Tag: guest blog

Posted on by — Leave a comment

How YMCA Burton helps the local community

Following the Christmas festivities, the new year can feel a little daunting, not only as we prepare for the year ahead but also after a very busy and expensive time with presents, Christmas dinner and spending time with family and friends. For a lot of people, this is a time that they look forward to in the year, as it’s filled with a lot of joy. However, for others, it can be a difficult time either because they’re alone, struggling with their mental health, are grieving, or perhaps they don’t have a safe place to call home.

How we help

At YMCA Burton, we’re here to help anyone in our local community who needs our support in a time of crisis 24/7, 365 days of the year. Whether it be homelessness, needing an emergency food parcel, wanting to rebuild strained relationships in the home through mediation, needing affordable, good quality second-hand furniture or just having a safe place to have a cuppa, a chat and a hot meal, we are available at YMCA Burton to support in any way that we possibly can.

The heart of our services, Reconnect, which houses 31 units of accommodation, our Foodbank as well as our Family Mediation service and Counselling service. Opposite Asda on James Street in Burton on Trent.
The heart of our services, Reconnect, which houses 31 units of accommodation, our Foodbank as well as our Family Mediation service and Counselling service. Opposite Asda on James Street in Burton on Trent.

There’s more demand than ever

With a strong reputation in the town of Burton-on-Trent for over 135 years, YMCA Burton has faced its highest demand to date across all of its services in 2023. Waiting lists have formed for the first time ever within our Family Mediation Service, the foodbank service has experienced its highest distribution figures in its 23-year history, and our accommodation has constantly been full. It reflects the incredible need for this type of support across the local community as well as the challenges that a lot of individuals and families are facing in their daily lives. This is the harsh reality at the moment, and without us, thousands of individuals and families in and around Burton would be in desperate need of support.

How you can support us

At YMCA Burton, we change lives. However, we can’t do what we do without the help and support of others, as donations are needed more than ever. There are multiple ways that you can support us, depending on the best way for you. This can look like a one-off monetary donation, you could become a monthly donor, giving whatever you can each month to continuously support our work and services. There are also options to donate items of food to our foodbank, leave a gift in your will or perhaps choose to become a volunteer. Whatever way you choose to support us will make a massive difference to our charity and ensure that we can continue to remain a central charity in our local community and help to change lives.

To find out more about our charity and our impact on our local community, head to our website: https://burtonymca.org/. Furthermore, if you’d like to help make a difference to someone’s life today, please contact our Fundraising & Comms team via fundraising@burtonymca.org / 07754045869

On behalf of all of us at YMCA Burton, thank you very much!

Posted on by — Leave a comment

5 ways to maintain some Christmas Calm

Vicky Haig Hypnotherapy guest blog with 5 tips to find some Christmas calm

As we head quickly into Christmas, it’s easy to become swept up in the need to provide a perfect Christmas for those around us. We are bombarded with images of elaborate elf antics, picture-perfect Santa visits, magazine-worthy Christmas trees, matching pjs, the best presents and a list of Christmas traditions to enact.

While there is nothing wrong with finding joy in any of these activities and moments, they can easily add to our stress levels and impact our well-being in the run-up to Christmas. Here’s 5 ways to help maintain some calm and find the joy again.

1. Recognise when you are in comparison mode.

Naturally, we are interested in what’s going on around us and what others are doing. It’s in our nature to feel the need to fit in so we can feel more drawn to following what others are doing. However, we are often looking at ‘the best bits’ snippets of people’s lives and trying to recreate them, then when we bump into the normal struggles of life, we can be left feeling like we don’t quite match up. So take a moment to recognise when you are comparing your every day to someone’s best moment, then switch your focus to the best moment for you that day.

2. Take time out.

It can feel counter-intuitive to take time out when we are busy, but we need breaks. Our brains need downtime; however, the brain isn’t actually resting in downtime. When we allow our brain time to wander its actually really busy organising, sorting and often connecting the dots, it needs time to do this without us consciously giving it more tasks. So go for a walk, take a shower, have a cuppa, read a few pages of a book, find the things you can do even if it’s just for a few minutes to give your brain a break.

3. Write a list.

Every time something pops into your head that needs to be done write it down on a list. When it’s wrote down it’s easier to organise and prioritise it. When we are trying to hold everything in our brains, we struggle to prioritise and decide on its importance – everything starts to feel ‘most important’. So, write it down and then pick the thing that needs to be done first.

