In middle age I was blessed with a group of lovely and energetic friends. We had great conversations, met for coffee and enjoyed outings from golf to short hikes. 

These fine people remain close friends, and I love them. 

But my path began to diverge from them. While I embraced the beauty of aging and the wisdom it brought, a burning desire for something more lingered within me. 

I found that I was just going down a very different road than many of my friends by my late 50s. The word “retirement” was everywhere. A number of close friends even entered retirement homes and made plans to do so. 

I just wasn’t ready to retire and hang up the gloves. But I also wanted a change in my previous life in the educational field. I started talking to everyone I knew: family members, friends, even strangers and work colleagues.

What was their dream job? What did they think the world needed right now? I wanted to expand and do something more with my life, but I had no idea exactly what…

Had life just passed me by?

The thought had crossed my mind, and I had some definite days of doubt. I began writing reflections in a small daily journal.

One day, penning thoughts in my notebook at my favorite cafe I struck up a conversation with a young man who worked as a barista. He told me the job was just temporary and he was heading to university in a month to study law. 

As our conversation progressed he opened up about how lost he’d been a year before, feeling like crud and not even working at all. 

I asked what had made the difference, and he answered right away without hesitation: “my life coach, Sarah.” 

This young guy in his early 30s had turned to a life coach who had helped him clarify what he wanted to do and why, to set healthy boundaries and goals in his life and to know the core values that motivated him. 

Could I do something like what Sarah did? The seeds were now planted in my mind, and I wrote down life coach?? underlined twice in my notepad. My journey into life coaching began from there.

Becoming a life coach

With newfound clarity and determination, I enrolled in courses on coaching methodologies, psychology, and effective communication. 

Every lesson became a stepping stone, and I learned immense amounts about myself and others, growing in self-awareness and emotional intelligence.

As I completed my training, I found myself drawn to a diverse range of clients, each grappling with their unique set of challenges. 

My empathetic nature and genuine desire to help others made me feel like an exceptional life coach. I didn’t push or pressure clients, but I provided clear guidelines that actually worked for them on a practical level.

My blend of seeing clients in person and online began to build in popularity as my style of warmth, encouragement, and practical guidance created space for clients to explore their goals and dreams. 

Incredible moments of transformation

My coaching career has been incredibly rewarding and numerous clients and their transformations already stand out for me and inspire me deeply. 

One of my clients, Clara, a woman in her 50s was struggling with a sense of purpose after her children had left for college. She stands out in my memory because of the immense difference our sessions made. 

Through our coaching sessions, Clara rediscovered her love for painting and began hosting art workshops for the community. They became really well attended and Clara really entered her element. 

It was incredible to see and so heartwarming to me to be able to help guide Clara to this breakthrough. 

Witnessing Clara’s transformation reinforced my belief in the transformative power of coaching. Word of my coaching skills spread, and soon I found myself at the forefront of a growing community of individuals seeking positive change. 

Meet Richard…

This also brought me into contact with another client, Richard, who made a profound impact on me. 

One sunny afternoon, I received an email from a man named Richard, who had heard about my coaching services through a friend. Richard poured his heart out in the message, sharing the struggles he was facing in his personal and professional life. 

Intrigued and eager to assist, I scheduled a session with him, hoping to provide a glimmer of guidance in his turbulent journey. There was so much to unpack, where would we start? 

As Richard entered my cozy coaching space, his eyes reflected a mix of uncertainty and vulnerability. 

We began our session with a simple question: “What is the main challenge that brings you here today?” 

That question, as it turned out, unraveled a tapestry of challenges Richard had been wrestling with for years and emotional patterns of codependency he was stuck in. 

As he talked I could feel the weight of his frustrations and unexplored dreams. 

Richard needed a big mindset shift and it took us a few months to get into the really deep issues that needed to be worked out. But I watched his blockages lift in one particular session later in our first few sessions when I asked him to envision his dream job and life. 

He was hesitant at first, but he soon got into it, closing his eyes and telling me about his much more satisfying relationship with his girlfriend who actually listened when he talked. About him having more time on his schedule to pursue his hobbies and see friends. About leaving his current job and expanding into the automotive design industry which he’d always wanted to be in. 

I kept guiding Richard through this visualization and it was transformational, bringing up the core values that were guiding him and a roadmap to get there. 

He’d felt the positive, proactive energy stir inside himself and from that moment on I could tell there was part of him that knew this wasn’t just about getting a pep talk or feeling good. It was about transformation. 

This was a magic moment, an experience that not only validated my decision but also fueled my enthusiasm for helping others navigate the twists and turns of life. 

It’s been one of many…

And I’m so thankful that I didn’t retire, because my coaching career is only growing and my passion for it is increasing by the day. 

Coaching works

My journey into coaching has inspired many of my old friends. I’d not only embraced change but had become a beacon of inspiration for those around me.

I’m immensely proud of what I’m doing as a life coach and the changes I’m helping bring to clients lives, but I do have to say:

I’m even prouder of my clients themselves. 

Being a life coach has been so rewarding for me, and being able to guide and empower clients as they set out on their own journeys and take new paths has been an amazing experience. 

As a life coach, I’ve continued to make a difference in the lives of others, proving that it’s never too late to embark on a fulfilling and rewarding journey of self-discovery and personal growth.