Elephants and Tea - September 2022 - 30

The Courage of Vulnerability FIRST DESCENTS
" You are living your one
wild and precious life,
make the most of it by
knowing the true you. "
and disconnected, just as I had in 2011. I
chose another big adventure by launching
my business: This is Your Life Health and
Wellness Coaching.
Now, I work with people who want to find
to notice I had once again become disconnected
from my values, my joy, and what
felt most important. I was feeling anxious,
depressed, and exhausted. I saw the levels
of burnout amongst the staff I was working
with and realized I was feeling the effects
of it myself.
Around this time, a friend I had grown
close to passed away from breast cancer.
Her death reminded me of that valuable
Confucius quote, and that we aren't guaranteed
anything in this life. Remembering
that inspired me to reconnect with what
brings me joy and what I feel most connected
to, and I started prioritizing those
things again. I reflected on when I felt my
best, and the answer was easy: when I was
volunteering, making deep connections
with others, and watching them transform
their lives by reconnecting with
themselves and pushing the limits of their
comfort zones.
I wanted to prioritize more of that in my
life. I found myself quitting my job, moving
to live closer to my immediate family,
and starting a program to get my master's
degree in integrative health and wellness.
During this program, the COVID-19
pandemic hit, and I saw so many of my
peers suffering under the weight of it. They
reached a new level of burnout because of
the circumstances. Many of them felt lost
their joy and connect to themselves more
fully. We collaborate, and I walk alongside
them to help them build lives they love. We
each have many wonderful gifts within us
to give ourselves, our loved ones, and the
world-we just have to find the courage to
unearth them and truly live. I help people
connect with their courage every day by
providing one-on-one, group coaching,
and interactive workshops because I believe
we all deserve to live our truest and
most beautiful life.
Choose adventures that both scare and
excite you, that feel just a little bit too big
and wild. Start there, and don't forget to
have fun. You are living your one wild
and precious life, make the most of it by
knowing the true you-because life is a
pretty great adventure. l
When navigating something as difficult as cancer, the serenity and beauty that
nature provides can be a powerful tool for healing. This partner column creates
a space for members of the First Descents community to share their outdoor
experiences as cancer patients and survivors. We hope these stories bring a little
bit of the out living it spirit to your days.
First Descents provides free, life-changing outdoor adventures for young adults
(ages 18-45) impacted by cancer and other serious health conditions, as well as
programs for caregivers and healthcare workers. Visit firstdescents.org to learn
more or apply!
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ELEPHANTSANDTEA.COM
SEPTEMBER 2022
http://www.firstdescents.org http://www.ELEPHANTSANDTEA.COM
Elephants and Tea - September 2022

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