Fully Informed Life

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Fully Informed Life

LIFE COACH | PODCAST HOST helping women reimagine their lives as they write their next chaptHER Explore, dream, and discover your next chaptHER.

As a Certified Professional Life Coach, educator, and storyteller, Andrea Hecht helps women reimagine their lives, reconnect with their inner purpose, and reignite their fire within. Andrea provides individual and group coaching, helping you uncover your next chapter! For personalized guidance from Andrea Hecht, visit Fullyinformedlife.com and schedule your complimentary discovery session today. N

ow's your chance - step up and reimagine life today. Please scroll down to read an excerpt from Andrea Hecht's book of life and what led to her decision to utilize her skills and follow her passion for serving others.

45 YEARS OF CHAPTERS & STILL WRITING
An excerpt from Andrea Hecht's book of life:

 WELCOME TO THE WORLD: On March 31, 1977, Andrea Phyllis Haron made her grand debut at Sinai Hospital, Detroit, Michigan. Her loving parents and older brother quickly learned that the 3 ½ week delay was well worth the wait. Didn't they realize all good things come to those that wait?

 LAUNCHING MY FIRST BUSINESS: (age 10) My love of jewels inspired me to launch my first custom-bead bracelet business.

 LEAVING ON A JET PLANE: (age 14) Au Revoir, I'm leaving on a jet plane – without my parents – and heading to the south of France to spend the summer as an exchange student. Only having a year's worth of French training didn't stop me from traveling across the Atlantic Ocean.

 IT'S GREAT TO BE A MICHIGAN WOLVERINE: (age 18) For 18 years, I dreamed of being a marshmallow-throwing fan at a University of Michigan game. That goal became a reality after receiving my acceptance letter to the class of 1999.

 NEXT STOP, ST. MALO, FRANCE: (age 19) Time to travel across the Atlantic Ocean again as a proud recipient of a scholarship to study and live with a French family for the summer in St. Malo, France.

 J'ADORE PARIS: (age 20) Holding to my spirit for travel and new experiences, I spent six months living and studying the French language and culture. As a bonus, several weekends were spent experiencing European cities' sights, sounds, and tastes. J'adore Paris and the Eiffel tower view from my apartment window.

 THE CITY THAT NEVER SLEEPS: (age 21) 2 weeks after graduating from the University of Michigan, I packed my bags and headed to the City that Never Sleeps! Without a job, I pounded the streets of the concrete jungle, passing out my resume, and quickly landed a career as a Corporate Event Planner at Merrill Lynch. Planning events and traveling worldwide, including the US Open, French Open, and Wimbledon, this 22-year-old loved life.

 IMAGES I WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO ERASE: (age 24) Horrifying images forever engrained in my head…watching from the World Financial Center the United plane crash into the building, climbing down 35 flights of stairs barefoot, trying to make multiple calls to family members, and finally reaching my father after 45 minutes. Images and the urge to do something more socially rewarding are engrained in my brain.

 BACK TO THE CLASSROOM: (age 25) In pursuing a direct contribution to children and their families, I headed to Chicago, Illinois, to receive my Master of Education at Loyola University. While NYC and my career at Merrill Lynch were exciting, it was time to follow my gut feeling of needing to do something different.

 SIDE-HUSTLE: (age 26) I launched my second business, hand-knit purses and custom cigar box purses. My collections were sold in a Chicago shoe store and a clothing store in Michigan. While completing my master's program, I spent my free time knitting and making purses.

 CAREER MAKEOVER: (age 26) After a 2-year stint in Chicago, it was time to head back to New York. Brooklyn was where I would spend my days as a 3rd-grade teacher. After a successful first year of teaching, given the honor, I looped up to 4th grade with my class. I spent the next few years watching my students turn from caterpillars into beautiful butterflies, ready to sore!

 TYING THE KNOT: (age 28) We made singer Chaka Khan proud on July 30, 2005. Ain't nobody else who would do a hip-hop wedding dance with my husband!

 WELCOME TO MOTHERHOOD: (age 30) On July 21, 2008, we welcomed our son to the world. I chose to leave my Brooklyn classroom and be the dedicated teacher to our baby bundle.

 A FAMILY OF FOUR: (age 34) Our family became complete on October 28, 2011, when we welcomed our baby girl.

 THE MANY HATS: (age 34 – 41) I wore many hats throughout these years. Motherhood sprinkled with the launch of my Beautycounter business of educating others to lead a healthier lifestyle, a role as a preschool teacher, carpool driver, and event planner. These years were a time of self-exploration and discovering how I wanted to approach motherhood and beyond.

 FULLY INFORMING OTHERS: (age 41) In 2018, I launched the Fully Informed Life brand to educate others and inspire people to lead an informed lifestyle. I started writing Andrea's Anecdote column for the North Caldwell Magazine.

