About
A few years ago, my dad shocked me and an entire boatload of family members who were peacefully floating down the Wisconsin River when he yelled at the top of his lungs: “I LOVE MY LIFE!”
That memory and motto is forever etched in my mind and on my heart as it spoke volumes about how to enthusiastically engage in life. I have used it to guide my life, day by day.
Though, it’s not always been that way.
In December of 1996, in a church service, everyone was told to write down an intention for the upcoming year. I asked for inner peace, the kind that comforts and sustains you from a place deep in your soul. A year later, I received the heart stopping news that I had breast cancer. I quickly passed through denial and shock, but remained fearful for my life and seriously questioned my ability to be a good wife and my strength to parent our three young children ages five, seven and nine. Plus, I was overcome with anxiety, hopelessness and feelings of isolation – all common to those diagnosed with cancer.
Right after my diagnosis, I vividly recalled one of my teenage days when my mom very loudly and angrily told me: “Young lady, someday you will need God.” (I don’t’ remember what provoked this response, but I’m pretty sure it was well deserved!) Though I had been raised in a church and even attended Catholic grade school for eight years, I really had no relationship with any of the Big Three: God, Christ or the Holy Spirit.
Those words had come back to haunt me and I conceded my mom had been right. I badly needed God. One night, I found myself on my knees surrendering my total healing to Him, accepting whatever that looked like. What happened next was amazing. I received an unexplainable feeling of peace and a few days later I wanted to wear a dove around my neck, the symbol of the Holy Spirit. It was not until many years later did I find out that this kind of supernatural peace is a gift of the Holy Spirit. I also received spiritual, emotional and eventual physical healing.
For the next year, I contended with tubes, scars, chemotherapy, countless doctors’ visits, nausea, baldness, fear, loss of hope and feelings of isolation. I also experienced a clarity of priorities, a discovery of my purpose, a fullness of life, deep love, rich friendships and new ways of seeing and being. Though my experience with cancer has been one of my life’s greatest challenges; it has yielded an abundance of blessings. They are simply too numerous to name here, but I gladly share those during my workshops and speaking engagements.
As part of my healing journey, I was driven towards understanding how the body, mind and spirit are all integrated and how each affects our growth as spiritual, emotional and physical beings. As a result of this knowledge and spiritual healing, I began to experience the world and my relationships differently. I saw and felt more of God’s magnificence, promises and power.
Prior to my cancer and becoming a mom, I was a teacher and administrator with a passion to enrich and transform lives. I absolutely loved taking on the challenge of working with students and teachers who operate from a lack of confidence, negative perspectives and a limited view of their amazing potential and God-given talents. That passion to free people from their own limitations and share their brilliance in ways that impact others is the foundation of my life and my work.
My life’s experiences, core values and talents have led me to my present and ideal career, life coaching. I’m here to help others walk out their destiny in ways that make the world a better place. I love the challenge and excitement of helping people become purposeful, impactful and enthusiastic.
In short, “I LOVE MY LIFE!” and I thank my dad for instilling this exuberance for living on my heart and in my spirit.
MY MISSION
My mission, through Impact Coaching, is to help leaders and entrepreneurs who are mentally and emotionally worn out from the relentless demands of their work in an economy that demands more for less. I help them do their VITAL work – work that is energizing, fulfilling, significant, prosperous and even challenging.
My coaching and services are based on the following beliefs about YOU. I believe that you – like me:
- Have greater impact and influence when you renew your heart, mind and spirit.
- Will lead a healthier and more fulfilled life when you stay true to your purpose, calling and natural gifts.
- Make wiser and better decisions when you have the courage to use your core values as guideposts.
- Need authentic connections and vital conversations to thrive.
- Can be enthusiastically engaged at work without compromising your investment at home.
- Possess this amazing power to create a life story that can change your life at any time.
- Are called to lead and influence others.
I want to be a part of your SIGNIFICANT and SUCCESSFUL life, to help you make courageous choices, to support you as you deliberately design a life you love, to walk beside you as you implement the changes you’ve been wanting to make for far too long.
