Nourishing Beyond

Welcome to the first monthly edition of PetalTalks Chronicles. Boy, Girl or however you identify, I am super excited that you are here with me and challenging you to stay with me and keeping returning and help me create and craft a safe and innovate space where you can reflect on your stories, those of others, gain a different perspective and be open to the unique life lessons and insights you have have learned and step further into your 'PetalPower' and pay forward to help others because your story has a ripple effect.

In October 2022 whilst I was sat at corner of my dining table and feeling uninspired as I scrolled through Linkedin, I stumbled across a Linkedin Live where they were talking about #givingtuesday as an antidote of Black Friday and the initiative around giving something back to the community. I went from uninspired to focussed in nanoseconds because the idea of giving is very much aligned with me. In fact within the community part of my giving is around pro bono work with a couple of charities and helping one of the schools I consult in with food parcels and other initiatives. This was different because for the first time, I felt I could do something different on the platform as supposed to the 'posting' and getting a few likes and some interesting conversations filled with depth that I am grateful that I had and continue to have. Even before the live ended, I knew that I was going to do a #givingtuesday event, not as a live but as an external event. There was a new sense of purpose and excitement that is only felt through realising the potential of something and this time amnesia wasn't getting in the way.

When you know there's something that you love, that you want to do and will not even worry about any 'mishaps' because you are so much in the zone? Or perhaps something you want to achieve like NYAD and the epic swim from Cuba to Key West? Are you at the point of contemplation and deep down holding on to the fact you are amazing and want to create impact , yet you are waiting for inspiration or for something to be handed on a plate?

The plate is just for food and that will be in a restaurant where you will pay for it or in your home or at social gatherings. Chuck Close, painter and visual artist challenges us 'not to wait for inspiration but to just get on with it, to show up and do the work'. This is true, but what I would add is sometimes there is a catalyst needed like in my example above of the LinkedIn live where they were talking about #givingtuesday, which sparked me.

The Chronicles extends the live event and asks key questions for you to continue to spread the message and allow the PetalTalks to breath even further, inspire you to step into their petalpower and foster self-reflection and promote growth. Representation matters and often we see our lives represented in others' experiences.

Last month's event looked at 'Goals and Intentions: Nourishing Beyond' and I had wonderful small group and Sonja Montiel and Mary Weckerle who collaborated with me as guest speakers and profoundly shared personal stories stemming from childhood and the distinctions and wisdom they have gained from that and shared at the #PetalTalks 2.0 January 24 event.

"What I learned is the grace and forgiveness and adaptability, being flexible because life is beautiful in those movements" - Sonja Montiel"

Sonja's words illustrate the leadership, advocacy and and the enthusiasm we need to have about our own lives and that we are at the helm of it as life is truly a unique journey.

"What is it that you believe? And what is it that holds you and helps you feel safe and good within your own heart? What is it that you need? Do you need to discover yourself? Do you need to think on yourself for a bit? Do you need to question? And it's okay to question. You know, you do not need to move mountains to do it. You don't have to cause huge ripples in order to have an internal discussion with yourself around what you want or think or question" - Mary Weckerle

What nourishes a flower? How do you cultivate a flower, promote and sustain it? You are the flower and to step into your #petalpower what needs to be in place?

What makes your Okavango Delta?

At your best:

• How well equipped are you to cultivate your goals and intentions?
• How do you take care of yourself and seek rest in the midst of pressure and multiple priorities?
• What nourishes you beyond your intentions and goals?
• What is missing from your thinking at the moment?

#PetalTalks and #nourishingbeyond is where places of struggle meet places of success, of where we get to celebrate each other, acknowledge our stories and interrogate the complexities of our human experience.

I am so delighted to launch PetalTalks Chronicles and thank you so much for your readership. Inviting your engagement and together continue to foster a sense of community and a safe space to pause, recalibrate, continue to find meaning in our experiences that shape us and impact others . Please do share your thoughts and any insights you can offer to carry on these conversations worth having.

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