 SUMMER HAPPY PLACE: (age 44 - 45) Nice People's Place became my summer happy place. As program director and office manager, I spent the entire summer at one of the happiest places on earth, surrounded by people who make me laugh and want to have fun 24/7!

 BACK TO THE CLASSROOM: (age 45) After years of self-reflection, the greatest gift I gave to myself on my 45th birthday was to head back to the classroom. I continued to develop my skills for serving others and started my journey to becoming a Certified Professional Life Coach.

 CHANGING DIRECTION WITH PURPOSE: (age 45 and beyond) I am proud to announce the launch of the coaching division of the Fully Informed Life brand to help others lead a life of purpose and passion as they change directions and write the different chapters in their book of life. While there have been many pages written in my book of life, the one thread that has held is my desire to explore, connect with others, and challenge myself along the way. As each chapter is written, I face the unknowns with curiosity. My question for you is, where are you today? How would you like to write the next pages of your book of life?

05/27/2026

This video is from one year ago today.

Right before I stepped into the ring of the hardest fight of my life.

A few days earlier, I had heard the words breast cancer.
And on May 27th, I underwent my double mastectomy.

I posted this video before surgery saying:
“It’s go time… time to beat the s**t out of Cancer! These bi***es don’t stand a chance because I am strong AF and these girls are for fighting!!”

At the time, I was focused on surviving.
On getting through.
On fighting.

What I didn’t fully understand yet was that healing would become its own kind of fight too.

Because the “after” isn’t always simple.
Even when you’re grateful.
Even when you’re cancer free.
Even when everyone thinks you should just move on.

This past year has stretched me mentally, emotionally, physically, and honestly… personally in ways I’m still processing.

And maybe that’s why it feels so ironic that since my birthday in March, I found myself back in boxing class again.
Like somewhere deep down, I needed to reconnect with the fighter in me.

Not just the woman who fought cancer.
But the woman learning how to trust herself, her body, and her strength again.

I know so many women in this community are fighting their own battles right now too.
Maybe not cancer.
But grief.
Hormones.
Identity shifts.
Burnout.
Transitions.
The messy middle of becoming someone new.

And if this past year taught me anything, it’s this:

These girls are for fighting.
But we’re also for healing.
For rebuilding.
For rediscovering ourselves again too.

One year cancer free today.
And still learning my way forward. 💗

05/13/2026

First LIVE virtual studio class with -bcoleman

As I get closer to one year since my double mastectomy, moments like this hit differently.

A year ago, I wasn’t sure what movement would look like for me again after everything my body would go through.

Today, I logged on from home feeling stronger, more confident, and finally comfortable trusting my body again.

Pvolve has become so much more than a workout for me.
It’s been part of my healing.
Part of rebuilding strength.
Part of reconnecting with myself.

And honestly… being able to confidently do the movements at home now feels like a really big deal.

Because sometimes healing isn’t about “bouncing back.”
It’s about slowly rebuilding trust in yourself again.

05/06/2026

Movement isn’t always easy these days.
Some days, the exhaustion is real.
The motivation isn’t there.
And honestly, getting myself into my home gym felt harder than the workout itself.

But at this stage of life, movement has become a nonnegotiable for me.
Not about shrinking myself.
Not about punishment.
About strength.
Energy.
Mindset.
And reminding myself I’m still here… even on the hard days.

So I laced up, showed up, and started Day 1 of newest series.
And like always… I felt so much better after.

Sometimes the win isn’t crushing the workout.
It’s simply beginning.

What’s one thing you know helps you feel better… even when you don’t feel like doing it? ⬇️

04/24/2026

I almost didn’t come here today.

I felt off.
Blah. Anxious. Irritable.
The kind of mood where everything feels heavier than it should.

But I knew staying in it at home wasn’t going to help…
so I changed my scenery to , opened my computer, and started learning from

Today it’s about survivorship.

And here’s what I’m realizing…
Survivorship isn’t just about getting through something big like cancer.

It’s about what happens after.

The part no one really prepares you for.
When life is supposed to feel “back to normal”…
but you don’t quite feel like yourself.

For me, it’s navigating the side effects, the emotional swings, the “why do I feel like this?”

But for you…
this might look like something else.

The other side of the messy middle.
The part where you’ve made it through something
but you’re still figuring out how to be you again.

And maybe today isn’t about fixing it.

Maybe it’s about understanding it.
Getting curious instead of critical.
Giving yourself space instead of pressure.

Because this part?
It counts too.

So I’m sitting here, learning, listening…
and reminding myself this is part of the journey.

What does “the other side” look like for you right now?

04/19/2026

This pile doesn’t look like much.
Just clothes.

But it’s not about what fits or doesn’t.

It’s pieces from a different version of me.
Different routines.
Different body.
Different energy.
Different life.

Some of it doesn’t feel flattering anymore.
Some of it doesn’t match how I actually live right now.
And some of it… just doesn’t feel like me.