4. Move your body.

We are designed to move, but modern living often takes away natural opportunities to move our bodies (online shopping, electrical appliances, cars). So we have to be intentional in making sure we are moving and exercising our bodies everyday. Find the ways that work for you and try to build them in everyday, until it becomes a habit like brushing our teeth.

5. Sleep.

It’s easy for our sleep to be impacted in the run up to Christmas, but try to keep the boundaries around it. Build in good sleep habits like winding down for bed (devices off, warm baths, cool rooms etc). Its particularly important in the winter to try to get out in the daylight as soon as you can in a morning. It helps set our natural rhythms and sleep patterns.

Remember to bring it back to what you and those around you need. We are all so different and it’s ok to focus on what works best for us, I hope these tips allow you to find some calm in this period and if you’d like an extra boost head over to: https://www.vickyhaig.co.uk/try-relaxation/ where you can listen to my relaxation track for free, just make sure you are in a quiet calm place where you’re not having to do anything else, but relax.

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Financial Planning is for Everyone

Guest blog from Natalie Norman at Blakebrooke Financial Advice about financial planning

When I tell people that I’m a financial adviser or a financial planner, I hear all the time, “I don’t need financial advice because I don’t have any spare money”. It is a common misconception that you need to have lots of money to need advice. I help my clients feel more confident about their finances, make informed decisions, and have a financial plan for their future that is appropriate for them.

Often, very small changes made early enough can make a huge impact on your financial future. One of the first things we do is assess the income coming in against the essential expenditure. Essential expenditure is everything that has to be paid every month. For example, mortgage/rent, utilities, phone/internet, etc. Then we look at the discretionary expenditure, which might be things like gym membership, children’s activities or eating out, etc. These expenditures are still important because they are things that will give you the lifestyle you want. It is always amazing, though, after we’ve done this exercise, how much surplus income there still is ‘on paper’. Most of my clients will say things like, “But there’s nothing left at the end of the month”. This is not unusual as most of us live to our means and spend what comes in each month. This simple exercise usually helps point out the amount of money that is ‘frittered’ away each month. This is not me pointing the finger, as we all do this, me included. What it does do, though is it allows us to see where we could be making better choices that could really change our futures.

Where does your money go?

A simple example could be as follows:

‘The average takeaway coffee costs around £3.40 per cup’ (at 23rd July 2023)

source: https://freshground.co.uk/learning-hub 

Let’s say you had 3 takeaway coffees a week (156 cups per year), that would cost around £10.20 per week, £44.20 per month and £530.40 per year.

The most popular takeaway coffee is a Latte, you could buy a pack of 8 Latte sachets from around £2.50 (source: Poundland). So, the equivalent would be that 20 packs of 8 sachets would be needed, costing a total of £50 per year. This could save you £480.40 per year.

If we then utilised the saved money and put it aside for our future. Saving £480.40 per year over a period of 15 years, assuming an interest rate of 5%, you could have a savings pot of £10,366.

That’s saving just over £10 per week!

This is obviously just a very simple example of an exchange that could be made without compromising your lifestyle but rather just making a simple swap that could free up some available cash to put away for your future.

Financial planning can help you save for the future

I am a huge advocate for saving in a pension plan as they are an extremely tax efficient savings vehicle. If we take the same example as above, but now take the £480.40 available capital and put it in a pension plan the additional tax relief could help this money grow even more.

For example:

£480.40 grossed up to include 20% tax relief equals £600.50.

£600.50 invested in a pension every year for 15 years, assuming a 5% interest, could give you a savings pot of £12,958. That’s an additional £2,592 without paying any more money in yourself.

This is a very basic example of what some simple financial planning could do to help you save for your future and create the lifestyle that you want.

For more information you can find me using the following links

https://www.instagram.com/natalie_blakebrooke/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/natalienorman79/

https://www.facebook.com/natalieanorman

https://www.blakebrooke.co.uk/

Posted on by — Leave a comment

How are you going to look after yourself this summer?

Guest blog from Natalie McCoy at Urban Sole Holistics - look after yourself.

So with the schools breaking up for the summer holidays, how will you make time for yourself and protect your well-being so you don’t get burnout? You don’t want to be harassed and stressed when the children return to school.

