Member-only story
About Me — Kathryn Eriksen
My journey from striving to becoming.
I have always known that I was attractive — it’s what made me stand out in a sea of boys. But it took me years to discover that my inner beauty is worth so much more.
My brothers were loud, noisy, and active. I was quiet, shy, and withdrawn, because I decided early on that I could never compete in their world. My voice was too soft, my body too flimsy. The boys were always right and I learned not to argue unless I had gathered proof of my position.
Looking back, I can see the natural progression in my childhood to becoming a trial lawyer.
It was a worthy career, but many days, I felt like I was back at home, arguing with my brothers about one thing or another. Back then, the legal profession was male dominated and I can’t tell you how many times I was mistaken for the court reporter or legal assistant.
Striving to win at trial, aggressively represent my clients, and moving up the career ladder took most of my energy. Inside the hamster wheel of an active legal practice, I didn’t look for a way out for many years. The only problem was that after years of stress and success,I didn’t recognize myself in the mirror.
It was only when I discovered I could never get pregnant that I took a hard look at myself and who I had become. It was time for big decisions and bigger changes.
