A Story of Optimism, Healing, and Empowerment: Meet Pascale Buckingham

From a successful Feng Shui consultant in Switzerland to a resilient fighter in the USA, her story is a journey marked by profound challenges, realizations, and a testament to the human spirit. We are so proud to introduce you to Pascale Buckingham.

Here is another Wonder Woman and an incredible story. Her relocation to the U.S., driven by love for the South and the excitement of a new life, began a series of transformative experiences for her. Pursuing a future with her husband and their two sons, Pascale left behind her thriving career and familiar life in Switzerland, embracing the uncertainties of a new beginning. Because she is an adventurer and one of the bravest women I’ve ever met.

Of course, adapting to a new environment was challenging, but simultaneously, it was a never-ending adventure filled with joy and many positive experiences.

Although she often felt like an outsider, particularly among the highly organized Southern moms, many open-hearted people helped her navigate the new culture and everyday living. Her unique appearance, characterized by short hair and numerous tattoos, was often approached with questioning curiosity. Her youngest son, then ten, once came home from school and told her that a classmate had asked him if his mum had been in jail. A side note: she was not. 

In pursuit of a serene place, Pascale and her husband bought a summer house by the beach. The summer house was meant to be a sanctuary to share with family and new friends. However, after a severe fall from a 12-foot height ladder onto her back while painting the house, the haven turned her life upside down, leaving her with chronic pain and mobility issues. Pascale’s relentless efforts to walk again were overshadowed by persistent pain, often dismissed as psychological. After several months, she regained full mobility and could pursue her active lifestyle. Some persistent discomfort led her to push for further medical investigation, which led to a colonoscopy, revealing stage 3 colon cancer. This diagnosis was a turning point, forcing her to confront her mortality and reassess her life.

Confronted with her mortality, she reevaluated her relationships, distinguishing true friends from fair-weather ones. This period of introspection brought clarity and a renewed sense of purpose.

With mounting medical expenses and Pascale’s husband stepping down from the company to have more time for her, they decided to sell their house and move to a smaller one. Despite the challenges of chemotherapy, she found solace and strength in gutting and remodeling their new home. It was her way of asserting control, of finding beauty amid struggle. Her determination was unwavering. She refused to let the ladder accident or cancer define her. 

After her battle with cancer and her transformative journey, Pascale embarked on a new business venture. This chapter wasn’t just about survival; it was about thriving, about turning adversity into opportunity. Not only for her but for many other women as well.

Pascale’s story is a poignant reminder of the power of resilience and the human capacity to overcome it. Her journey, marked by pain, discovery, and rebirth, serves as an inspiration. It’s a story that underscores the importance of gratitude, understanding life’s challenges, and the relentless pursuit of transforming adversity into a force for positive change. 

Are you ready to read her story? I invite you to join her on this hope, strength, and renewal journey. Please meet with Pascale Buckingham.

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There is always a solution; you just gotta believe it, look for it, and make it happen.

Pascale, what inspired you initially to pursue Feng Shui consultancy in Switzerland, and how did those experiences shape your outlook on life?

The inspiration was my then Personal Assistant. She pointed out that with my creativity, love for people, and design, I should not be in my current role as head of administration in corporate life. It was such a weird moment, and I completely dismissed it, but like things in life, it always happens for a reason. Suddenly, Feng Shui was everywhere, and I got intrigued. After 3 years of studies, I started my own company. The following 13 years of consulting work made me even more sure about one thing; ”There is always a solution; you just gotta believe it, look for it, and make it happen.”

After 13 years of running a successful company, you and your family decided to move to the U.S. Can you share more about the challenges you faced in adapting to a new culture in the U.S.? How did your unique appearance and background impact your integration into the community?

The biggest challenge right in the beginning was to navigate through the school system for my sons. The difference to Swiss schools was shocking. I remember being on the first orientation day at elementary school: I had no idea what was happening. I was absolutely crumbling inside, but for my son, I put a brave face on and figured it out.  My appearance (hahaha, she laughs loud), yes, that was and can still be a point of conversation. We all try not to judge by appearances, but we do. Yes, I got hurt by certain remarks, but the tattoos also opened up conversations and, therefore, opportunities. 

