Switching Teams: What Coming Out Later in Life Taught Me About Love, Conquering Fear and Accepting Change

Dawn's comfortable existence as a stay-at-home wife and mother of three disappeared as soon as she came out as a lesbian. Although it would be one of the most difficult experiences of her life, it would also be one of the most liberating- at long last the 39-year-old was comfortable in her own skin, even as she realized everyone around her was thrown into chaos. Life got even more interesting when she fell in love with her best friend of 10 years and discovered the feeling was mutual.

It was difficult to imagine what her life would look like after such a dramatic change, and at times she felt the weight of the emotional fallout on her shoulders. But change is as inevitable as Dawn's need to be true to herself. "My coming out was the first step in reclaiming my life as it was supposed to have been," she writes.

Switching Teams tells the story of Dawn's newfound awakening and the reactions of friends and loved ones as they came to terms with her determination to live an authentic life, no matter what the cost. Throughout her fearless journey, Dawn experienced profound sadness and grief but also true peace and joy, thanks to the love of her life and unexpected support from those who mattered most.

Freelance writer Dawn Elizabeth Waters works as a real estate agent, writes a real estate blog, and co-owns an event photography business in Debary, Florida. She studied sports administration at Stetson University and was married for nearly 20 years before realizing she was a lesbian and getting a divorce.

Dawn, a Detroit native, supports LGBT causes and coaches youth sports, and is a lifelong Detroit Lions and Red Wings fan. She and her wife, Yvette, have four sons. She admires her wife, children and anyone who has stared fear in the face and survived in spite of it.