Reinvented At 47: Coaching, Chronic Illness, & Calling BS
- Aug 4
- 3 min read
By Diane Jacobs Natoli
If you’d asked me thirty years ago where I’d end up, I would’ve never guessed this. Multiple marriages, a MS diagnosis, and losing my husband to alcoholism… but also more strength, purpose, and love than I knew I was capable of. I’m not your polished, fluff-filled kind of coach. I’m compassionate, but I don’t sugarcoat life, and I won’t do it for you either.
I coach women who feel stuck, unseen, and unworthy, especially those who’ve been through the wringer. Wives of alcoholics. Women getting out of toxic relationships. Women who've been told they’re “too much” or “not enough.” I’ve built a life on the other side of all that mess. Not a perfect life, but one I love.
I was 22 when I found out I had multiple sclerosis. My whole world changed overnight. I went from working as a surgical assistant, to being scared that my new disability would define my ability. My vision would go, my balance was off, and the fear… God, the fear was loud. But I kept showing up.
In the tough times I lost my job, and my first marriage. I even lost 120 pounds too, plus many parts of myself along the way. My second marriage? It didn’t last. And then came the third, the one I thought was forever. I loved him, hard. But alcoholism stole him. He died in our home, and I’ll never forget that day.
I was shattered, screaming into the void, and begging for someone to show up who’d love me without trying to change me. Someone who’d see me and still stay. Two days later, I met Ronnie. My rock. My now-husband. The man who didn’t flinch at my grief or my diagnosis. He saw the mess and didn’t run. He held it with me.
In 2019, I lost my mother. She used to say, “When are you going to hang out your shingle? Everyone already comes to you for advice.” But I didn’t believe I was capable. I let my disability define me. I couldn’t see how I could help others when I felt broken myself.
After she passed, I saw an ad for a coaching certification. Something in me said, “Try.” And with Ronnie by my side, I did. Nine months of dedicated growth later, I graduated with professional coaching credentials. Other than giving birth to my son, this was truly one of the best decisions I ever made.
Another great decision was participating in The Girl on the Left book, created by Megan Dirks. I didn’t know I had a story worth sharing before this project. It shifted my mindset, and reignited my passion for helping people everywhere.
So, I know what it’s like to feel like your life is over. I also know what it’s like to rewrite the story.
Now I work with women who’ve had to start over more times than they can count. Women who need someone who won’t placate them, but will look them in the eye and say: “Get up. You’ve still got fight left.”
You can get through the hard stuff and live a life you love. You can be both soft and strong. And you sure as hell don’t have to do it alone.
That’s why I offer pro bono coaching, too. Not because I have to, but because I want to. It keeps me sharp, and it keeps me grounded.
So if you’re tired of the BS and want someone who will hold space for you and call you out, let’s talk. I’m Diane Jacobs Natoli. I’m still standing. Now it’s your turn.
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