Episode 6: Sunrises, Second Chances & Bayou Life 

Welcome to the Podcast

 
​[00:00:00] Welcome to Top Down Heart Open, a podcast for women in the magic middle, navigating what is next with the wind in their hair and their hearts wide open. Here we talk about starting over, rediscovering ourselves, new adventures, and living life on our own terms. It's about finding your voice and living fully, even when it's uncomfortable.
 
No filters, no perfection, just honest conversations. I'm your host, Kimberly Maturin, and I'm on a journey to rediscover life, love, freedom, and joy. I'm not a celebrity, nor am I an expert. I'm just a woman navigating this magic middle, one step at a time, one open road at a time.
 
If you are ready for real talk, fresh starts, and learning how to dream again, you're in the right place because life isn't over. It's just changing, and so are we. I'm so [00:01:00] glad you're here. Buckle up. The next chapter's waiting.

Why I Stepped Away

 
Hey everyone, it's been a minute. I had to step away for a while. Sometimes life asks you to pause, breathe, and just process. Life got really real for us over the past year. We experienced loss, watched family come together in the hardest moments, and made some big decisions about what really mattered. So, I had to step away for a while, but I'm back, and this next chapter is about slowing down, letting go of some things, embracing bayou life, learning to fish, probably failing a lot, and remembering that time with the people you love matters more than anything.
 
This episode is a little life update and a relaunch.

Grief and Family Bonds

 
2025 brought a lot of loss in our family, so I had to step off the grid for a bit. [00:02:00] We lost my precious Aunt Alicia, then not long after, my beautiful, wonderful grandmother. And at the end of last year, I watched my husband go through something no one ever wants to experience, the loss of his brother, his youngest sibling, and it happened so fast.
 
One moment you're living life, and the next you're navigating hospital rooms, Hospice care and the kind of grief that just sits heavy in the room. Watching someone you love lose a sibling is heartbreaking. I'll be honest, I didn't always know how to help. I did feel a little helpless.
 
It felt like wave after wave. But what I did witness was something powerful, family showing up. He and his siblings rallied. His niece, nephew, our children, everyone came together the way that families do when the unthinkable things happen. [00:03:00] It reminded me of how precious those bonds are, especially because I'm so close to my own siblings.
 
It made me reflect deeply on that connection and as 2026 began, our family faced another heartbreak when our beloved Aunt Donna lost her husband of almost 50 years after already losing her only son a few years earlier Moments like those do make you question things. You ask why, you search for meaning, and sometimes the only answer is that life is fragile.

Selling the House

 
In the midst of all those things, we made another big decision.
 
We sold our home, and that's not a small thing.
 
This is the beautiful home. The home you worked for your whole life. The one that feels like the pinnacle, the goal you've been climbing towards. But somewhere along the way, you realize [00:04:00] something important. Time matters more than real estate. We want more time together, more experiences, less stuff, less pressure, less maintaining things that don't really add to life.
 
So, we've moved, simplified, pared things down, and honestly, it feels freeing. Something that made me smile recently was visiting my son in his first place Let me tell you something. It's hilarious watching your child become the adult in the room. I went digging through his pantry looking for a bag of Doritos, and I got scolded for messing his things up.
 
I had to laugh because for years, he's been messing up my pantry. Watching my son move into his first place has been one of the greatest joys of this season. He told us he was ready for his own place, his own space, and [00:05:00] honestly, that's exactly what every parent hopes for.
 
He's been working hard alongside his dad, learning, growing, and building a future for himself. when he accepted the job that'll take him out of town, another step forward in his career and independence.
 
As proud as I am, it was one of those moments that makes you realize your life is changing. Seeing him spread his wings and create a home of his own made my decision to sell our house feel even more right. The house served its purpose for our family. It held years of memories, celebrations, and milestones, but now we're entering a different season.
 
The kids are building lives of their own. Ben and I are looking at what's coming next for us, and the more we talked about it, the more we realized that our future isn't tied to square footage or things. It's tied to the experiences, adventures, and spending time together while we can. [00:06:00] That's when I knew it was time, not because I stopped loving our home, but because I started loving the idea of living even more.

Bayou Life and What’s Next

 
Life really does come full circle. These days, my mornings look a little different. I wake up to beautiful bayou sunrises. I'm learning to fish, learning how to crab, cooking on the Blackstone, slowing down in ways I never really allowed myself to before and I just got an e-scooter with a dog basket between the foot pedals. Yes, I know, a dog basket. So now I cruise around with my dog like we own the bayou, and honestly, life is good. It's different. It's quieter. It's simpler. But sometimes the hardest seasons are the ones that remind you what really matters: family, time, sunrises, [00:07:00] Doritos in your kid's pantry, riding an e-scooter with your dog Life may not always go the way we plan, but there is a beauty in slowing down, finding laughter where we can, appreciating simple moments, whether that's a bayou sunrise, a messy kitchen experience, or another one of my fishing fails.

Thank you for spending a little time with me today. This one is short and sweet, but there's a lot more to come. More stories, more adventures, and probably a few more disasters are coming your way soon.

You'll get to witness my fishing failures, and hopefully some wins happen really soon. My fake cooking show is also on the way, and I'll be releasing the podcast Ben, and I recorded back in 2025. We'll call it the throwback edition Thanks again for spending your time with me today. Until next [00:08:00] time, take a deep breath, enjoy this moment, stay tuned. 

Believe me, the best is yet to come
 
So, wherever you are today, take a deep breath and remember, it's never too late to rediscover yourself, to dream your dreams, and live the life you were meant for. Take a deep breath, roll those windows down, and keep your heart open. You are exactly where you're meant to be. This is our road now, and we don't have to drive it alone.
 
Thank you so much for listening. Until next time!