Life doesn’t often move in neat, predictable chapters.
Sometimes it feels more like stepping from one season into another without much warning — caregiver, speaker, leader, daughter, teacher — all within a matter of days.
I actually love my life this way. It’s an adventure. And sometimes it’s exhausting if I haven’t filled my cup.
Last week, I stepped away from nearly all of my projects to live at my mom’s while she was in rehab recovering from a total hip replacement. (Hence, no newsletter.)
It was an incredible gift to be able to slow down and be present with her. Watching her determination to heal — especially as she approaches her 91st birthday — filled me with admiration and gratitude.
She is doing quite well because she focuses on her gratitude for life. But it hasn’t been easy.
I know many people walk the long road of caring for an elderly parent or a spouse.
My role was only for a week, and now my sister has taken over this week and brother arrives today for the next wave of support. And my heart goes out to those of you that do long term care.
My time with mom for 8 days reminded me how powerful service can be. I had a few coaching clients while I was there, but I was committed to her 90% of the time, and it felt really good.
The Retreat
When I finally returned home, it was only for a day. I honestly didn’t want to go to the 12-step retreat I had committed to.
The weather wasn’t great. I felt tired. And yet, I knew I was scheduled to speak — and my sponsee would be there. So I went.
And I’m so glad I did!
Speaking at a recovery meeting is different from most professional presentations. There are no slides to polish or scripts to rehearse. I simply show up and allow my higher self to guide the stories that need to be told.
That night, I found myself sharing about a fire that destroyed my family’s home when I was eleven years old.
What began as the worst day of my life — losing my parakeet Pearl, seeing my brand-new bicycle ruined, and the safety of our home and life compromised — slowly transformed into something else entirely.
You see, so many people from the town showed up with gifts. And many of them reminded me how lucky we were that all eight of us survived, even though my father suffered severe burns on his hands and feet.
After feeling the devastation, there was a shift in feelings, which turned into relief and gratitude, because I experienced the strength of community.
Neighbors showed up. People gave what they could.
And my parents somehow navigated six months of rebuilding — one uncertain day at a time. Talk about transition!
Thinking back now, I’m so proud of how my parents handled all that!
So, I’m grateful to have been able to share that night so I could remember that story. My current transition pales in comparison to what my parents went through.
Also, I had a very restful weekend, connecting with new friends and my sponsee, and it filled my cup to overflowing.
Now, here I am — in another kind of in-between space.
My new website is live, but it’s not quite how I want it to be yet.
My hypnotherapy business is ready to grow, but there are still steps I need to complete.
I’m teaching a new class next week, which is calling for my focus and energy.
Everything feels a little unfinished . . . a bit imperfect.
And maybe that’s exactly the lesson.
So often we think transformation happens during the retreat, the breakthrough, or the big announcement. But the real growth often lives in the space after — when we return to everyday life and continue moving forward despite uncertainty.
I keep reminding myself of the same message I offer my clients:
I don’t have to be perfect.
Just have to keep taking the next baby step.Progress is being made.
People are being helped.
And ripples of my efforts are making an impact
If you’re in a season where things feel messy or incomplete, consider this question:
What small step can you take today that moves you forward — even if the path isn’t fully clear yet?
Life rarely waits until we feel completely ready.
It asks us to grow in the middle of the transition — between retreat and real life, between who we were and who we are becoming.
And maybe that’s where the magic truly happens.
Trust yourself and keep moving forward.
Love, Maureen
