Unconditional Love

I had it all... a well paying job, a lovely home, and a healthy family.  Then, why did it feel like my life was over?  It made no rational sense.  Yet nothing makes sense when you're in the throes of depression. I was numb, hopeless, angry, despondent. I could see no light of the end of the very dark tunnel I was spiraling down.

Thankfully, the mustard seed of faith within me prevailed and I had the courage to come face to face with the reality that I needed to make some changes in my life. I was forced to leave behind the career that no longer served me and get serious about reconnecting with the person at my core.  I needed to find my voice and learn how to nourish my soul.  I needed space and time to heal from wounds that were deep within.

The notion of abandoning the story of who I was in favor of leaping into the unknown was terrifying for me and my husband. What would our lives look like with a dramatically reduced income? Would we be able to pay the mortgage? Would we be able to provide for our son's future? Would we ever be able to retire? So many questions swirled about our heads. Yet there really was no choice. I could continue on the same path and die or I could make new choices and live. Dramatic? Yes, but it was my truth.

My husband could see that I was being crushed by not living in alignment with my purpose.  And so, instead of panicking, abandoning me, or spurring any sense of guilt, he stood by me.  He expressed unconditional love for me at a time when I needed it most. He gave me space and allowed me to explore possibilities for my future.  He watched me paint, decorate cakes, sew, make crafts, and complete home projects.  He watched me dream and develop business plans.  When I decided that I wanted to further my education by attending nutrition school, he expressed concern about the cost but ultimately gave me the green light to invest in myself.  I'm now just a few weeks away from completing my program and am investing further in my education by enrolling in a business development program.  I am we'll on my way to a new career and have confidence that I can build a successful business and more than make up for income lost during the time I was getting my life back. I feel incredibly blessed for having the support of a partner whose unconditional love helped me move toward a new story, a renewed sense of hope, a restored life.

Listening To My Body

Yesterday I got up early... typical for me. However, I decided to skip my trek to the gym and finish mulching the garden beds around my home. I had started the project over the weekend by preparing all of the areas. I raked up dried leaves and other remnants from autumn and pulled weeds that had returned from their winter slumber. The rhythm of transferring the mulch to my wheel barrel and on to my garden beds, one shovel full at a time, became my workout and a kind of meditation. I enjoyed the cool dew on my ankles and the heat of the steamy mulch on my hands. The smell?  Deliciously earthy, but a little hard on my nose.

Several hours later, I took a moment to take in the beauty of my completed work.  Ah, there's nothing like the vibrant color of hyacinth and tulips against the chocolate brown of newly strewn mulch.

Then, the exhaustion of all of my hard labor hit me like a ton of bricks. I thought I was in fairly good shape from all of my recent workouts and yoga, but I had been using muscles that, like the weeds in my garden beds, had awoken from their slumber.  I ached all over. A hot shower and fresh clothes would surely help restore my energy, so upstairs to the master bath I went.  Yet after my shower I found myself wobbling down the stairs as though my muscles had bathed in concrete. Surely a hot cup of tea would fix all that ailed me.  Then, I could move on to business tasks I had planned for the day.

But... I... just... couldn't... move.

There was a time in my life when I would've just powered through. I would've sucked it up and ignored the fact that my body was screaming for rest. But I'm older and wiser now. I have finally learned to listen to my body. So I put my work aside and asked myself what I could do to nurture myself in this moment. What did I really need? I needed to make myself another cup of tea, sit on the sofa, cover up with my fleece blanket, and read. When even reading felt like too much, I napped. There was no guilt, no regrets, just self-care. By afternoon, my strength returned. Miraculous? Yes, when I consider that it took decades for me to finally learn to listen to my body!

By evening, I was back in the swing of things. I worked on some promotional packets for my business, set some new goals, participated in a conference call, and reminded myself why I am making a career transition to health coaching. I want to help other women figure out how to take care of themselves, to put themselves first, to eat better, move more, reconnect with their spirit and be the vital women they were born to be.

If you think you could benefit from the guidance of a health coach, a.k.a., a teacher, a compassionate listener, a cheerleader, an accountability partner, then we need to talk. Do you want to live a happier, healthier life? Do you want to reconnect with the woman at your very core? I can help you get there. What are you waiting for? Call me. It doesn't matter where you live. Phone sessions work just as well as face to face... sometimes even better as we can chat while wearing PJ's, cup of tea in hand.  www.synchronessence.com