A few weeks back, I was sitting with a warm breeze blowing on my face, hinting that the warm breeze was quickly becoming a hot breeze. The forecast indicated it would hit 100 degrees soon. The light wind was rustling through the peach orchard I was surrounded by while I occasionally swatted at gnats landing on my shoulder. The air was hot but clean and fresh, with hints of fresh-cut grass.

Ironically, I have found myself in my own tough transition this past 12-18 months. It might have been one of my life's top 3 most challenging years. And in the spirit of sharing and vulnerability, I wanted to share with you all, especially since being a coach, therapist, or other mental health professional doesn't make you immune to these things.

In the US, it is Thanksgiving week. A week to express gratitude for the year that has passed. It’s a wonderful time to honor and appreciate our loved ones, those with us, and those no longer with us. It’s a time to recognize our friendships and all those that make up our circle of support.

And while I love the holidays – the lights, the decorations, the festive gift-giving, and the yummy food of the season (I am obsessed with cooking this time of year) – like so many others out there, the season comes with a shadow of grief.

Today is the fall equinox - the first day of fall. We are shifting from Summer to a new season. Technically, what is happening is at the equator today there will be an equal amount of daylight and darkness.

From my experience, going through my own coaching certification journey, observing new students coming into the school to begin their own journeys through the course, over and over, and my observations of my clients’ experiences with their coaching programs working with me, I have realized that embracing the body of a student, a learner, a beginner, as a life-long way of being rather than just for a moment in time, is transformational. It is a new way to walk through the world and allows for an open mind and open heart. It softens the presence of the ego and loosens the grip of our personalities just a bit.

I was introduced to the Enneagram model in June 2019. Little did I know at the time what a life-changing experience that introduction would be to me.

I kept hearing about our country being in a mental health crisis and it was getting worse. I was, then, personally touched by this crisis five years ago when my boyfriend passed away….

This is the time of year many of us feel the need (obligated?) to make a New Year’s Resolution, only to give up on the resolution weeks, days, even hours into the new year. Or we find ourselves, after a bunch of failed resolutions, setting the anti-New Year’s Resolution by declaring, “I will not be setting a dumb resolution. I am going to just be me and if you don’t like it, I don’t care.”

I don’t believe in the stages of grief! There, I said it! Debunking the five stages: Why grief isn't linear but waves of love. A personal exploration of how grief evolves beyond traditional models, challenging society's expectations of 'moving on' and embracing grief as enduring love.

A long walk down a beach…. sounds romantic, right? It sounds relaxing and rejuvenating. What you wouldn't give to do that right now, listening to the waves crash on the beach, breathing in the salty air, feeling the sea mist and salt on your skin! You can feel your body and soul relaxing just at the thought. Everyone says that's healthy and grounding, right? To be with yourself. Ok…you make the decision and go for it. What could wrong?