How 9/11 Changed Everything for Marty Ross-Dolen

A story of listening to the quiet voice inside

Marty Ross-Dolen spent her life preparing to be a psychiatrist. On September 11, 2001, while watching the towers fall with her children nearby, she realized it was time to let go. That moment shifted everything — leading her toward motherhood, teaching, and eventually her memoir, Always There, Always Gone.

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Sometimes we spend decades chasing an identity we thought we needed. Marty’s story is a reminder that you’re allowed to change your mind – even after investing years, even after building your whole life around one path. Here are a few takeaways from her journey:

3 Things to Think About

1. Silence can ripple through generations, shaping how we process grief without ever naming it.

2. The voice inside is often drowned out by expectation, yet it rarely disappears.

3. Letting go of one identity can create space for a new, more aligned one.

2 Things to Ask Yourself

• What expectations am I following that no longer feel true to me?

• Where in my life have I ignored a quiet voice asking me to shift?

1 Thing to Try This Week

Write down one decision you’ve been delaying because of fear or expectation. Take one small step toward testing a new possibility.

I’d love to know what resonated most from Marty’s story. Hit reply and share, or listen to the full conversation here: www.thelifeshiftpodcast.com/follow.

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