*During the ID Revolution national event this past April at the Omni in Frisco, Texas, Ashley helped train 1,000 people on social media tips.*

The unpredictability of life is what keeps it interesting. But sometimes the curve balls are more detrimental than exciting. How someone handles change is a reflection of their character. Maya Angelou said, “I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.” Ashley Cooper has definitely started throwing back.

A Texarkana native, born and raised, Ashley played college softball at Texarkana College. She has taught first grade, and she has styled hair. At 44, Ashley has recently experienced a divorce and a career change. These are two major stressors for most people. While she admits there have been hard days, she has chosen to keep moving forward.

*Ashley enjoyed spending Thanksgiving with her father, Jeff Taylor, and her step-mother’s family.*

“Starting over is scary. I think many people stay in relationships because of the fear of the unknown. I just jumped in headfirst, did the best I could, and made the best out of the situation. Even when divorce is something you want, it doesn’t mean it’s easy. You don’t erase 17 years of memories,” Ashley explains.

Ashley has coped with this challenge as many people do. She has built a social media following and uses the platform to share her struggles and encourage others. “Social media is my jam … I have really used social media as a personal diary and a window into my world. Sometimes I am funny. I can be serious, and I’ve even cried on my live videos. I show the good, bad, and ugly,” Ashley says.

When social media wasn’t enough, Ashley took a bold step and asked for help. At one point, the depression was too much, and Ashley began a medication regimen. “There were many days I did not get out of bed, answer the phone, or reply to texts. There were days I did not eat, and I sunk into a depression,” Ashley says.

*Friends Jennifer Shelton and Brandi Vickers joined Ashley for her first girls night out at Twisted Fork after her divorce this past summer.*

It was only a temporary fix, but it was enough to get through that rough patch, and eventually she was able to quit the medication entirely. “I am very transparent on my journey, and I got on [medication] in July. It did its job of making me numb with no feelings. One day I woke up and decided I didn’t want to be that girl anymore. I have been off my [medication] since October, and I feel like I have finally found Ashley again.”

Ashley admits that divorce is hard, but she wakes up every morning feeling grateful. Divorce definitely does not erase the memories. But she makes a conscious choice to make every day a good one. She chooses to be positive and focus on creating new memories. “My advice to women starting over is this ... you can do it. It won’t always be strawberries and champagne, but you will look up in six months and say, ‘I did it. I am okay.’”

Ashley is throwing back against divorce.

Strike one.

Nine years ago, Ashley got involved in Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) by accident. “I did a weight loss challenge with my previous company and had amazing results that led me to sharing what I was doing with friends and the rest is history,” she says.

*Darla Wilf, Angie Sikorski, Morgan Jayaprabhu, Amanda Willis, Helen Pennington, Christi Potter and Ashley during a tournament in Little Rock at Burns Park on Halloween weekend.*

Unfortunately, that company changed their compensation plan, and Ashley left them for a new venture with ID Life. ID Life is a health and wellness company that focuses on customized nutrition plans. They utilize the customer’s own DNA to determine which vitamins and products her body needs. They offer products for weight loss, energy, wellness, hydration, and sleep.

Although some detractors argue that MLM is nothing more than a pyramid scheme, Ashley has a logical response to this complaint. “The truth is everyone works in a ‘pyramid’ in almost all jobs. The question you have to ask yourself is as an employee will I ever make more than my supervisor, boss, CEO, or owner? The answer is no. In a traditional job your pay is set; in network marketing your pay is a reflection of the work you do.”

She might be on to something. While the rest of the world suffered when the economy took a major hit from the COVID-19 pandemic, Ashley’s business continued to thrive. Although the face-to-face events were canceled, the company utilized Zoom meetings. They chose to pivot, and it worked. “I had a great year because our products are consumable. Most everyone wants to look better, feel better, and perform better so I was able to keep products moving throughout my business.”

Clearly, Ashley was born with an entrepreneurial spirit. She says she will never say no to an opportunity to earn extra cash, which is how she also became a realtor one year ago. She sat down with her brokerage in December and laid out a plan for 2022. She wants to serve five to ten families in the buying and selling of their homes this year. “I have big dreams and goals, so I thought why not add another stream of income. Now being by myself, I am excited that I have options to earn income in different ways,” Ashley says.

Losing her first business after building it up for six years would have been a huge blow for most people. Ashley caught that curve ball, changed direction, and threw it back.

Strike two.

*Ashley attended a Top 100 Dinner for ID Life in Frisco with her friends, Pam Klim, Donna Cash and Elizabeth Ganoung.*

Newly divorced and building a new business, Ashley has an opportunity to determine what her next chapter will look like. “Like I said earlier, even if you want the divorce, it doesn’t make it easy. I think going to places alone is probably the hardest for me now. I am now the single girl that’s invited or the third wheel. I know this is only temporary, and I have to heal my heart before I allow anyone else into mine,” Ashley says.

So she plans to go into 2022 with a positive attitude and feel grateful for the life she does have. She knows there are people praying for what she already has, and she will never not be thankful for her journey. “I am rebuilding me, my life, and my business. I see 2022 as a blank canvas that I am going to make beautiful.”

Ashley moves forward surrounded by love. She is a daddy’s girl and has four fur babies. Her chihuahuas are Daisy Duke, Molly Beth, and Jack. Goldie is her blind miniature pinscher. She enjoys reading, loves to travel, and plays competitive tennis.

When the waves swallow up a sand castle, few people sit down and immediately start rebuilding, but that is exactly what Ashley has done.

Strike three.

“2022 is a new year for us all. I know I am setting personal and business goals for me. I challenge each of you to get out a piece of paper, write down two things you’d love to accomplish in 2022. Don’t just wish for an amazing 2022. Write it down, and go make it one. Even if you don’t accomplish your two things, I bet you will look up and see that you accomplished so much getting there,” Ashley says.

Ashley has taken life’s curve balls and thrown back strikes. She is taking practice swings right now with goal setting. It looks like 2022 is going to be a home run.

Feature Stories

When Life Throws Curve Balls