Learning--by trial and error but oh so exciting!

Welcome to my first blog! Why now and why have you sent us the link?



I have been sitting here in my wonderful conservatory for well over a year, planning and dreaming and working so very conscientiously. I had this moment of " yes this is what I really want to create" in September 2006 and by April 2007 the" Rest of Your Life" website was born.

For seven years I had been working as an Executive and Personal Coach in South East England.

I had returned from living in Greece and bringing up my children. Facing divorce and re-locating had led me to my own renaissance. Wow what a long journey that was.

I do have a history of major life changes; leaving Scotland to live in Greece, new country language and culture, living, working and giving birth in a new language. A little special needs son and a little pink daughter kept me busy for quite a few years in which time I had created a support organisation for other families. "Care Hellas" was my first stab at leading the way in a country somewhat bereft of social care, education or general facilities for special kids and their families.

I learnt in those years so much about what I did that was good and wonderful and helpful to others but along the way I neglected to look after my own needs. When I realised that I was developing health problems due to years of stress, anxieties and a deep sadness, I was already quite well into depression and burnout. I so needed some respite from my life!

Where could I run to? Whom could I turn to? What kind of help did I want?
My wonderful freedom that came with divorce and returning to Britain opened windows in my mind and a hope in my soul. The journey of becoming a coach, the personal and professional growth and a chance to create from a very new starting point, brought meaning and sanity. I worked with Executives in the workplace. Hearing mainly the challenges of young men as they carved out careers, strived for promotion, bought their dream car, dream home. Women shared their bruises, their ambitions their frustrations and their whole lives so openly, even in the workplace.
I soaked up the learning and was grateful both for the work and the satisfaction. I had however to learn about a country that I had left 22 years before. The changes were immense and some were far from the UK that I remembered.
People were tired, families were broken, parents had become parents to other peoples children,
government had served and dis-served and life and living had changed.
I wanted more of the whole person in my work not just what they showed in the workplace.

I wanted to take my clients out of the workplace. I needed to allow myself and them to step outside the contractual "Executive Model" which kept us within the organisational boundaries.

So all the signposts and all my studies and oh so many of the inspirational people that I had met since returning to the UK, led me on this very different path.
I wanted to create the "Rest of Your Life."