Many of us will be trying to plan the summer holidays down to a T to ensure that they run smoothly and without arguments or the usual “I’m bored, Mommy!” Well, this is definitely what happens in our house, and those of us with children have to keep the children entertained. This sometimes, for many, is their main priority, and they forget to think about themselves.

Well, there are several ways that you can incorporate well-being into your daily routine and for it not to interfere with the summer holidays themselves.

Balance family time with solo activities

Why not connect with nature and go on a family walk where all of you are getting exercise, and the endorphins are increased to allow you to feel mentally and physically better?

Set your alarm slightly earlier and make time to meditate to set you up for the day. Go into your day with clear intentions, and this will allow you to be more focused and refreshed.

Once a day, why not do a mindfulness practice with your family, and get them to focus on the here and now? Get them to look at a picture and really reflect on what is happening just in that moment. 

Be prepared

Remember, when planning for the summer, make sure to schedule you time in for yourself and don’t forget your own well-being. Make time for yourself by doing something solely for you, go with for a coffee, a walk, or even booking a treatment as a treat. 

Preparing healthy meals over the summer and sometimes meal prepping can be a godsend to stopping any of those emergency visits to the supermarkets when everyone is hangry. 

If you’re not feeling 100% in yourself, you will struggle to look after the ones you need to, and subsequently, you will end up exhausted. 

So the time is now for you to plan and prep to keep your sanity in check. 

Natalie McCoy teaching you how to look after yourself.

If you would like to learn more, then please follow my links below.

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/urbansoulholistictherapySolihull

Instagram – https://www.Instagram.com/UrbanSoulHolisticTherapy

Website – https://www.urbansoulholistictherapy.co.uk

Posted on by — Leave a comment

How a VA can help you get your bookkeeping basics right

How much did your expenses come to this month?

Did your income for the month cover these costs?

You may think that these are two very simple questions. So it may surprise you that many business owners can’t answer these. Or maybe you’re wondering if you can answer this question accurately or have a good idea.

As your VA, I aim to understand what is working well for your business and what is not and how much you know about your income and expenses.

Why does tracking your income and expenses matter?

After putting so much hard work and time into your business, the last thing you need is for it to fail just because these very simple everyday basics were not in place. You are busy doing what you have chosen and are bloody good at it too! The admin takes up a whole lot of your time. It stresses you out and doesn’t earn any money. It’s much easier to sweep it under the carpet and pretend it has gone away. The thing is, it does not go away, and that pile of paperwork is getting bigger and even more overwhelming, and it is going to take forever to get it sorted!

It is important to know how much money you need to bring in each month to cover the essential costs of running your business. This is before you even think of paying yourself for all your hard work.

Getting invoicing right

You need to make sure that your invoice templates are in the correct format. I don’t know how many invoices I have seen that do not even have the word invoice on them, never mind an invoice number, and then they’re not sent out as a PDF. Don’t even get me started; believe it or not, it really does matter. If your invoices, statements, proformas or quotes are sent out in Word, the person receiving this could change it. You definitely do not want to have that issue. So please, please be mindful.

Then you need to send out your invoices, be it immediately, weekly, or monthly. Then you must make sure that payments are made and reminders are sent out if payment is not made within your agreed terms. You do have terms and conditions, don’t you?

How a VA can help

If your business has really taken off and you are busy, it makes sense to find a VA if your budget allows it. It is important to find one you trust. This person can look out for you and will support you to achieve your goals as you build up your working relationship). Just a few hours a week could make a big difference to your business and your work-life balance.

A client once said to me that he had got in touch with me as he had been given some advice by one of his clients, a retired accountant. It had made him think hard about what was happening in his business.

He had told him:

Don’t be too busy being busy that you don’t have a business.

Now go and get some help with your bookkeeping!

Quite a good thought, is it not?

Kirsty’s note

Ann is a brilliant VA (I can personally recommend her). If you think you might need some support, you can get in touch with Ann here:

Email: ann@ahsupport.co.uk

Website:    http://www.ahsupport.co.uk

 fb.me/annhuntadminassistant 

www.linkedin.com/in/adminann

Ann Hunt - VA helping you with your bookkeeping basics!
Posted on by — Leave a comment

The Benefits of Using an Independent Travel Agent

Guest blog from Independent Travel Agent Lynne Page

Why should you use a travel agent when you can book everything so easily yourself online?

I can tell you several reasons why!