Feeling like an ‘alien’ in your new community must have been difficult. How did you cope with this alienation, and what advice would you give others experiencing similar feelings?”

The unconditional love of my husband and my sons is my foundation and everything. When you feel like an alien, it is essential to pinpoint why that is. Pointing fingers at situations and people and playing the blaming game is easy. But the truth is, we had chosen to come to a different country and culture. Therefore, I had to look inside myself and find ways not to be the alien. To embrace the differences, to embrace new cultures. This, at some point, became tricky because I was about to lose who I am just for the sake of adapting.  But then life gave me some hurdles, and overcoming them allowed me to find myself again and start being who I am. 

The fall at your summer house was a significant turning point. Can you describe your emotional journey from the moment of the accident through your recovery?

It was a turning point in how this accident brought my innate emotions back to the surface. The will to be healthy, to be active, to be true to myself, and to bring joy. Of course, I felt frustrated because nobody diagnosed the fracture in my spine (that was only later discovered during an MRI for my cancer diagnosis), and I was in a lot of pain; I could not walk or move properly. But throughout the journey, I knew I would be ok one day, and that was my mantra. “Everything is going to be ok!”

When your pain was dismissed as psychological, how did you advocate for yourself, and what led you to insist on further medical investigation?

All involved doctors, therapists, and friends were lovely, and nobody told me directly that they thought I was probably crazy. But the implications were there. So, I just stopped trying to convince them that my pain was real and gave my body time to heal. I felt that was my energy well spent. After several months, the pain in my back disappeared, and I was elated. I could be physical again, train in Krav Maga, mountain bike, and hike. I was happy. However, there was still a considerable discomfort that I dismissed as being menopausal and problems due to my fall. But it got so bad that I could not take it anymore, and I revisited doctors and insisted on being checked out. This led to a colonoscopy, an emergency surgery the same night, and the diagnosis of colon cancer and getting an ostomy bag. 

Learning about your cancer diagnosis must have been a profound moment. How did this news change your perspective on life and your priorities?

Cancer just sucks. There are no words that really can describe that reality once it hits you personally. I had to change my perspective from “Poor me! Why me?” to “How can I fight this and win this battle? I changed my perspective to look for the situation’s positive and good. Never in my life before was I more dedicated to focusing on the positive: I was lucky that my chance of survival was excellent. I was fortunate that I survived my ladder fall, I was lucky where the tumor was located, I was extremely lucky that my ostomy was reversible, and I was lucky to have the most wonderful doctors and nurses throughout that journey. And above all of that, I was so fortunate to have the best possible husband and most loving sons at my side to go through it all. So, you see, my perspective on life and outcome is THAT I AM JUST ONE LUCKY LADY! 

You mentioned reevaluating your relationships post-diagnosis. How did you distinguish true friends from fair-weather ones, and what impact has that had on your life?

My friend group got smaller and truer, which mostly happened organically. I cherish those deep friendships immensely and am thankful for them daily. Every moment of life is so wonderfully valuable that I carefully pick with whom I surround myself. 

What strategies or mindsets helped you find strength and purpose amidst the challenges of chemotherapy and remodeling your new home?

Chemotherapy really is no joke indeed. My strategy was to be so very grateful and happy to be able to get it! That was the way to get healthy. Remodeling the house gave me another task: getting up daily, being physically present during construction, and planning and overseeing the work. I just needed to feel whole and useful, not sick. And again. My Mantra, my strong friend in my soul, kept telling me, “Hey, everything will be ok”!

Tell us about your business venture. What inspired it, and how does it reflect your journey of turning adversity into opportunity?

ReadyHer is a female-owned mobile company dedicated to empowering women through self-defense seminars.  We provide the skills and techniques necessary to become more aware of your surroundings and minimize the threat of becoming a victim. My inspiration is my friend and business partner, Kris McGovern. She embodies kindness, love, loyalty, and the strongest will to help others. When you know self-defense, it gives you back strength, and you take back control. 

The women are a target because of their gender. To use my skills to empower other women to be fierce and ready to fight for their survival is everything.

