My story

Like many others I grew up at a time when parenting was more about control and obedience than about affirming our talents and showing us how to use our potential in the world. It was expected that I would get married and have children and that was enough for a young woman. 

Instead, I rode around on my motorbike in London doing temp work and became interested in how organisations worked (not so much the typing). Training and 10 years in human resources followed, listening and assessing people for jobs at all levels.  Then Scott MacKenzie’s song ‘San Francisco’ came on the radio and my brother, now living in San Francisco, contacted me.  I followed my heart and went to America for 15 years.

My family was, I discovered, pretty dysfunctional and so I began my ‘inner work’ which continues to this day. The path has not been easy but it has opened doors in me that I did not imagine were there, which has brought much fulfillment. When I look back from my rocking chair in the future I will both marvel and be at peace with the ups and downs of my life.

My spiritual journey took the unexpected turn of training to be a priest. I have skills and empathy with people but, for me, it has mostly been about learning to better understand myself in the face of some difficult challenges. At the end of 10 years working as a hospital chaplain, I became a personal development coach helping people to find and live their dreams. I have a Christian faith that is inclusive and I am happy working with people who have their own experiences of something I might call ‘spiritual’ but others might think of as ‘aliveness’. 

I gradually discovered my creativity with painting, making stained glass panels, planning a garden, silent meditation and Nordic walking. I am also interested in the mind-body connection as it relates to emotional wellbeing.