An Independent Travel Agent can help you find your ideal holiday

Using an Independent Travel Agent is a valuable resource and can save you so much time, and we all know how precious our time is.

We are experts in our field, can give you personal recommendations due to being well-travelled, and can help you with unexpected situations should they arise.

When you are looking for a holiday, it can be overwhelming as there are so many choices out there, and you may not know where to start. If you like to travel but spend all day at a computer, the last thing you are going to want to do is spend hours trawling the internet trying to find the best deal. The thing I hear the most from my clients is, “ I hate looking for holidays! “

This is where I come in. I can do all the research for you and find hotels and attractions that suit your budget and taste. I can find deals from my many suppliers that are only available to people in the travel industry. I am ABTA and ATOL protected, and you can check my reviews on Google, Facebook and LinkedIn.

My service is personal and flexible

I am a home-based travel agent, and I like to be accessible and personable. I like to build a relationship with my clients. You choose how you would like to communicate with me, whether by email, phone, WhatsApp or meeting locally for a coffee and a chat.

I don’t charge a fee; I earn commission directly from our travel partners upon booking. For example, if I booked your holiday through Jet2 or EasyJet, they would pay me a commission. You would have paid exactly the same as if you had booked it yourself online, but you have me for support. And you are supporting a small business.

I look after my clients before, during and after the trip. I can check-in for you and print your boarding passes, or you can do this yourself if you prefer. I can recommend places to visit or maybe avoid. If there are any changes to your flights or itinerary, I will be able to support you with this.

Whether it’s a family holiday to Greece or a solo tour of India, I will be able to help.

How you can get started

Before contacting your travel agent, it would be a good idea to have some information ready to give them. An idea of where you would like to go, a maximum flight time, and the airports you are willing to travel from? How many nights would you like to stay, and on what board basis? Do you want to be near a beach and local amenities, or are you happy sitting by the pool with a book and a cocktail? Are you willing to pay extra for a sea view and/or a private transfer? What is the minimum star rating you want your hotel to be? The most crucial piece of information is your budget. This is key as everyone’s idea of a ‘bargain’ is different, and it needs to be realistic to avoid disappointment.

So the next time you are thinking about booking your holiday, please consider using an Independent Travel Agent.

Lynne Page - independent travel agent

Find out more:

https://www.lynnepagetravel.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/LynnePTravel

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnepagetravel

email: lynne@theholidayvillage.co.uk

Posted on by — Leave a comment

How do mortgages for the self-employed work?

I’m a whole of market Independent Financial Adviser and advise on investments, pensions, wealth planning, protection, and mortgages.

If you’re self-employed and want to increase your chances of getting a mortgage, it is worth noting there are many differences from lender to lender. 

You’ll need to fulfil the following fundamentals to facilitate a self-employed mortgage. Here are some of the things to consider.

You’ll need two years’ Full Accounts

This is usually in the format of a document SA302 – (tax year overview and tax calculations). 

These can be retrieved from HMRC or your accountant.

Many lenders will average the earnings over the two years on increasing profits; however, for decreasing profits, it is the lower one they work on. 

It’s therefore advisable that the latest year is the best year. Make your accountant aware of a pending house purchase when they’re compiling the accounts.

  • If two years’ accounts are not available, some lenders will accept one full year’s accounts and an accountant’s certificate.

However, this limits the number of lenders available and requires your accountant to provide this information.

Image shows a house to get you thinking about self-employed mortgages.

Distinguish between Sole trader vs Limited Company

As a sole trader, you are the sole owner of your business. You may employ staff to work with you, but you have complete control of the company. You keep all the profits after tax but are also personally liable should the business get into trouble. 

If you form a limited company, you are setting up a separate private organisation. You are not personally liable for the business – even if you’re the director and sole shareholder. The company is its own legal entity, so you can only lose what you put in. Rather than keeping the profits, you pay yourself through a combination of salary and dividends.

Have both your business and personal bank statements available.

  • As with employed mortgage applications, there is a requirement to have a deposit available.

10% is usually the minimum for most lenders. However, a few will accept 5%. You’ll need to provide evidence showing the source of the deposit. There is a gifted deposit process with some lenders, where you’ll need extra proof of where the funds are, with identification and written confirmation from the donor, noting that this is a non-refundable gift.

Credit checks

  • All mortgage applications will have a credit check; some leave a soft footprint, and some a hard footprint. 

