My Story: The Full Version
This is my story – the one I really want to tell.
(Make yourself a cuppa or grab a snack as this is a lengthy one!)
Today, I live a fulfilling and drama-free life in Lima, Peru - one that is in true alignment with my core values and who I am.
I’m grateful for all the small things, not just the big events, holidays and important people in my life. I now appreciate the magic in the mundane – staying in and dancing around the living room to children’s’ songs with my two sons, the feeling when you step into a hot shower in the morning or the smell of dinner cooking in the oven. Without the ordinary, we simply wouldn’t appreciate the extraordinary.
I now have so much compassion for all versions of myself, which overflows into my relationships with others. I have clear boundaries and I continue to do the work to heal my past traumas. I’ve learnt that saying ‘no’ simply allows for more ‘yes’ opportunities to enter my life. I don’t do things because I’m worried what people might think if I don’t. I’m not at service to others 24/7, like I used to be. I listen to my body and rest when I need (I LOVE a power nap!). I don’t have any guilt for ‘not making the most of the day’ anymore, or for not getting through my to-do list that day.
I have complete freedom with my time. I get to decide where and when I work – in 2019, I started freelancing and then set up my own business, so wherever there is Wi-Fi, I’m able to serve others.
With no job constraints, I get to travel the world with my family when we desire – I absolutely love exploring and learning about new places and cultures, as well as meeting new people, so this will always be a priority for me.
I’m a mother to two boys and married to an incredible man who makes me a better person every day. He’s also the role model I always wanted for our children, but I also knew, to attract the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, I had to BE that person and role model them myself, first.
Through sharing my story, experience and expertise, I empower 1000s of people to LIVE the story they really want to tell. The story where they get to simply BE who they truly are. The story where they discover and get to share their innate gifts with the world. The story that they know will have a positive impact on others.
As my story plays out, my mission spreads beyond my expectations. I publish a book and get invited to attend and speak at global events. Through this exposure, I’m able to empower and inspire so many more people.
I continue to give back and be involved in several sustainability projects across the world, both to protect our planet and to help communities to thrive.
One day, in many years to come, I’ll be sitting on my favourite sofa in my front room, cuddling my grandchildren and telling them this story. How I left my imprint on the world, in my own way and oh what fun it was!! If I have to give them one piece of advice, I would say, LIVE the story you really want to tell – don’t just dream it - as the only thing guaranteed in this life is the here and now.
BUT, it’s important to know, I wasn’t always this person…
So, what is my backstory?
I grew up in London as the middle of five siblings and was incredibly quiet and sensitive as a child. Growing up, I always felt out of place, but did my best to adapt and fit in. Being solution-focused, I played the role of peacemaker in my family from a young age.
I was always very hard working and loved to learn. I wasn’t the brightest kid in class, but my work ethic meant I made sure to complete every piece of work to the highest standard and so my grades were almost always above average.
My teen years were somewhat turbulent, which isn’t surprising. Navigating hormones, new friendships, boys and all the drama that comes with being a teen was quite a shock to my system. It was a period of my life when I felt the most misunderstood by everyone, including my parents.
After a few more years of studying, I graduated from the London School of Economics and then found myself working in the professional development industry – I was always interested in personal growth, psychology and how we can develop ourselves and change based on what we learn and put into action.
After three different office jobs, I still couldn’t shake this feeling that something was missing. I was always searching externally for more. From the outside, I was excelling – delivering an outstanding service to clients and suppliers, bringing in revenue for the business, managing a team, winning awards, and getting the annual promotions… but I had zero boundaries, I didn’t respect or listen to my body, and I thought that being hard-working and pushing through was the only way to be successful. “Work hard, play hard” was a motto I tried to live by.
At the end of 2015, my view on life changed forever. I received the most heart-breaking news about one of my close school friends. My world suddenly got a lot darker, and to be frank, I was petrified. Fear took over and I just couldn’t sleep for weeks. I then went on to face several personal difficulties within the space of 6 months. So, I did what I thought was best –distract myself with work and work harder.
By this point in my life, I was having panic attacks and could easily finish a bottle of wine to myself and not feel drunk. I wasn’t even living for the weekends; I was going to the pub during the week and then crashing at the weekend from exhaustion. I would work from 8am till 10pm some days and feel guilty for taking a break, or for taking a day off work when I wasn’t feeling well. Proving to others (myself) that I was a strong, independent woman was my subconscious priority.
May 2018 - just before I decided to quit alcohol for a month as I felt so unhealthy drinking all the time.
My reality left me feeling stuck in a cycle of working to pay my bills, to survive. I couldn’t just quit my job as I didn’t have family finances to support me or a family home to move back into. On a physical level, I wasn’t eating properly and didn’t do much exercise, so I felt extremely unfit and unhealthy. My skin would constantly break out, so I was forever using filters or editing my photos online. I also hated my smile, so I just wouldn’t smile properly in photos, and I would always wear black. I just didn’t feel like myself at all.
And so this cycle continued for almost three more years, until I was close to burning out – I felt like I was going to have a breakdown at any minute - not that you could tell from the outside, as I prided myself on being a “swan”. Enough was enough. I knew I had to make some changes in my life if I wanted to change my story – this was certainly not the story I wanted to tell.
And so, at the end of 2018, I decided to leave the safety of my well-paid job, rent out my room and book a one-way ticket to Rio de Janeiro for New Year’s Eve with two girlfriends.
And that was the beginning of the next chapter I knew I really wanted to tell…
So here I am, living my story and empowering others to do the same – no matter what their circumstances, backstories or desires are.
If you can dream it, you can LIVE it!
To your next chapter,
Alice x