"How I've Grown Since We Last Talked - My Update:

Thanks to all of you who’ve reached out on social media, in person, via WhatsApp and by writing me a letter - your care means so much!

So what’s been happening with me and why am I recommending

pausing before we dive into 2024?

2021 was a year of great personal challenge for me. It broke my heart when my dear, irreplaceable Dad passed away after a long illness in December of that year.

As 2022 started, I started out as we often do when we’re in grief or shock by…..

……carrying on as usual!

Funny how we sometimes do that when we’re in shock or mental and emotional exhaustion.

If you’re stressed, exhausted or dealing with a major ‘situation’ in your life, resist the temptation to make resolutions, do challenges or be swept up in the New Year rush to lose the pounds, stop this and start that.

Why?

Because you need a pause.

Your body, mind and soul need a break BEFORE you do all those wonderful things.

You CAN and SHOULD do all those things but for this week, I invite you to give yourself the gift of the pause.

You heard me right - ignore all the new year resolution vibes.

I call it ‘slowing down to speed up.’

Because sometimes life calls for more refection than decision.  And that’s why I went a little quiet. I decided to retreat - to reflect.

I had to give myself permission to slow down and take some things off my plate - I needed time to reflect on what I’d gone through; who I’d lost and what’s important to me now.

I call it my Hermitage Year - a year away from posting on social media,

sending emails and producing new content.

It was time to stop going outwards. 

I sensed I very much needed to go inwards.

Is now such a time for you?

Except for working with my private 121 coaching clients, I’ve taken more than a year away to read books, take long walks, have healing conversations with loved ones and close friends. I also had grief counselling.

I’ve learned so much from my Hermitage Year - and, I’m delighted to share that some pretty fantastic stuff has happened to me since then (more on that later!)

Mid-life’s a good time to pause and think about what really matters so we can change course if necessary. To consider how we spend our lives; our precious energy and time. Grief, divorce, loneliness, boredom or stress of any kind can be isolating experiences.

Taking a pause in life is not the same as isolating which is the experience of feeling alone or unable to connect with others in a way that nourishes our spirit. At such times, we might find ourselves over-thinking, becoming anxious or over-doing certain habits like binge eating or over-drinking which later make us feel regret, low energy or even shame.

So why do we sometimes isolate? Maybe our relationships are difficult or non existent or maybe we’ve moved home and don’t know many people or have reached a point in our lives where we could use a new friend or two. If we’ve changed or grown in some way, sometimes the people we used to feel close to no longer make us feel that way…..

At mid-life, we lose friends and loved ones for many different reasons. So many of my coaching clients have experienced this transition and it requires that we pause.

I’ll be sharing coaching tools and tips on this and many other  topics in the coming months. Topics like how to come out of isolation and make new, nourishing connections at midlife and beyond.

In next week’s email I’ll share more about what I’ve learned from my Hermitage Year. Until then, have a great week and don’t forget, it’s ok to not have a New Years Resolution!

Slow down, my friend.

Because you have time.

Till next Saturday, thanks for reading - it’s an honour to be back in touch with you. I’m excited to share this coaching with you and hope that you find it helpful.

Have a wonderful 2024!