And that’s where it gets interesting.

Because “getting rid of clothes” sounds simple.
Until you realize what you’re actually sorting through.

The shifts.
The changes.
The things you didn’t plan for.
The version of you that lived in these.

Spring cleaning isn’t just removal.
It’s a reminder.

Of who you were.
And who you’re becoming.

So I’m curious…

What are you holding onto that no longer fits your life right now?

04/15/2026

When everything feels messy…
When you feel stuck, unmotivated, or a little lost…

It's usually not because you don’t know what to do.

It's because everything feels like too much at once.

That’s where I go back to my “buckets.”

Not a perfect plan.
Not a full reset.

Just simple anchors.

A few areas of my life that matter:
me
family
work
relationships
home

And then I ask:
What is one small thing I can do in just one of these today?

Not everything.
Just one.

Because when everything feels out of control, you don’t need a full plan…

You need something to hold onto.

An anchor.

And from there, you can move forward again.

Save this for the days when everything feels like too much.

03/28/2026

One year ago today, I sat in a parking lot and heard the words that would change my life.

But here’s the part I didn’t know then…

Life doesn’t stop when hard things happen.
You still have to make dinner.
You still show up for your kids.
You still answer emails.
You still go to events.
You still smile and look like you’re fine.

And on the outside, everything can look completely normal…
while on the inside, everything feels very different.

This year taught me a lot about survival, support, setbacks, and community.
But it also taught me something I see with so many women I talk to:

You can be living your life and quietly carrying so much at the same time.

Not just illness.
Change.
Loss.
Kids growing up.
A body that feels different.
A job that no longer fits.
A life that looks fine on paper but doesn’t feel the way you thought it would.

That space… that in-between space… is what I call the messy middle.

What I know now that I didn’t know then is this:
You can walk through something you never would have chosen and still find yourself on the other side and say,
I am still me.

Not the same.
But still me.

One year later. Cancer free. Still processing. Still learning. Still me.

I wrote more about this past year and what I’ve learned in my latest Substack if you want to read it. Link in bio.

03/26/2026

Sometimes you don’t realize how far you’ve come until someone asks you to tell your story.

I was recently featured in New Jersey Voyager, and the interview made me stop and really think about the path that brought me here. The pivots. The messy middle. The moments I didn’t have a plan. The moments that changed everything.

Fully Informed Life and The Next ChaptHER were not created because I had everything figured out. They were created because I didn’t. Because I know what it feels like to be in that in-between space where life looks fine on the outside, but inside you know something needs to change.

That is the work I do now.
I help women navigate that space.
Find clarity.
Find their voice again.
And figure out what comes next.

Thank you to New Jersey Voyager for the conversation and for sharing my story.

If you read the article, I’d love to know what part resonated with you. (link in comments)

03/21/2026

I was a guest on the Mastering Mitzvahs podcast with talking about reducing planning stress around mitzvahs and big life events.

What felt almost surreal was that we recorded this conversation and shortly after I hung up, I learned about the attack at my childhood temple. It was a reminder that these milestone events are about so much more than the party.

They are about family.
Tradition.
Community.
And moments that really matter.

That is the work I do now. Supporting the person going through the experience.

Because sometimes during big life moments, you don’t need another checklist.
You need someone to talk to.
Someone to help you think.
Someone to help you move forward.

I do offer 1:1 support for people who want that kind of space during big life moments.
🎧 Episode link in bio.

03/16/2026

Thirty six years ago, I became a Bat Mitzvah.

March 16, 1990 at Temple Israel.

My childhood temple. The place where so many of my Jewish memories live.

Looking at this photo this year feels different.

Especially after hearing the news on Thursday about what happened at Temple Israel.

Like many of you know, that building will always feel like home to me. So seeing the community come together in prayer and hearing that everyone was safe, and that even the Torahs were protected, brought tears to my eyes.

Looking at this photo now, I keep thinking about the girl standing there.

She had no idea what life would hold.
The chapters ahead.
The challenges.
The strength she would need to find along the way.

As I move through this month, with my 49th birthday coming up and almost one year since hearing the words “you have breast cancer,” I keep coming back to something I say often to the women I work with.

Life keeps handing us new chapters.

But the younger version of us is still in there.

Sometimes we just need to remember her.

I’m curious…
When you look back at your younger self, what do you think she would be most proud of about you today?

03/08/2026

Today is International Women’s Day, and I keep thinking about the women who helped shape my voice.

The ones who encouraged me to speak up.
The ones who showed me strength without even realizing it.
The ones who reminded me that our stories matter.

Our voices aren’t just meant to be heard.
They’re meant to be felt.

And when women share their truth, something powerful happens…
it creates space for other women to do the same.

Happy International Women’s Day.

Tag a woman whose voice has shaped your life.

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North Caldwell, NJ

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http://www.fullyinformedlife.com/, https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-next-chapther/id1670206410

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