Amy Thurman – 52

About me

As a former social worker and educator at the university level, I dedicated my life to helping others.

Until 2014, when my world came to a screeching halt. After passing out and landing on my face on the hardwood floor, I ended up with a sheared brainstem, a traumatic brain injury, and a broken neck that went undetected for 6 months.

It was 9 months before I could have surgery but the damage was so extensive that it left me permanently disabled, so I continue to live with a broken neck. Because of this, I was forced to lay flat in bed for 23 hours a day for nearly a year and could literally do nothing for myself (including taking myself to the restroom).

I completely missed my daughter’s Senior year of high school, my son’s Freshman year of high school, and my younger son’s fourth year of life because I could not lift my head off the bed.

I was no longer able to help people as I had been determined to in my life prior to this.

As you can imagine, I got to the point where I did not want to live because I felt useless and was merely existing, so I seriously considered ending things. Until I realized that maybe I could still help people, just in a different way.

That’s when my business, Polish the Mirror, was born. A way for me to use the tragedy of my own experience to help others through their experiences too. I had to reframe what I was experiencing and turn it into something that would work FOR me instead of against me.

I now get to help people feel better about themselves and feel more comfortable in their own skin by offering clean, anti-aging, smudge-proof cosmetics and skincare. I also get to help people develop their story in a way that moves them along their journey to healing, whatever form that may take.

I walk you through 100 different emotions that I categorized into 10 Stages and teach you how to move from living in lower-frequency emotions to living in higher-frequency emotions which include increased positivity, outlook, perspective, and motivation. All the while, I’m guiding you through this Mirror Work process I created. The end result is developing your story to share with others or to keep for yourself.

I believe every person has a story worth sharing. It’s in there, you just have to be willing to find it and I get to help you do that! My Mirror Work process is highly therapeutic and has been significantly improving people’s lives!

In addition, as a person who lives with a disability, I’m determined to break the stigma and prove that we are just as valuable as people without disabilities and have just as much to offer.

What do you do and why do you do it?

Through my clean, anti-aging, smudge-proof cosmetics and skincare business, I was given the opportunity to develop and share my story from the stage to over 2,000 women. This experience not only changed my life, but since then, I have heard time and time again how hearing my story changed others’ lives too.

Taking the time and effort to develop my story and the courage to share it allowed me to find a power inside me that I did not know was there. It was so powerful that I became a Story Development Coach so I can help others tap into that same power within themselves.

What changed for you after age 50?

I stopped looking back and regretting the past and started looking forward with anticipation of what lies ahead. There’s so much more to life than I was allowing myself to experience before 50. I stopped worrying about what others think and started following my own path.

What would you tell the 20 or 30-year-old YOU?

You ARE good enough! Perfection only exists in the mind and life is much more pleasant when you live from a place of authenticity.

What do you think you’ll tell yourself in retrospect at the end of your life?

I’m so glad you stepped out of your comfort zone and chose the risky route instead of the safe route. It was so worth it!!

What impact do you think increased visibility can have on your business?

Increased visibility can profoundly impact my business in a positive way by letting people know I’m here and eager to help them be better versions of themselves.

Who or what inspires you and why?

My 26-year-old daughter inspires me because she is the most fun, thoughtful, accepting, and authentic human I’ve ever met. She has a heart that wants the best for everyone and will do everything within her power to help and encourage others. She respectfully takes a stand for her beliefs and does not waiver or change for anyone.

Something else I’d like to share

My business name, Polish the Mirror, is based on this poem by Rumi:

“Ye who seek God, apart; That which you seek, thou art. If you wish to seek the Beloved’s face, Polish the mirror and gaze into that space.”

This tells me that every answer I seek can be found within if I choose to look inside and listen. Our souls know the way, if we will only slow down long enough to allow them to speak to us. This is what my Mirror Work program is based upon.