Planting Seeds to Bloom

The foundation of my #journey2bloom is grounded in empathy and insights gifted to me by others.  The seeds planted along the way of my ever evolving journey have sprinkled their way into other's survival guide.  As I plant the seeds to build the community I know will help so many, today I openly reflect and share: 

It takes time to:

• Establish trust 
• Communicate effectively with newly met acquaintances 
• Understand another's unique situation 
• Decipher new Lingo
• Figure out what you know and don't know 
• Find others that have been where you are and can provide varying perspectives on how they made progress
• Give yourself permission to be vulnerable around others you don't know

To make progress you must: 

• Get comfortably uncomfortable with letting others help you 
• Be willing to build relationships with educators and administrators
• Release  the guilt you feel for being in this situation 
• Forgive yourself for not having all the answers
• Begin to celebrate roadblocks & detours as progress 
• Recognize it takes a village to create solutions that lead to change  

Progress is inevitable when grounded in a common interest and built upon with trust, understanding and a mutual respect for one another's view into the situation and circumstances.  I promise that eventually you will begin to move the needle forward.  Just when you least expect it, a door will open, a person will offer a lending hand and change will begin to take place. 

It all starts by establishing relationships with others that know more than you, think differently than you YET believe in you, believe in your child and what you are willing to do to help your student live their best life.  

I recognize this can often feel like an overwhelmingly daunting and lonely journey.  I get it so deeply, which is why I am willing to write about every personal facet of how I move the needle forward, backward and at times bend it in ways that others think I am crazy to stretch it!  Nope, it doesn't always work in my favor but it always teaches me something that leads me to a better path forward, some answers and most importantly progress for my kiddos.  

As I shift from passion to execution I am excited to build out this community. I know I will learn with each of you because at the center of this community lies empathy, compassion and an unwavering willingness to listen to others thoughts/ideas.  

Something you read struck a heartstring? If so, please email me at journey2bloom@gmail.com to learn more!

Coming Soon:

Group  discussions focused on 

Topics important to parents of students with learning differences 

Website found here ->  https://journey2bloom.wixsite.com/mysite/how-we-collaborate

#journey2bloom #inspireresilience #ittakesavillage #movingmountains #wordsmatter #advocacy #parenting #findingyourvoice #learningdifferences 

  

Putting you first matters but perhaps not in the way you think!

I don't know anyone that can show up at their best day in and day out without creating the habits that become daily routines, so by default, putting you first matters!  I suspect most, if not all of us, never want to become the very thing we criticize.  

Simply stated putting yourself first could be:

• Getting enough sleep so you show up refreshed and ready to start your day 
• Eating the right foods and drinking enough water so your body has the the energy to get done what you need to for the day 
• Taking time to exercise your body and mind consistently gives people the best chance of engaging in discussions with an open mind, coming from a place of gratitude and without predetermined ideas of how something will end.  

It also means being self-aware, recognizing and acknowledging how you show up and creating the change in yourself that you expect to see in others.  Giving yourself permission to not judge yourself for mistakes and instead focusing on what you can learn from every situation. 

Putting myself first allows me to focus on mindfulness and the things I can control - placing them front and center.  There is so much we can't control, yet I think we can all agree that everyone has the ability to control one's own habits, behaviors, actions and reactions.  Trust me, Focusing energy on mistakes vs progress isn't worth it!

For so long, putting myself first felt selfish and very overwhelming. Now I know not doing so impacts how I show up, how others see me, perceive my behavior and influences, impacts and interferes with my ability to effectively guide others to create the change they want to see.

As a mentor, advocate, coach and leader - for me - doing the above allows the space for gratitude, forgiveness opening my mind to Communicate, Collaborate Comprehend and even Compromise!

Here's why........Actions, Reaction, Motions and Emotions are all factors in our daily life. How we feel about ourselves often impacts all this  - at least that is the case in my world.  When I don't put myself first, in the ways I describe above, I can't show up ready to effectively and objectively Communicate, Collaborate Comprehend nor Compromise. Why not? Because when I am off kilter I listen to respond vs to understand, I react vs respond because I am emotional and not "grounded" in objectivity.  

