Perspective, Pep Talks and Coaching
Those of you with kids, have you ever taken your kids out to eat and regretted it? And those of you without kids, have you ever been stuck at the table next to us?
If so, this tale is for you
I have this very distinct memory that I’m going to share with you today. When my kids were about two and four I took them to breakfast at the pancake place down the road. It was a taxing endeavor as it was winter and it required bundling up two squirming, hungry kids into a variety of cold-repellant gear.
The meal itself was chaotic and I felt completely drained by 9am. As I sat there trying to gain the energy to leave, a grandmotherly aged woman came up to the table and said to me “Enjoy these days dear, they are the BEST ones of your life”, and walked away.
The BEST days of my life.
Umm, what? I wanted to cry.
Luckily a mom at the table next to us overheard the exchange and swooped in like a superhero declaring “No! Don’t listen to her! Your kids are so little, and it can be awful. It’ll get better in a few years, please trust me.”
I’m not going to lie, I clung to this stranger’s advice through some hard times. And she was right. When my kids hit 6 and 8 it was like we turned a corner and things just got easier. Even fun.
Sometimes we just need a little outside perspective
Someone to help us get some clarity when we’re too far into the day to day details of our situations to see the way out. This is how I became a coach.
You see, over the years I’ve jokingly answered “Master of Pep Talks” when asked what I do for work. This is because most of us have a bunch of thoughts swirling around our heads about what we think we should or shouldn’t be doing. This extends to food, relationships, parenting, sleep and every other aspect of our lives.
This mental noise makes it very difficult to figure out what the heck it is we actually want for ourselves and map out a clear plan on how to get there. Coaching gives us tools to challenge the mental prattle so that we learn to zoom out and give ourselves some perspective.
I’m like that lady one table over. I can give some frame of reference so you can regain control over your thoughts. Because everyone needs someone in their corner.