A Slap in the Face
The decision to become a Life Path and Mindful Living Coach was a life changing event for me. When you are looking, good things come from going on a personal journey. In my journey making headway felt like a journey itself because the journey was putting me to the test. That’s what I felt it was, a test. Although I failed many times, it was NOT a pass-fail test! The test was slapping me in the face telling me to pay attention. It said,
This is what I am giving you. Now WHAT are your going to DO with it?
My choice was to either use it for learning or let it fester in my soul.
I can say that my journey has been one that has done both. For instance, one reason I became a Coach was because of my experience as a teacher and leader. Another reason I became a Coach was because of the literal and figurative pain I have been through.
Everyone has a story. My story is unique to me and gives me a unique perspective to help others in my unique way.
In other words, the many parts of my past are the very things that have led me to become a Coach for individuals of all ages.
Career as a Teacher
One part of my personal journey has been to teach. My dream was always to teach. I literally came home from Kindergarten after the first day and told my mom I was going to be a teacher. And that is exactly what I did.
Teaching is in my soul. So I taught in the school system for about 15 years and taught K-12 music, band, choral, elementary music, Junior High English, Phys. Ed., and drama. I now teach piano and voice in my home to stay connected to that part of me.
Journey Through Alcoholism
My father’s journey from alcoholism to recovery was an earlier part of my own journey. His journey was also my journey. This journey became part of who I am. His addiction to alcohol began when I was a teenager. Life at home became strained. My father was a good man. The best. But, it turned our lives upside down. He made it through his battle but it left scars on all of us.
It’s easy to look at the downside of this experience, but I choose to take a look at what I learned. I learned so much about love, patience, hope, resilience, and empathy. Such valuable life lessons.
This journey is one of the things that led me to studying to become a Certified Trauma Informed Coach (expected graduation in 2024)
We are not bad people trying to be good, we are wounded people trying to heal.
Surviving Divorce
Another part of my journey was marriage and divorce. I was married for 15 years. The marriage saw hard times and we parted ways. The divorce was bitter and hurtful. However, I felt it was an opportunity and the beginning of a new journey. A tough, sad journey in which I learned so much. Again I choose to think about what it taught me. I realized that I was strong, capable, intelligent, and determined.
The question is not what you look at, but what do you see?
Living With Pain
Twelve years ago, I was suddenly having severe pain in my neck. Doctors thought I had been in an accident but I hadn’t. I did not leave my home for three months because the pain became so bad. I couldn’t sit down for 14 weeks because I would pass out. It was only several months later that I found out I was living with severe nerve pain. I have degenerative disc disease and bone spurs (hitting on nerves), arthritis in my head bones and tendinosis in my neck and shoulders. Next came injections and pain medication. Today I am functional only because of my tenacity and completely stubborn refusal to give in.
Living with nerve pain every day is something I wouldn’t wish on anyone. It has been a hard road that taught me so much about myself. I feel like God was literally pounding on my head to get me to listen. My next lessons were about Mindful Living. I needed to learn to slow down, pay attention to myself and my relationships, and face the things about myself that I needed to change. Other learning was that I am so much stronger than I ever thought possible, that I am ridiculously strong-minded, and have a “never give up” attitude. What I learned about myself pushed me to know more.
And one day she discovered that she was fierce, and strong, and full of fire, and that not even she could hold herself back because her passion burned brighter than her fears.
Journey from Survival Mode to...?
When I think back to these events beginning, 12 years ago, I wonder how I survived that kind of pain. For me, the world stopped because of pain. I was in survival mode. Working, teaching, cooking, and reading were not options for me. I basically couldn’t do anything! So, I spent days trying to balance my neck on my head in such a way that I could relieve the pain even if just for a few seconds. I researched what I could do and talked to my doctor. When I thought I couldn’t do anymore I waited for the next day so I could try again.
I wondered if my journey was leading me to a destination or if I should give up. What was really in store for me? Depression set in as it seemed my life was just one bad event after another.
Resilience: Never give up. Fall down seven times, get up eight.
Designing My Own Life Path
You may think I am blowing my own horn, but I’m sharing the positives of what I learned in this journey. The truth is that this pain became a wake up call for me. With God literally hitting me over the head to get my attention I understood that it was time for me to change my life. It was time to learn from all the negativity and turn it around. Yes I was still negative. I had childhood trauma, I went through a terrible divorce, I was dealing with pain, had to quit teaching, and was angry. I looked in the mirror and said to myself that enough was enough. How else, besides teaching could I use my journey to be of service and feel like I am making a difference?
I decided to put my heart into finding a way to help others overcome their obstacles and Design the Mindful Life Path of their Dreams. I knew I could use my pain and all my years of teaching to be of service to others in a very meaningful way.
As I was forced to become quiet in my life I used the quiet to find my next step. My calling if you will. The quiet of pain. Sounds funny to write that but it is so true. Illness forces you to look at life from a different angle
The quieter you become, the better you are able to hear.
Life Coach
So, I became a Life Path and Mindful Living Coach. The opportunity to help people discover their talents and work toward their dreams is both an honor and a blessing. Seeing someone discover and design their path to a more purposeful and mindful life is so worth my whole journey. It feeds my soul.
To Coach or to be Coached is a wonderful gift. A Coach is an accountability partner and/or cheerleader. Someone who listens and questions without judgement. Someone to push a little when needed and help you reach your goals and design your path forward.
I invite you to Contact Me to find out if we are a good fit for each other.
I know that working with you will be a great gift!
Your Journey
It is a journey you are on. A life journey that only you experience. Sometimes the path is crooked, sometimes there is a fork in the road and sometimes you can’t see the road. A Coach is someone for those times. Someone to help you set your goals, overcome your fears, move yourself to your greatness with a plan designed just for you.
I am looking forward to meeting you.
