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

Seize The Moment

I had a most wonderful experience in the Chapters Store in Ancaster last evening.  I was looking for resources for preparing and promoting a keynote presentation.  I was working with the sales lady trying to find suitable material.  In doing so, I had the opportunity to tell her why I was looking for such material and I shared with her a bit of my journey to where I am today.  She was very interested and was inspired by what I am doing and the journey I have taken to get there.  She took down my information for this blog and my Facebook.  Unfortunately I didn't get her name.  (I sure hope you stop by to read it!)

Then, when I caught up with Stan again I was relaying my most wonderful experience to him.  There was a lady within earshot and she heard me saying how the young lady was inspired by my story.  So she boldly asked me to explain to her what I was talking about. Her daughter joined us shortly after our meeting.  I then took the opportunity to share with them what I am doing and why.  At the end we shared contact information and she would like to keep in touch and learn more.  I see this as networking - perhaps she will become a contact to run a workshop in the Hamilton area - who knows?

The sense of wholeness I now feel and the inspiration I am gaining from this experience and the ladies in my workshop is simply incredible.  It's definitely a win/win situation.  As I have told them, I am increasing my self esteem and self confidence as I go along and I am very hopeful that they are gaining the same.

The way I see it, my journey has just begun and I have so many aspirations, hopes and dreams that I will purposefully move toward.  For example, I am in the process of creating the outline for my book.  It will be a challenging but extremely rewarding undertaking I am sure.  I've been researching the publishing of a book which is quite interesting in and of itself.  I know that I am a very long way from that but knowledge is power and it is wonderful to be learning something that I really hadn't given thought to before.

Another aspect of finding oneself or validating oneself is personal branding.  I have had a Graphic Designer from Thinkink Graphic Design http://www.thinkinkgraphicdesign.ca/ come to design a personal brand for my "business" card.  As I don't actually have a business it is simply my personal brand, my contact information.  I am extremely excited to release it when we have the final product ready.  Thank you to Candace Armstrong - you are a creative genius!

So, as you can see, I am seizing every moment, every opportunity to inspire and encourage others.  I'm utilizing every opportunity to network and find opportunities to do what I am loving to do in this moment.  Thank you to everyone who is taking this journey with me and I am so privileged to be a part of your journey too.  If I can inspire you, encourage you or network with you in any way, please leave a comment and I will surely do what I can.

Until next time!

Val