What season of life are you in—and what would it mean to actually honour that season instead of resisting it? In this episode 151 of Medium Lady Talks, I’m joined by my friend and thoughtful powerhouse Ashley Gibson, who brings a beautiful mix of vulnerability, wisdom, and humour to her story. Ashley is a program management lead in tech, a creative multi-passionate elder millennial, a reformed perfectionist, and a chronic illness warrior. But more than that, she’s someone who’s learning (like many of us) that doing it all is neither sustainable nor required. We talk about:🥧 The "pie chart of life" and how to make peace with the slices that need to grow—or shrink🌀 Why it's more than okay to change your mind (even about things you once loved)💊 What Ashley learned about identity, health, and shame when her chronic illness flared🔁 Why needing help doesn’t mean failure—and how that belief keeps so many of us stuck🛏️ Redefining real rest as a proactive, intentional practice—not a reward you earn This episode is part of our Summer of Real Rest series and will resonate with anyone who’s navigating shifting capacity, letting go of side hustles, recalibrating goals, or just wondering why things that used to fit don’t feel so right anymore. Ashley reminds us: “You can love something and still let it go. You can be proud of it and still step away.” We hope this conversation helps you feel seen—and gives you permission to meet yourself exactly where you are. More About Ashley Ashley Gibson is a Toronto-based program manager, musical theatre fan, chronic illness advocate, and reformed perfectionist. Online and IRL, she shares openly about navigating life with Crohn’s disease, making intentional shifts in work and identity, and how to live with more joy, softness, and style. 📍Follow her @ashleydtl for travel recs, honest reflections, and vibrant real-life vibes. Listener Favorites from This Episode ⏱️ 12:30 — Letting go of side hustles & the emotional weight of change⏱️ 22:00 — Why Ginger Spice was Ashley’s first blueprint for self-trust⏱️ 34:15 — Rethinking medication, identity, and the false binary of "sick" vs "well"⏱️ 41:00 — Real rest as the first step, not the reward Loving the Show? Tag us @medium.lady and tell us what season you’re in.Leave a review, share with a friend, or just hit play while you’re letting one of your own “slices of the pie” rest a little.   🧡 If this episode resonates with you: Share it with a friend who needs a little extra encouragement Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify—it helps more than you know DM me on Instagram @medium.lady or tag your favorite quote from the episode Subscribe for more real talk about building a life you love—one medium-effort step at a time Looking for more support? Access exclusive content and mindful living tools on Patreon.  Join the conversation! Share one need you're naming today and tag @medium.lady on Instagram. The series starts here!   Don’t forget to subscribe! If this episode resonates, share it with a friend or leave a review—it helps others find the show! Other Related Episodes (for your enjoyment): Ep 144: Sacred Rest & Dr. Saundra Dalton-Smith Ep 145: Are You Proud of Being Tired? Ep 146: When My Eye Stops Twitching Ep 147: The Toxic To-Do List   Medium Lady Reads Episode 45 - Welcome to Season Three of Medium Lady Reads    Connect with Erin: Instagram: @medium.lady Patreon: www.patreon.com/mediumlady  Email: mediumladytalks@gmail.com  Explore more book-related content on "Medium Lady Reads." - link to Spotify Instagram: @mediumladyreads