I was fortunate to hike Cathedral Rock in Sedona this past holiday weekend. Breathtaking was an understatement. In the midst of a vast array of silence and beauty, I got to thinking (yikes…deep thoughts)…
A little over seven years ago, I was lost. Perhaps some of you can relate with feeling a bit lost in your life. I had just experienced one of the most difficult years of my life. While this last year was a huge transition year for me, seven years ago was an epic hardship. Both parents were in the hospital at the same time earlier that year. My father was recovering from his triple bypass open heart surgery. My mother suffered a massive stroke and was in the final stages of her battle with ovarian cancer.
When I wasn’t in Fargo or traveling the globe for work, I was sitting with a dear friend at the hospital during her aggressive chemo treatments. Losing her in November was devastating. But losing my own mother was truly the most heartbreaking of them all. Even more difficult was experiencing my very first holidays without a mom. At the time, I was traveling the globe living out of a suitcase. I was overwhelmed with medical debt and trying to help as we chipped away at the hospital bills.
I was stressed and anxious about the direction my life was going. Constantly trying to get ahead, I actually thought feeling stressed was just a normal way of life. The only thing I was able to do was react and respond to everyone’s needs! I was worried about finances and suffering from a lack of sleep, improper nutrition, stress, and not taking appropriate care of myself. I took a look in mirror and knew a change was needed. I needed to focus on self care and make changes in significant ways. At this point, I recognized my search for something more — something that fulfilled me. I began to look within.
A conversation with my girlfriend, Heather, forever changed my life. After my reflection and conversation with her, I took control and decided to step out of my comfort zone to start an adventure that would lead me on the ride of my life.
Fast forward to today…It’s been such an awesome journey to work from home for over seven years. Now I travel when I choose to and have the time to help others along their health journey! Time is the freedom to enjoy life on my own terms. Not many people can work around their own schedule and do what they want every day and for that I am so thankful. I no longer live reactively, and have been blessed to enjoy financial freedom, worry less, and give more!
I feel great physically and mentally. Being surrounded by a community of support from so many spectacular people and empowering others to live their life on their own terms has been icing on the cake. I also know that I am better than I used to be….and nowhere near as good as I want to be.
I know that growth will come from nurturing my passion is to help others. My career gives me that platform. My job is to stay open and aware of the people that God places in my path and stay true to my vision. I can’t wait to see who God places along my path in this next year to make that vision a continued reality!
So on top of the mountain in Sedona, in disbelief at how quickly time has flown, but with the most grateful heart, I took a deep breath in and exhaled with a big smile! The time will pass anyway…take the risk, make the change. Build the life you dream of and start NOW! It’s not going to happen without your own action. If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan.
What are you waiting for? Go climb your mountain!
— Amanda
