Four years ago I developed a program to assist with the culture where I worked. It was to help the staff to work on feeling and becoming happier in their lives.
Each weekly class consisted of 3 things:
• Some data, research, facts and statistics
• A story
• An exercise to work on for the next 21 days.
This was long before we knew COVID was going to come and change our lives forever. And it helped many of us during those years (can you believe it was years?).
Then I added a blog to it – because everyone’s blogging, right? But I haven’t blogged for a year.
Creating and adding to something that brought me so much pleasure has been pushed to the side whilst I’ve been trying to manoeuvre through a tough and busy work year.
I piled in other projects to try to pull myself out of the stress and anxiety, and whilst they, of themselves, were worthwhile and amazing learning experiences that will shape the rest of my life, they also added a level of additional stress that brought me close to burnout.
Sometimes it’s just that the timing is both right and wrong. You have to decide whether it is right or wrong for you at the time. But it may be both.
In May 2023, I got to visit the wonderful Victorian countryside to do a 3-day ‘Dare to Lead‘ women’s retreat with the amazing Kemi Nekvapil.
It was life-changing. Not just the course content, but also meeting 15 other women who were prepared to step up, get curious, share their stories, support each other, and face the world with empathy, connection, and courage.
Dare to Lead is the work of Brené Brown, and Kemi is a transformational coach and a truly beautiful person. The timing wasn’t great, but I knew it was the kickstart I needed.
Then on the 27th of that same month, whilst still working full-time, I embarked on a 16-week, 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training course with the amazing Merrymaker sisters. I’ve done Yoga and Pilates with MerryBody for 2 years.
It was the inaugural teacher training, and I just knew that I had to be in that cohort. I’ve also had 3 trips away in that time, so keeping up with the learning, practice, and assessments was tricky.
This week is the final week and whilst all 30 of us on the course can’t believe it has gone so fast, we have developed relationships that will continue.
Timing.
A month ago I resigned from my job of 10 years. It was just all too much and I knew the time had come. Last week there were flowers, tears, lunches, and gifts. My connections with my work colleagues will also continue.
But it was time to let go. Time to do something different. Time to get back to the joy and optimism that I was put on this earth to share. Today it is time for change.
Have you ever wondered if something or someone in your life was past their expiration date?
Holding off on changing or doing different things because it does not seem like the time is right might mean you miss all kinds of incredible opportunities.
Honestly, the time will never be right, but it may never be wrong. You have to decide. Grab your life with both hands and embrace it.
Today it is my time for change – it may just be yours too.
Photo credit: Julia Luyten