I truly had no idea what I signed up for. 

Almost eight years ago, I had my first taste of transformational coaching and knew this work was an undeniable part of my DNA. 

But this calling felt like it came out of nowhere.

In my twenties, I was quickly climbing the ranks as a news producer when I felt the pull to do something that felt more meaningful to me. I transitioned into teaching, a profession that I always thought I would do growing up.

But even making that big of a career change didn’t quell the “there’s something more” feeling I had. 

After a few years of teaching and a series of life events, including a heart-wrenching breakup in my early thirties, I found myself in one of the most bizarre places I’d ever been – in a barn in Paso Robles, California arriving late to a circle of 25 men and women seated on the floor, eyes closed, being guided by a facilitator to observe their breathing. 

A wave of dread washed over me.

A few months prior I had briefly interacted with the leader of this workshop, and she emailed me soon thereafter asking if I could help staff an upcoming four-day transformational retreat in Central California.

It made no sense in my mind. I knew almost nothing about the organization running the retreat. Before this, the edgiest thing I had done was a hot yoga class. Whatever “this” was, wasn’t me.

And yet, when I got the email asking me to attend, there was a part of me that was an immediate, resolute, 100% yes to going. I decided to trust that part of me for at least a few more minutes after my (late) arrival.

As I found my spot in the circle while the guided meditation continued, I was sure I had made a grave mistake. I remember feeling the car keys in my pocket and thinking it wouldn’t be long before I could excuse myself from the event entirely.

But I stayed, and the experiences that unfolded in the next four days changed me forever. 

I logged 16-hour days listening to others share their deepest longings and darkest fears. I got to reflect back their innate goodness, and stand-in for people in their lives with whom they needed to heal. I got to witness these beautiful individuals release the painful stories that no longer served them, and step into the truth of who they really were.

I was captivated by every single aspect of the weekend. I’ve now staffed over 20 of these workshops, serving with hundreds of people, but I still remember the names and faces of every person from that first weekend.

On the last day of the event, I remembered thinking “So THIS is who I am. I had no idea.” 

The flame had been lit, and there was no turning back on this calling (though trust me, I tried many, many times).

In some ways, my coaching career feels like it came out of left field. And it also seems there was no way I *wasn’t* going to do this all along. 

With eight years of training, mentoring, and journeying on my own path since that first workshop, I am so grateful I now get to do this work full-time.

It truly is a dream come true.