Her driving force? Movement and action.
Her commitment to the "Be Your Ture Self" campaign is closely linked to her personal journey.
After a "painful" past where she felt "trapped," Annick now claims a hard-won freedom.
The Quiet Strength of Kindness
At 64, a recent retiree since May 1st, Annick is the embodiment of dynamism and determination. A former basketball player and passionate sports enthusiast, she divides her time between running, hiking, and, soon, Zumba.
"I have a strength inside me that told me: this was not the life I wanted. So, I decided to change it."
This freedom translates daily into the ability to do what she wants, when she wants, without having to answer to anyone, in perfect harmony with her values: kindness, love, and community involvement.
Motherhood: From Woman to Mother
Questioned about the impact of motherhood (Annick has five children), she fondly recalls her first pregnancy, which cemented her relationship. However, she also speaks of the loneliness she felt, far from her native island, without support to guide her through pregnancy, breastfeeding, or caring for a baby.
She felt relegated to the role of mother, lacking the outside look of her partner that could have reassured her in her identity as a woman.
"You're no longer a woman, you're a mother,"
As for self-confidence, it was not innate but was built out of necessity: "It came from a kind of strength telling me I had to manage alone."
Having children also became a source of mental strength and motivation.
The turning point of grief and other people's perceptions
Annick gives importance to her appearance, particularly in her clothing choices for occasions, but it is perception of others that has undergone a true revolution.
The catalyst was the death of her father. Faced with grief, she asked herself an essential question concerning her white hair, which she had refused to accept: "Are you doing this for yourself or for others?" The answer, which pointed to external expectations, was the signal to stop. Since then, she fully embraces her choices.
Today, to remain true to herself, whatever the difficulties, Annick relies on a spiritual pillar: prayer.
A Message of Hope and Strength
Her message to her "younger Annick" would be an encouragement to be "a bit stronger" from the outset.
She recalls her colleagues being surprised by her constant smile despite her problems: "I told myself, I don't want to show what's wrong; even with problems, life is beautiful." For her, difficulties are "surmountable"; one just has to "believe it."
Her ultimate message to women who hold back is a call to action, as Annick is convinced that we all have deeply rooted inner strengths that are often blocked.
