March 23rd 2020, a year ago, here in the UK we were put into what was to be our first lockdown. Looking back I often laugh, I think as a country, those who were employed thought, fab, two weeks off in the beautiful sunshine that we were blessed to have, what little did we know, that it was in fact the start of a 12 month journey, moving in and out of lockdowns, tiers and tears.
As a business owner, I had to walk away from everything I had been building at that point. The Therapy Centre, the team, the vision and withdraw into my home to stress about finances as a single parent and sole provider. I know I was not alone in this experience.
As I write this though, I refuse to look back over the last 12 months with doom and gloom, and instead look at the blessings, the knowledge, the shifts and changes it has gifted me with.
- I got to slow down! I, like so many, was living life at a hundred miles an hour, spinning plates, juggling roles, being here, being there, being everything to everyone and it needed to stop. When you passionately love what you do, it is so easy to get lost in ‘serving others’. The first lockdown we found ourselves in, gave me the opportunity to get back to being me but a less harassed and tired version of me. Time to make different choices about how I work, when I work and to create a better work life balance in the future. To spend more time with those that matter most to me. My children. To spend more time hugging my horse. Have you met him? His name is Ted!
2. I stepped up in my Leadership role, as they call it, helping my community in my Positive Vibe Tribe. Every week for the last year I have showed up to bring hope, insight, guidance, support and humour to everyone who came. Lifting spirits and helping people to understand what they were experiencing from a more spiritual perspective, to switch off the news and not buy into the negativity that was drowning them in anxiety. I feel part of a community, a community reaching right around the world and I am proud of the tribe. I feel I created something that matters, that made and continues to make a difference in over a thousand people lives, day in, day out. All for free.
3. I formed alliances with fellow business owners here in Swindon and beyond. Working closely with other Entrepreneurs, who like me have spent the last 12 months fighting to stay in business, fighting to not give up years and years of work, our passion, our purpose. I started networking, something I had no time for previously, and I have met some amazing people who I now recommend people to constantly.
4. It allowed me space and time to evaluate my mission, my purpose, what it is I truly want to achieve with the work that I am doing. Whether it even matters. It does. It made me recognise that this was the perfect time to let of the parts of my work that I no longer felt inspired to do and instead to focus on the aspects that I am passionate about, that I believe can have the biggest impact on my clients as individuals and on the world as a whole. Coaching, Teaching and Healing others.
5. It taught me to cherish the small stuff. To appreciate waking up in the morning, to not take health for-granted, especially mental health, to look after me as well as those around me. To remember that time is not a given and to use it well. To know when to hustle and when to walk away from the laptop. To make sure everyday has it’s pockets of laughter. To lighten up. To walk away from those who don’t share the same values and morals. This became so apparent as the year went on, not only in business dealings, but also in what I had previously thought were friendships. To take time to enjoy the coffee, the view, the walk, the vino, the drive, the sunshine. It also showed me that I never realised how much I love going to a restaurant for dinner and someone else cooking!!!!
So, Happy Anniversary everyone!
If you had to do it all again, would you do it differently? For me personally, I can honestly say I don’t think so. Will I do life differently now? Absolutely.
Keep smiling everyone.
Blessings
Samantha Jayne
