What a Week

This has been quite an incredible week in my life.  Right up there as one of THE most incredible weeks in my life! (The births of each of my children take top spots)

I have made so many positive, encouraging, and empowering connections that, with each one, my head simply spins.  I am hearing the same affirmations over and over again, "You can do this!", "I see your passion!."  Things are falling in to place for me to get phenomenal training and personal and business coaching.  All I can say is WOW!

My journey has brought me to this place not by chance but with work and determination to get here.  I feel that I am on the threshold of success and I just need to take those critical "next steps" to do it.  I am using every resource that I have available to me in order to do that.  I thank those who have given their time, expertise and encouragement, you've changed my world!

Let me give you a little background.  In 2001 I was a single mom working as a custodian at a private high school.  One morning while mopping the floor I decided that I wanted more out of life.  I asked myself if I wanted to retire doing that job or if I even wanted to be doing it a year from then.  The answer was very clear, "No!"  So, I took the steps I needed to take in order to move forward.  I knew I needed more education ( I only had high school) so I enrolled in college at 38 years old.  I was suffering a great lack of self esteem and self confidence so this was WAY out of my comfort zone.  The first day of classes I asked myself what I was doing there.  Ultimately I graduated and began an Administrative Assistant career.

Between 2004 and now alot has happened in my journey.  I have overcome my lack of self esteem and built up my level of confidence.  It has come from the inside out.  I determined, again, that I wanted something better for me personally.  I wanted to be stronger, healthier and happier with who I am.  I took opportunities to step outside of my comfort zone and really challenge myself.  In many cases early on it was others believing in me that gave me the faith and confidence for the challenges.  I am SO glad that I believed and took those chances.  I have grown and developed as a person and I AM healthier and happier than ever before.  The support of family, friends, peers and acquaintances makes all the difference to one's success or failure.

So here I am now at this juncture in the journey with new possibilities and challenges ahead.  A new set of "next steps" to be taken and I am ready to embrace them and forge ahead to the success that awaits me.  I am learning the steps, taking the steps and I will reap the benefits of the work I am putting into it. 

I have far too long been sitting on my dreams, it's now time to take ACTION.

A-ccountability
C-onfidence
T-rust
I-nspiration
O-utcomes
N-ever say never

Are you ready to take ACTION in your journey? 

Until next time,

Val

An attitude Of Inclusivity

In discussion at the end of an anti-bullying workshop yesterday we were talking about differences in people.  That discussion prompted a memory for me. 

When I was at the hospital with my mother a couple of years ago there was a woman in the emergency department with her little baby about 2 years old.  I don't know for sure what condition this precious child had but what comes to mind is Progeria - the disease where people age rapidly at a very young age.  I couldn't imagine how this poor mother felt until I actually went over and spoke to her.  I said hello and then spoke to her baby who immediately took my finger and smiled at me as most babies would.  This mother said to me, and I quote, "Doesn't she frighten you?"  How horribly sad is that?  This poor mother lives in this world with her child and she worries that this angel of a baby frightens people.  I said, "No, she doesn't frighten me she is your angel."  I asked her name and the mother said it was Rachel.  The weariness showed in this poor lady.  I wish I had asked to keep in touch with her to support her if I could.

What we should remember as a society is that regardless of this child's looks there is a beautiful and precious soul in there that needs all of the same things we do.  She, her spirit, needs to feel love, nurturing and acceptance just as we do. Her soul will desire to experience success and fulfilment just like we do.  The fact that she looks different on the outside does not change who she is on the inside until she is treated differently, or horribly, by those who interact with her.

Much the same can be said for those with physical disabilities like having to use a wheelchair or assistive devices or have visible scarring.  They are beautiful, wonderful spirits who have challenges that we don't have but they also have the same desires that we have.  The same goes for different cultures, races, religions and sexual orientations.  They are spirits/souls and we should be conscious of that and not mistreat them.

So in light of the workshop, who are we to bully others?  Who are we to judge or offend others with our reactions to them?  Let your spirit acknowledge their spirit.

Let's appreciate and accept others regardless of circumstance.  Let's be all inclusive people!

Ah Ha!

Have you ever had an Ah-Ha moment?  I have and I hope that every person has at least one in their lifetime. I'm hoping that I have more as the feeling is totally incredible!

About a year or so ago I began writing a book.  I chose a title and outlined the chapter headings and even started chapter one.  I liked the title but it just never felt like "it".  I kept letting it rumble around in my head and didn't get back to writing too much.

Well recently while getting ready for one of my workshops in my head I was addressing the women and telling them that I am a work in progress.  Ah-Ha, A Work In Progress, that's "it"!!!!  So I have now restructured all of my chapter headings and written a new introduction and begun new, and improved, chapters.  In that Ah-Ha moment, I also envisioned the cover of my book in relation to the theme.  It was VERY clear and visible in my head.  I couldn't be more excited about this project.  On my dreams list is to be an author and so my dream is closer than ever before.

I could never have imagined the power and impact of such a moment even if someone had asked me to describe such a thing.  I didn't force it to come, I didn't try to make it happen.  It just finally did.  I knew that I wasn't quite there but now I know for sure where to go with it.

My book will be a stand alone, self help book with fill ins from each chapter so the reader will want to really understand the context.  Then there will be a self assessment page for relating the topic to the reader's life experience.  I also plan to create a keynote program around the book that I could present at women's groups, conferences and ladies days.

Now I just need to get writing and let my book fully come to life.  I'll keep you posted.

Until next time,

Val