Two years ago, I opened the doors to my private coaching practice. That moment was 11 years in the making and I felt confident that it was the right step. As I waited for my first client to arrive, I prayed that each girl who walked through my doors would feel supported and loved and that I would be able to help.
A few minutes later, Lily (name changed to protect her identity) walked in. Her parents hired me because they were worried. Lily’s grades were steadily dropping and she wasn’t acting “normal.” Her mom’s heartfelt question to me during our intake session was, “Is my daughter going to be ok?”
My first conversation with Lily revealed that there was much more going on in her life it seemed. Her dropping grades were a side effect of an unhealthy relationship that eroded her self-worth. I remember her saying to me, “I don’t think it will ever stop hurting.” We spent the next few months working through her relationship with her ex-boyfriend. During one of my favorite sessions, we burned a letter that she wrote to her ex explaining the ways he hurt her and that she was forgiving him for herself. She smiled as the letter burned and I knew we were on the right track. Shortly after burning that letter, we began working on getting her life back on track. We discussed new ways to approach school, homework, and dating. A quick check-in with her parents revealed that she was happier at home and her grades were steadily improving.
For two years, I’ve met with Lily every week and I’ve had the pleasure of watching her grow into a confident young woman. Her grades went from D’s and F’s to A’s and B’s. Instead of dating the wrong guys, she’s learned the value of waiting for the right relationship to come along and her hard work has been rewarded. Lily leaves for college in this week and she is more than ready for this new chapter in her life.
I have been blessed to know walk a part of this journey with her and I am so thankful that her parents trusted me to be a member of their team. I believe that Lily and I have learned equally from one another. She’s taught me about resilience, determination, and most importantly, that I am doing EXACTLY what I am meant to be doing.
Good luck in all you do L. Though I will miss you, I am so excited to watch the amazing things you will do with your life. Remember, when people show you who they are, believe them the first time.
xoxo