Communication means nothing without understanding.  An open mind, willingness to listen to others thoughts/ideas strings together the ability to comprehend, collaborate and compromise.

I recognize and acknowledge that putting myself first is necessary to thrive.  Curious to know if you believe putting yourself first is selfish or necessary to thrive?

Coming Soon:

Group  discussions focused on 

Topics important to parents of students with learning differences 

Website found here ->  https://journey2bloom.wixsite.com/mysite/how-we-collaborate

#journey2bloom #inspireresilience #ittakesavillage #movingmountains #wordsmatter #advocacy #parenting #findingyourvoice

  

 

Commitment for 2021

2 years ago, I created an LLC called Bloom special education advocacy. Fear of failure, family obligations, other work and more recently, distractions of the pandemic and virtual learning stood in my way of moving forward. As last year came and went, I realized not taking action and doing nothing was creating that feeling of failure because I didn't get to help many parents realize they are not alone, that there is hope and together we can create that pathway for their very own version of my #journey2bloom.

Starting off 2021 fully focused on standing up and launching the business. This is a commitment to myself and others as I embark on the next journey of my life. One that allows me to embrace my fondest passion and help others help themselves.

Through a train the trainer approach I focus on leading parents through interactive conversations - providing parents a safe space to ask questions, gain clarity, knowledge and recognize they are not alone - bringing forward confidence and empowerment to take action in getting their child/children the resources and support they need to thrive and grow. I would love to connect and collaborate. Check out my website and blog to learn more -> https://journey2bloom.wixsite.com/mysite

Coming Soon:

Group  discussions focused on 

Topics important to parents of students with learning differences 

Website found here ->  https://journey2bloom.wixsite.com/mysite/how-we-collaborate

#journey2bloom #inspireresilience #ittakesavillage #movingmountains #wordsmatter #advocacy #parenting #findingyourvoice

  

Vulnerability and Authenticity

A few weeks ago I shared my thoughts on what Vulnerability means to me and asked others to share what it meant to them.  I received some responses and interesting perspectives that I hadn't considered prior.  Since that day, I have continued to see people, some I know and some strangers, post about vulnerability.  Being the optimistic glass half full person I am, I took it as a sign that the universe was telling me to go deeper on this topic, so here I am writing about it again!

One post in particular focused on vulnerability being the core, heart and center of meaningful human experience led me to reflect on my own experience, both good and bad with Vulnerability.  

For much of my life, I was told to not be so open, so honest, so passionate about offering alternative ways to think about something or discussing "the elephant in the room" because authenticity wasn't appropriate for the audience, the situation or we needed to stick to an agenda.  

Years of mindset work, leading and coaching others to find their true inner voice, has allowed me to break free from the "learned behaviors and feelings" of I can't be genuine to my truth for fear of others judging me and in turn lean into what I always felt was right in my core.  In making these shifts, I recognized the power in combining authenticity and vulnerability! 

Authenticity, Vulnerability and a generous sprinkle of Passion has become my "secret sauce." Combining compassion and empathy with deep active listening allows me to package a tough love message one needs to hear in a way that empowers and encourages them to take action. 

Sharing my varied experiences from childhood and parenting, to school meetings and even the board room has inspired and encouraged countless executives, leaders and parents to not give up on their purpose and passion.  

Worthiness, Trust and Belief in oneself is where the rubber meets the road on finding your voice and recognizing you have the power to create the change you wish to see, inspiring others to do the same, making a positive and lasting impact. 

 Deep vulnerability and authenticity leads to relatability, impact and opportunity.  

Coming Soon:

Group  discussions focused on 

Topics important to parents of students with learning differences 

Website found here ->  https://journey2bloom.wixsite.com/mysite/how-we-collaborate

#journey2bloom #inspireresilience #ittakesavillage #movingmountains #wordsmatter #advocacy #parenting #findingyourvoice