What inspired you to start a business that taught women self-defense through martial arts? How does this relate to your own experiences of survival and resilience?

One inspiration is a deep concern that women are a target because of their gender. To use my skills to empower other women to be fierce and ready to fight for their survival is everything. In our lifetimes, we get challenges thrown at us all the time. Every single time, we have the choice of how to act on it. Surviving emotionally and surviving physically, any of those, always starts with the choice we make. The choice of attitude towards the challenge, the intention of the help and support we are choosing, and last but not least, the absolute will to get through it. Every challenge is like taking on a fight- everyone will only win with the absolute willpower to win it. 

How have your challenges and experiences shaped the philosophy and approach of your self-defense enlightenment?

The culture of MMA is very self-serving, focusing on who is the strongest and most challenging. Over the years, my approach has shifted from the “look at me” scenario to using my knowledge and experience to benefit as many women as possible. And, of course, yes, I am still working on it every day. 

What specific aspects of martial arts do you find most empowering for women?

With the proper training, you don’t have to be a black belt and super strong to be able to defend yourself.  There are simple techniques that women of any age, any size, can learn to help protect themselves in times of danger.

Can you tell us about your partnership in this business? How did you and your partner come together, and what unique strengths do each of you bring to the table?

We met at Krav Maga training. We were drawn to each other because we both like to hit a little harder than most girls. Kris is the Martial Arts pro; to me, she is The Symbol of Martial Arts. She holds 4 black belts in both traditional martial arts and Krav Maga. She works with law enforcement and has an impressive knowledge about the subject. She is a certified instructor and is the main speaker at our seminar. I take care of the business side of ReadyHer.

Who is your primary target audience for these self-defense classes, and how do you tailor your sessions to meet their needs?

Our target audience is women who want to defend themselves regardless of age or physical condition. We tailor to our specific audience; for example, college girls get a different message than real estate professionals. Before each seminar, we determine who our audience is to ensure we deliver the best conferences. 

What changes or impacts have you observed in the women participating in your classes?

EMPOWERED is the right word for the change we can see. Women leave the seminar knowing their safety is not up to others but in their hands. Our tagline is “Not me. Not today.” that’s exactly the mindset we create.

You visit companies to give sessions and classes. How do you approach these corporate collaborations, and what has been the response from the corporate sector?

We speak to the organizer, determine the seminar’s parameters, and ensure we tailor the information to the specific audience. The feedback has been highly positive and beneficial. Both women and men in the corporate sector see the need to keep their female employees and customers safe. Up till now, word of mouth has been our most robust marketing tool. It is also an opportunity for a company to give back and stand out. 

What is your teaching methodology in these classes? How do you ensure women of all skill levels feel comfortable and empowered?

Our teaching methodology is “keep it simple.”  The more memorable and applicable the message is, the more likely it benefits them during duress.  It doesn’t go unnoticed that two very petite women teach the seminars in their fifties.  If we can do it, they can do it.  Our tools are not complicated and applicable to everyone in the room regardless of size, age, and physical condition.  Self-defense can be scary, so that we will deliver our message in a serious but fun and non-threatening tone.

What challenges have you faced in running this business, and how have you overcome them?

We have just started, and the biggest challenge is getting the word out about our service. Speaking of it, we thank you, Pinar, and the She.Work Team. Work for the opportunity. We overcome them daily by doing our job, being good at what we do, and showing our passion for keeping women safe. 

Looking ahead, what are your goals for the growth and development of your business? How do you envision its impact on women’s empowerment and safety?

Our goal is to reach as many women as possible. Our impact is that more and more women can go about their lives with the freedom that comes with confidence in their ability to avoid conflict and defend themselves when necessary.

Finally, Pascale, what key lessons have you learned through your experiences, and what message do you hope to share with others facing their battles?

I look at the problem from different perspectives and believe something good is coming from it. And obviously, never let go of the deep knowledge that “everything will be okay.”

How can an individual or company find you to connect? To ask for guidance or invite you for a seminar for their employees?

Email: [email protected]
Website: www.readyher.net
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/pascalebuckingham
Instagram: @readyher_selfdefense
Facebook: Facebook Page
TikTok: @readyherselfdefense