Have you ever stopped to notice how life can lead you in ever tightening circles until you finally pick up your head to see the flag waving with the “X Marks The Spot” on it? Some folks are a little quicker on the uptake than I have been. If there was a defined path, I meandered all over and around, disturbing any sort of breadcrumb trail left to help me out. I’ve almost always taken the long way, BUT I have finally captured the flag!
“Ok, well, cool. I guess? What the heck is she talking about?” This tendency to coach, to listen and help people work through their problems has been with me for as long as I can remember. I was the girl who friends came to as the negotiator for lunch table drama in elementary and middle school. The one who’s house was the sanctuary and, along with my mom, was the ear for all my friends teenage angst over boys, drinking, drugs, sex and the pressure of growing up in general.
In college I studied Chemistry. To me it was almost like learning a mystical language, I love it. And in a group of the very technical minded, I became a magnet for long heart to heart discussions about feelings, coping with pressure, relationships and dealing with the repercussions of a suicide of a student on campus. Some of my closest friends from college came from these discussions.
The pattern continued as I went to work, returned to get my Master’s. I became a Science Teacher and ended up working with the students that faced bullying, strained home relations, stress of abusive teenage relationships and teen pregnancies.
In the meantime, I have been raising my three beautiful babies. Their friends have become our “borrowed babies”. I have worked to provide stability to those children as well, by their choice, dealing with mental illness, learning disabilities, and trust issues. Gaining their trust by not dictating and actually listening to their point of view and treating them as individuals.
After surviving a sexual assault that ended my teaching career, I began working with race teams to get out of the house. As my responsibilities grew, I ended up working within the teams using those same talents to manage personality differences, calm nerves pre-race, as well as manage the public relations side.
Opportunities arose to work with different non profit organizations, raising awareness for issues that I believed in. Because of those ties, I was tapped to help with a Veterans organization. Creating a promotional tour as well as the groundwork for the actual organization. It was wonderful to work with those who have served our country, to give back to those who promised their all for the rest of us. I have gone on to work individually with Veterans to help as a check in buddy for PTSD and to help another get through and beyond an abusive relationship and an unemployed Veteran make a plan and get into a training program with a guaranteed job.
This past summer, I joined my friend to bring awareness to mental health issues and inspiration to others by starting a blog at Inspiration In The Field. Its about hope, moving forward through tough times, and the power of changing perspective.
My work with the Coach Training Alliance was the step to formalize the services that I have provided all along the way. So, while Weeds and Wildflowers begins its business in 2017, I have been doing this type of work for a long while now.
Blessings to you all!