There are moments in life that change everything. For Deborah Jordan, that moment arrived in 2019 when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. It brought her busy world to a standstill - and at the same time, opened the door to a more intentional way of living and working.

But Deborah’s story of strength and compassion began long before that. As a young girl, she cared for her father who had brain cancer. That experience taught her resilience in a way few childhoods do. It shaped her understanding of time, empathy, and the invisible strength it takes to hold space for others.

A third-generation hair stylist, Deborah had built and managed a thriving salon, doing everything herself - the appointments, the business, the care. But like so many solo business owners, the endless demands eventually took a toll. When illness came knocking, it forced a vital question to the surface: What if business could support your life, instead of consuming it?

In her healing, Deborah envisioned something new. A platform that would give her, and others like her - the flexibility and freedom to run a business in a healthier, more sustainable way. And so, Chuzeday was born.

But Chuzeday is more than just an app. It’s a lifeline. A sanctuary. A growing community built on the belief that your time is sacred, your wellbeing matters, and your business should work for you. It empowers solo entrepreneurs to set boundaries, manage time intuitively, and reconnect with the joy and purpose behind their work.

Deborah shared this powerful journey on her very first podcast appearance in The Sharon Fitzmaurice Podcast, and it was an honour to witness her passion shine through. Her voice is calm, but her message is bold: you can change, you can choose again, and you can rebuild a life that fits who you are now.

Chuzeday reflects that wisdom. It’s a platform born from personal transformation, and one that invites others to make space for theirs. In every feature, every conversation, and every client supported, there is Deborah’s quiet strength and deep respect for what it means to be human - especially when you're walking the entrepreneurial path alone.

Her story is a reminder to us all: when life changes, so can you. And sometimes, the most meaningful work we do is the kind that sets others free.

Sharon Fitzmaurice

Holistic Wellness Coach, Author, Speaker & Podcast Host