Experian and Equifax are the main two credit check providers many lenders use. However, be mindful of how many applications are processed, as this could negatively affect your credit file.

To improve the credit file, regular use of small amounts on a credit card and the balance repaid in full could help the score over a longer period – ideally before a mortgage application.

Affordability calculators will vary from lender to lender

Lenders will consider whether you can afford to pay your mortgage. They’ll look at the number of dependents you have and any continuing commitments (credit card/loans etc.). 

Other forms of income could also be considered, depending on the lender, such as child benefits, maintenance payments and PIP. Also, some lenders will accept debts being cleared before purchase, and others will not.

YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE

Hannah Cowell DipPFS CeMAP Certs Cii (MP & ER)

IFA

Mobile 07870898474

Email hannah.cowell@2plan.com

Website Hannah Cowell (2plan.com)

2plan wealth management Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.

It is entered on the Financial Services Register (www.fca.org.uk) under reference 461598.

Registered Office: 3rd Floor, Bridgewater Place, Water Lane, Leeds, LS11 5BZ.

Telephone: 0113 302 1360. Registered in England and Wales: 05998270

Posted on by — Leave a comment

Your menopause and the butterfly effect

Guest blog - Mairi Taylor - menopause rock star

We know that for a caterpillar to transform into a butterfly they have to allow themselves to turn in to the most glorious goop where their imaginal cells – I always thought they were called “the magical cells” – recreate the butterfly the caterpillar was always destined to be.

If anyone tries to hurry the process or help the delicate butterfly emerge from their cocoon too early their lives are shortened & they don’t get to live their full glorious next phase of life.

What if your menopause transition is your glorious gloopy phase?

A full breakdown of the woman you are in order to become the woman you are meant to be in this next chapter of your life? This is a true “unbecoming” as you have to allow yourself time to be the gloopy mess, a mess where everything you thought you were is allowed to disintegrate & you recreate a new glorious version of yourself.

This time can be confusing, frustrating, irritating & downright frightening as we appear to rage against the two aspects of ourselves. For many of us we hold on so tightly to “our caterpillar” that we simply don’t allow the potential magic to happen. There can be such a sense of loss for many as society doesn’t honour our “gloopy mess” phase, or the wise wild woman we can become.We haven’t been shown how to navigate this transition in between family, work & all the other 100’s of responsibilities & commitments we face as modern women, but maybe just knowing this “mess” is all part of the phase may help your butterfly emerge just a little easier.

You can’t rush it, force it or deny it because to do so would impact the quality & vibrancy of the next phase & you would be dishonouring the woman you were & the woman you are yet to know.

What if we could all enter this phase of life knowing we need to allow time & space for the breakdowns, setting strong boundaries to protect some “chrysalis time”, the reimagining, the gloopy, sticky mess & see, hear & feel it for what it is? Knowing that by allowing it to take it’s time & simply swim in the soupy mess we will emerge as a newly formed & glorious post menopause woman who can open her wings & fly with a new sense of freedom as her next chapter takes form?

Mairi Taylor

Get in touch

If you need or support navigating your menopause / midlife transition then know you don’t have to be on your own. I can offer a range of services and a support network of resources and people to help you navigate.

www.mairitaylor.com

https://www.instagram.com/mairitaylor_menopause_rockstar/

Posted on by — Leave a comment

TRY STARTING THE NEW YEAR WITH A SANKALPA!

Mid-January: The time when traditionally, many of us have made New Year Resolutions to lose weight, get fitter, stop smoking or have a ‘dry’ January!  By now, we’ve often ‘fallen off the wagon’ or decided categorically not to bother!

I don’t know about you, but personally, just the thought of the word ‘diet’ makes me want to reach for the biscuit tin! Or search for that leftover box of mince pies!

The question is, why do we feel the pressure to make a New Year’s Resolution?

Apparently, it’s all to do with the Babylonians!   In ancient times, the Babylonians would make promises to the gods in the hope that they would earn good favour in the coming year.  Thousands of years on, this worldwide tradition has continued into to 21st Century.  Incredible!

New Year resolutions may work for some people, but for me, it’s a matter of reverse psychology; as soon as I’m told not to do something, it makes me want to do it even MORE! It simply doesn’t work!

However, as a Yoga practitioner of 30 years, I prefer a much more balanced approach, which absolutely works for me.  It’s also something I use throughout the year, not just for January.

This approach involves making a Sankalpa. 

