How the puzzle pieces started to come together:

Reflecting on my life, at the age of 20, magical colours filtered in, brushing across my broken lens of life, tinting them, and cementing the pieces into lens of vibrant abstract patterns. My lens of life transformed and were different. I felt a beautiful blissful inner sensation. I hoped would not pass. I found it hard to connect with those around me, as it was difficult for them to understand my journey. A discomfort and conflict glided in, I wanted to be the person I was before the depression as well as needing to be this free spirited and aware person. For years, I have toiled – torn and stuck with the question – “who the hell am I?” All I knew was that I needed to continue my self- awareness and spiritual journey and teach life skills to teens and young adults but how would I do that?  Well, the Universe and my soul had a plan and has a plan for my earth life…

The year I turned 30, I started my first ever ‘proper’ job at an International School in Lilongwe, Malawi. The Director at the time provided me with an opportunity of a lifetime – for the first time (career wise) someone believed in me and gave me a chance. An amazing blessing and so grateful!

The roles I signed on for were Secondary School Counsellor and Learning Support Teacher – I also started my job with a one-year distant learning Post Graduate Certification in Education course, where I did my practical’s through the school. Wow… was I nervous to embark on this chapter in my journey – I was “green” and was not sure if I could do this. However, I knew deep down I was capable by trying my best. I was incredibly lucky that my parents had moved to Malawi the year before, so I had support, faith, encouragement, and love. What I did not anticipate, like many of us, was how much I would grow.

The first year was unbelievably busy and challenging, however it was amazing, my confidence started to blossom. The second year was a little easier, still busy but my confidence continued to grow, especially in teaching – not only teaching subject content in Learning Support classes but also with the Personal, Social, and Physical Education (PSPE) lessons and other workshops. The one topic that was very much the start of creating workshops was Child Protection. The Primary school counsellor and I had the task of looking at a Child Protection Programme, which we tweaked in order for it to fit better with our school. So, over my second year we created a Child Protection Programme with workshops across the school from Reception to Year 13. I felt creating and teaching the workshops was enjoyable and interesting, even though the content was heavy. I was also asked to create a Mindfulness programme for the future Year 7 groups. However, this did not come to life, but it did give me ideas while researching. Towards the end of this year, the Approaches to Learning Skills coordinator proposed that the Head of Physical Health Education and me collaborate to create a Wellbeing Programme for the Diploma (DP) Year students (Year 12 and 13).  We created an outline and a few lessons to start us off in the new school year. My third year, the DP Wellbeing Programme kicked off. I was excited and fulfilled teaching the DP students once a week. Additionally, I created a 6 lesson Mindfulness programme for Year 10’s, creating this was fun and insightful. After this programme, a reflection form was provided and the Year 10’s gave me some valuable reflective information. The offer of creating a mindfulness programme for Year 7’s, writing and teaching a mindfulness programme for Year 10’s as well as the DP Wellbeing Programme running, boosted my confidence and sparked an idea of writing short workshops for teens and young adults around learning life skills to drive personal development. The principal of the Secondary school was amazing, an incredible boss – I could not have asked for a better boss. He was supportive and encouraging throughout my years at the school without his encouragement, trust, and feedback I do not think my confidence would be where it is today. Additionally, the leadership team was just as encouraging, supportive and trusting. I was incredibly lucky to have worked with some amazing humans/souls!

The holiday between my second and third year at the school, I decided to travel to Thailand to experience and complete a Yoga Teacher Training. A Yoga Teacher Training was always on the cards but had never had the money to do it. I was not fit nor flexible; I was overweight doing this course. Confidence in my physical self was exceptionally low, oozing disappointment and sadness as to where I was in my physical self – I really did not think I would be capable of completing this, but I wanted to challenge myself. I DID IT! I completed a 200hours Yoga Teacher Training with One Yoga Thailand – the people (students and teachers) I was on the course with were beautiful loving souls who encouraged and supported me each step of the way. Helping me to see my inner beauty and strength. I had grown through those 4 weeks. Magical! When I arrived home, the yoga course renewed my interest in practicing Reiki – two friends asked if I could practice Reiki on them which I did – great start building my confidence with reiki. I was surprised by how I practiced this wonderful energy healing and how natural it was for me. It was remarkably interesting for me to see how much I did and still need to trust and listen to my intuition. Reflecting on these last four years of my life, the Divine has presented many blessings and opportunities for the puzzle pieces to begin to fit together.  I feel blessed and truly grateful!

In 2020, COVID struck, this year provided me with positive time and space allowing me to grow and search for the answer to the question, “who the hell am I?” I spend the lockdown period in Plettenberg Bay, South Africa with my Grans’ and Aunt for 5 months. I decided I did not want to waste this precious time and space. I needed to live in the present, work on myself physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. I also made a start on this business idea playing around with the logo and business name. I played with so many words and finally Lotus Aurora felt right and connected to the logo I had designed. During the lockdown, I completed a Children’s Yoga Teacher Training, as my last year of contract at the school my role changed to Whole School Counsellor – counselling both Primary and Secondary students. I felt that this course may be helpful for me to get in touch with my inner child and connect to the way children experience life. The Divine works in mysterious ways… I was so scared of working with children and this year my mindset has changed with the help and support of the Primary principal and Primary Years Programme coordinator. They share so much joy, kindness and imagination when working with children. In observing how they interact with the children, I have learnt and become more confident in talking and teaching small humans. I can say with confidence, I love working with little ones! They have taught me a thing or two. 😊 More ideas have popped in my mind on what I would like to create and teach.  I have decided to include teaching yoga and meditation to children and creating workshops for children in Lotus Aurora Wellness. I believe and feel that the Universe is calling me to serve children, teens, and young adults. Writing this, I had a little giggle at where life is for me right now and where it is going. I remember often when doing my angel cards, the future card in my pattern was about teaching and working with children.

Lockdown also offered me a chance of enrolling onto a Life Coaching Course with New Insights Life Coaching Programme. This course has been a big challenge for me, the frustration I have felt but do you know what, I have really learnt so much, my perspective about certain things in life has changed and I am questioning my own actions. My magical coloured lens seems to be a kaleidoscope, each day a new pattern and different colours emerge. My energy vibration has changed and no longer connects with where I am, which calls for change.

I am finally going to follow my intuition and honour what the Divine is calling me to do, fulfilling my Dharma – serving and sharing with humanity the knowledge, experience, and ideas the Universe has provided. The question of “who the hell I am?” Well, I have come to the realisation that this question will forever be open to new answers. I change every day, no day is the same, I am who I am in the present moment, being mindful of how I would like to live, treat myself, others and our planet each moment of my life and make a conscious decision each day to share, be kind, have balanced exchange and see through the eyes of love.

Recently, my cousin reminded me about going with the flow, the Universe and my soul have a plan and whatever is meant to happen will happen. I need to remember to let go, listen to my heart, go with the flow with baby steps and what I need with be provided whatever it may be.

I am truly grateful for where I am and where I am going in life. Thank you to the Universe for those that you have brought into my life, for they have taught me many lessons whether they be children, teens or adults, and for your signs, symbols and lessons that I have witnessed and experienced so far in my life. I am excited to see what you have instore for me.