Dr. Anna Garrett loves to help women live their lives fully. She is a Doctor of Pharmacy, a life coach to women in mid-life and she offers programs to help women navigate the complexities of menopause. She is a mother, a grandmother and a wife. She loves to travel, read and cook, all of which are things she has intentionally made space for in her life. She is a wonderful woman who inspires many to live life fully. She is this week’s Woman of the Week.
Tell us a little about yourself
I am a native North Carolinian and have live here my whole life. I lived in Greensboro, NC for 48 years before making the move to Asheville, NC where I have lived for 8 years. I am married to Dan Garrett and we have 3 daughters and 4 grandchildren, all of whom live within 2 hours of us.
I couldn’t decide what I wanted to be when I grew up so I went to the University of North Carolina 3 times and have Bachelor’s degrees in accounting and pharmacy and a Doctoral degree in Pharmacy. I’ve been a pharmacist for 20+ years and 5 years ago I started my work with women who are struggling with hormones but looking for natural solutions for their symptoms. I also offer a weight management program called “Lose Fat over 40” and do life coaching for midlife women.
I am at that place in my life where I’m really being intentional about what I say yes to as I value the flexibility and freedom I have created in my life more than anything. For this reason, I work with a limited number of clients so I can serve them on the highest level while still maintaining space in my life for family relationships, travel and community service. I am an avid photographer and am blessed to live in an area that is perfect for that! I also enjoy all things outdoors and love to read and cook.
Who inspires you in your life? Who do you look up to? And why?
I am so fortunate to have had some wonderful mentors and teachers who have inspired (and continue to inspire) me. I have VERY intentionally surrounded myself with people who are positive, generous and supportive. My mother inspired me because I watched what she was able to create after getting married at 17 and having two kids. She became a successful CPA with her own practice and battled 2 forms of cancer before passing away at 70. My daughter inspires me every day because she is so clear and confident and I love watching her make her way in the world as a new wife and nurse practitioner
What have been some of the biggest challenges you have had to overcome in your life and what did you do to move through them? What did you learn? What do you wish to share with others?
My biggest challenge has been running my own business rather than letting it run me. I struggled with this until very recently when I gave myself permission to let it be small and intimate. With that came a tremendous sense of freedom and relief. It has taken me years to get to this place, though, because it felt like I “should” want something bigger. But when it’s all said and done, it really doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks (if they’re even paying attention!) Go with your heart and your gut. Those two won’t steer you wrong.
What are you most proud of?
I am most proud of the daughter I raised. Her dad and I split up when she was 7 and things could have gone in a very different direction than they did. We both focused on making sure she knew she was completely loved and supported and that has paid off many times over.
What do you want your older self to know?
Don’t take yourself too seriously. Keep learning and always be open to the next grand adventure. It will all be OK!