Sankalpa is a Sanskrit term in yogic philosophy that refers to a heartfelt desire, an intention to do something.  It tends to be an affirmation and comes from deep within.  It’s slightly different to a resolution because unlike a personal goal to achieve something, a Sankalpa is a short positive affirmation or declaration such as “ I am happy and healthy” rather than “ I want to find happiness and get fitter”. 

Examples of a Sankalpa may be:

“I AM healthy and strong.”

“I AM at peace within.”

“I AM enough.”

“I AM loving and kind.”

“ I AM happy and confident in all I do.”

New Year image explaining a Sankalpa.

The Sankalpa is a yogic tool we regularly use to help us focus on our innermost desires; it enables us to use personal power to bring our inner beliefs to fruition.

During Yoga Nidra, a state of deep relaxation or yogic sleep is when the Sankalpa is most resonant.  It is believed that when the mind is relaxed, the Sankalpa can be absorbed by the subconscious.

Furthermore, in Yoga, we believe that whatever your Sankalpa is in life, it is sure to come true!

Maybe you’d like to try making your Sankalpa during a Yin and Nidra class?

To find out more and how Jane can help guide you in your Yoga journey, please take a peek at www.hathayogawithjane.com.

Jane Hathaway is an award-winning, Experienced Yoga Teacher (EYT) and Yoga Alliance Professional (YAP). She specialises in Trauma Resilience Embodied Yoga (TREY), Hatha and Yin Yoga and Pranayama.

Posted on by — 1 Comment

Being in community

Guest blog - Olivia Pitt - Olivia Pitt Coaching - Being in Community

As we approach the end of another year, I paused to reflect on how much ‘being in community’ has helped me to grow emotionally and spiritually, and as a businesswoman.

But what do I mean by ‘being in community’?  For me, it’s being an active member of a group that shares similar values.  It’s being in spaces where I feel safe and have a sense of belonging.  With lots of everyday demands and in the interest of self-care, I’ve had to be selective about how I spend my time. 

Here are 5 questions I ask when choosing a community:

Do we share similar values? 

If I’m investing time being involved in a group, it’s important that it’s about being supportive and celebrating each other.  One of the things I’m most proud of when it comes to the Curvy Convo community that I created for plus-size women is how much we celebrate the achievements of our members Curvy Convo – Olivia Pitt.  My ‘Keeping the Dream Alive’ coaching groups are perfect examples of this – check them out here: Group Coaching – Olivia Pitt.  I also get that same experience in my early morning circuit classes. There’s no competition, just support and encouragement to give things a go.      

What contribution could I make?

For me, it can’t be about just taking from the community.  What could I bring to the table? What value could I add?  My church community provides me with an opportunity to serve and lead, putting my skills, experience, and personality to good use.  In networking groups, bringing joy has often been the most valuable contribution I could bring.

What could I learn?

Stepping into the role of being a businesswoman was alien to me after having been an employee for most of my working life.  There were so many things I had to learn (and unlearn!), and I’ve been blessed to find a space in a business coaching group where I can be completely myself, unembarrassed about my lack of knowledge in some areas and fighting off impostor syndrome when it rears its ugly head. 

How will it help me to grow?

I’ve been ‘doing life’ with other women of faith as a member of a mentoring group since 2014.  This is where I learned about my identity and unique design.  It helped me to understand myself a whole lot more than I ever did!  I discovered that I am gifted in encouraging others. In the past two years, I’ve intentionally spent time with other women who share my gifting.  This has helped me to confidently flow in my gifting, in complete alignment with my business as a Life Coach.

Can I really be myself?

In safe communities, I’ve allowed myself to be vulnerable and let my guard down so people can see beyond the smiles and laughter.  I’ve shown up at times when I’ve felt broken, rejected, mentally drained, a failure.  In virtual spaces, I’ve done the makeup-free, braless in PJs showing up as well – this all counts!

So, my question is, are you in community? You don’t have to navigate life on your own.  You have nothing to prove.  There’s so much to be gained by meaningfully connecting with others. As you enter a new year, maybe it’s time to consider who you could ‘do life’ with. You might be the missing piece of the puzzle that the group needs.  Go for it!

Interested in finding out more? Let’s chat: Contact – Olivia Pitt You can find me on socials Courage Cultivating Coach (@oliviapittcoaching) • Instagram photos and videos or (13) Olivia Pitt Coaching | Facebook