12 APRIL 2025 By Sherry Sklar Meg Bishton left a stable career, sold nearly everything she owned, and spent a year traveling through 15 European countries. The journey forced her to confront self-doubt, fear, and reflection, only to return home with a newfound purpose: helping other women navigate life’s crossroads. Through her coaching business, Get Lost with Meg, she helps clients let go and find themselves. Many people feel stuck in routines that no longer fulfill them. But what if getting lost is a means to finding clarity? After nearly two decades in corporate America, a divorce, and an empty nest, Meg Bishton found herself at an intersection. Feeling unmoored, she set off on a solo gap year in Europe, a journey that redefined her understanding of what it meant to be lost. She wasn’t searching for something outside herself. She was discovering who she had always been. Get Lost with Meg is a coaching practice that helps women move through life’s transitions with clarity, confidence, and purpose. Uncertainty isn’t an ending, as many of us often dread. It’s the beginning of something new. Meg’s story is a familiar one. Many women spend years as parents, spouses, or caregivers before realizing that they’ve never stopped to ask, “What comes next?” For some, the realization is gradual. For others, it is like being jarred into awareness, a moment when life demands change. “I was in financial planning for almost 20 years. I was successful but on autopilot, caring for everyone else like many women do. It wasn’t until my daughter moved out that I realized I had never truly stopped to ask myself what I want,” Meg said. The answer revealed itself during her year in Europe, where tourist visas dictated her movements, forcing her to leave each country as her stay expired. This improvisational hopscotch forced her to think on her feet, be open to new experiences, embrace the unknown, and eliminate any lingering doubts about her resilience. “Traveling solo forced me to figure out who I am,” Meg said. “Without the noise of other people’s expectations, I asked: ‘What do I like? What do I want to do today? Who am I when I’m not taking care of others?’ Each place taught me something new about myself.” Meg’s approach combines mindfulness and Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) to shift self-limiting beliefs and encourage breakthroughs through neural growth. “Self-discovery is at the heart of everything I do. I believe that true personal growth happens when we turn inward and truly listen to what we want and need,” she affirmed. A certified Jay Shetty life coach and yoga instructor, Meg understands the mind-body connection and its role in physical and mental health. Her holistic approach integrates mindfulness practices, including creative expression through painting, journaling, and movement. Through one-on-one coaching and group programs, Meg helps clients shift their mindsets, embrace self-compassion, and set meaningful, aligned goals. “Most women start with my 12-week program, The Catalyst,” she explained. “It builds a foundation, and from there, we figure out what’s next.” Many clients come after years of focusing on others to figure out a new direction forward. Meg’s priority is to create the right pathway toward reconnection and empowerment. For those interested in exploring what’s next, she offers a complimentary discovery call to help women determine if coaching is the right fit. She’s also hosting a four-part virtual workshop in May, “Who I Am and Who I Am Becoming,” designed to help participants identify and break through limiting beliefs. Meg believes that often, the answers lie within, and perhaps with a bit of guidance, new horizons solidify. getlostwithmeg.com Arcadia life coach helps women embrace life’s challenges Meg Bishton set off on a solo gap year in Europe, which prompted her to open a life coaching business called Get Lost with Meg. PHOTO: MONI PROCTER The Future of Preventative Healthcare. Every change in your body leaves a trace. Thermal Imaging helps you see it. Using state-of-the-art thermal imaging systems, this non-invasive screening method captures and analyzes your body’s heat emissions to detect physiological changes before symptoms appear. It’s an invaluable tool for monitoring inflammation, injuries, chronic pain and even identifying certain cancers—giving you a proactive advantage. NO RADIATION • NO CONTACT • NO DISCOMFORT FDA APPROVED IN 1982 AS AN ADJUNCT FOR BREAST SCREENING BREAST SCANS • UPPER BODY SCANS • FULL BODY SCANS Take charge of your well-being. Schedule your appointment today! Call 480.284.2222 DENOVOSCAN.COM 4040 E. Camelback Rd. Suite 151 Phoenix, Arizona 85018

13 APRIL 2025 By Kylie de Best Thanks to companies like Pandora, charm jewelry was a popular way to express oneself in the 1990s and early 2000s… and nowadays, too, with TikTok videos showing Pandora “unboxings” and charm bars popping up all over the world. Julia Lotz was bitten by the charm bug, but she noticed the price added up quickly each time she added a charm to her necklaces and bracelets. So she took matters into her own hands by launching Cactus Charms AZ to introduce the art form to friends, family, and beyond. Julia loved jewelry from a young age. She could always be found making friendship charm necklaces, which her mom would have her make as gifts for birthdays and holidays. In her junior year, after numerous compliments and questions about where she found her jewelry, she was inspired to start her own business. Word of Cactus Charms AZ spread fast, and in December, Julia hosted her first event with a mobile charm bar. Customers could buy a $20 bracelet or $40 necklace and add charms at no additional cost. The business offers custom pieces, couple’s sets, fine jewelry and more. “Most charms can cost up to $8 each, but I center my brand around affordability, especially since my demographic is high school and college girls,” she said. That first event led to a turning point as the business shifted from being more of an online store to a mobile charm bar. She started getting more inquiries from shops and was introduced to The Valley Girl Market, which allowed her to learn how to arrange the carts to create the best customer experience. As sales started to grow, Cactus Charms became an LLC. “I have to keep track of everything that comes in and goes out. With the tax license comes a wholesale license, so I can buy wholesale – officially shifting my hobby to a full-blown business – and allowing me to offer even more charms,” Julia said. One of Julia’s other hobbies is competitive swimming, and she struggled with the tricky clasps on her necklaces every time she attended a meet. Because of this, her pieces are made with strong magnetic clasps. Julia also works with the Phoenix Special Olympics swimming program. Cactus Charms AZ gives back a percentage of its profits to the nonprofit. After graduation, Julia plans to continue Cactus Charms AZ while immersing herself in the college experience – she’s currently undecided but leaning toward the University of Michigan Ross School of Business, and plans to study business, AI engineering, and go pre-law. “Cactus Charms AZ has definitely been a learning experience and meaningful way for me to dip my toe into the world of business,” Julie said. “As I move on to the next steps, I hope to one day pass down operations to a younger person who reminds me of myself at 17 – when I first started CCAZ. But no matter what, I know I’ll still be making jewelry for my future friends and roommates, just like how it all started!” cactuscharmsaz.com PCDS senior charms jewelry lovers with mobile business Along with the online shop, Cactus Charms AZ participates in various events with its mobile charm bar. PHOTOS COURTESY OF JULIA LOTZ Julia Lotz. As featured in Arcadia News January 2025 As featured in Arcadia News ARCADIA • BILTMORE • CAMELBACK CORRIDOR JANUARY 2025 VOL. 32 NO. 10 Chase Sorosky set an Arizona state diving record and was also recognized as one of the top NCAA recruits. PAGE 34 Argent Alpha is a workout group for men over 50 that aims to help them regain control of their health and fitness. PAGE 12 The ninth annual AZ Children’s Business Fair featured 140 unique, kid-created startups. PAGE 22 BE “HARDER TO KILL” GET DOWN TO BUSINESS EAT, SLEEP, DIVE MAKING MEN OVER 50 HARDER TO KILL Founded by Arcadia resident Scott Jagodzinski Become Harder To Kill—Apply Now Only 6 of 10 Founding Memberships Remain Scan or visit argentalpha.com Join a community of driven men over 50 from 12 states — and growing — who are torching fat, building muscle, and defying age. Argent Alpha’s evidence- based online program fuses mindset, sleep, nutrition, fitness, and support to unleash your vitality. Local events to kick off this year!