Brooke Layne

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT BEING YOUR AGE?
I love the experience and knowledge I have gained with my age. If I have not learned by now from my experiences, good or bad, I will continue to make mistakes. I can pass my knowledge on to others so they will not make the same mistakes.

DO YOU LIKE BEING 40+?
 I do love being over the age of 40. At times, my body definitely feels like I am in my eighties. 

WHEN IN YOUR LIFE, SO FAR, HAVE YOU FELT MOST CONFIDENT, AND WHY?
I have felt most confident in the many years after my gastric bypass surgery.  Even though I was confident in my body before my gastric bypass, the surgery helped me step out of my shell.

WHAT BRINGS YOU THE MOST JOY AT THIS AGE?
My kids bring me joy (when they are not stressing me out), my Harley-Davidson trike (as it helps me get my pent-up aggression out), and listening to books on Audible.

WHAT IS YOUR SUPERPOWER?
My superpower is being able to have organization in the midst of chaos. Whether at home or at work, I can roll with punches and not get too worked up about anything.

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER YOUR GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT?
Obtaining my Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree (BSN). That degree took me six years to complete.  I went through a divorce, met the man who is now my husband, my father passed away unexpectedly, and raising my three daughters. I would not have been able to raise my girls without the help of my family.

WHAT IS YOUR GREATEST EXTRAVAGANCE?
My greatest extravagance is taking a vacation with just my husband.  We will go to the Bahamas for our 8th anniversary and will be gone 10 days.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST TREASURED POSSESSION?
My most treasured possession would be my Harley Davidson Free-wheeler.  It is the first one I purchased and has been the only one I have ridden.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE THING YOU HAVE CHECKED OFF YOUR BUCKET LIST?
My favorite thing I have checked off my bucket list is taking my family and mom to Disney World.  We have been able to take our family on vacation almost every year. Growing up, it was hard for my parents to do that for my brother and me.

WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF PERFECT HAPPINESS?
My idea of perfect happiness is a time when everyone is in harmony, and there is no conflict.  Chores are done without complaint. Rules are followed without argument.  There is no fighting, no jealousy, no squabbling.

WHAT IS A TRAIT YOU ARE MOST PROUD OF?
I am most proud of my resilience, persistence, and determination to succeed.  There had been many times I could have given up, but I wanted to do better for myself and my girls. 

WHAT HARDSHIPS HAVE YOU ENDURED THAT YOU FEEL HAVE MADE YOU STRONGER?
I moved to Wichita in 2006 after graduating from the practical nursing program at Southeast Community College in Beatrice, Nebraska.  I moved with my only child then as I needed a fresh start in a new place.  I was widowed on April 24, 2004.  One day later, I received the approval letter for the nursing program at SCC.  I passed the NCLEX PN in February 2006. I got accepted into the Butler County Community College Associate’s degree program in 2007.  I graduated in Dec 2008 with my ADN. I passed the NCLEX RN in Feb 2009.  I did not know it would take a village to help me raise my daughter.

I met my second husband in late 2009 and married him in 2010.  My two youngest daughters came along in 2011. Most of my nursing career has been in correctional settings. I loved the autonomy of the correctional settings.  Raising a family, mostly as a single parent, and working full-time was hard and very trying.  In 2012, I got accepted into the bachelor’s degree program at Southwestern College. At times, I was discouraged and did not believe I would obtain my bachelor’s degree. In early 2015, I divorced while being new in a manager’s position.  I made the hard decision to send my oldest daughter back to Nebraska to live with her paternal grandparents. It was the hardest decision I made. I did have help with my two younger daughters; however, that took a toll on my self-confidence and my mental health due to emotional and verbal abuse. In late 2015, I had a gastric bypass due to being overweight and unable to keep weight after losing it.  I met my current husband in 2016, once I told myself I was okay with being alone. My husband spoils me, and I spoil him. I did not know exactly what it meant to be loved until I met him.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR YOUNGER SELF?
The advice I would give my younger self would include making time to take care of myself, not overthinking certain things, and not giving my kids phones at young ages.

DO YOU HAVE ANY WORDS OF WISDOM FOR YOUNGER WOMEN?
Get your education and finances together before having a family. Enjoy the experience of college and life in general.

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO OR FAVORITE QUOTE?
Ohana means family; family means no one gets left behind or forgotten.

WHAT DO YOU MOST VALUE IN YOUR FRIENDS?
I value trust and honesty in my friends. I know life gets busy for everyone, and we may not talk every day.  But regardless, I would be there if they needed me.

HOW DID YOU CHANGE OVER THE YEARS?
I have changed in several ways over the years. I am not as uptight as I used to be with my kids. I am still strict about certain things but lax on others. I have learned that life is precious and that sometimes, spending time with those you love is more important than getting the dishes done.

IF YOU COULD CHANGE ONE THING ABOUT YOURSELF, WHAT WOULD IT BE?
If I could change one thing about myself, it would be how I see myself.  At times, even though my mind knows I am a small size, I see myself as a big woman still. 

WHAT DO YOU HOPE FOR THE FUTURE GENERATIONS?
I hope future generations will take the time to get to know one another and connect in a meaningful way.  I hope future nurses can connect with experienced nurses without any discord or animosity.