Who am I? That is a question I spent many of my adolescent years asking myself. I would always be whoever I needed to be to fit in, to feel accepted or feel loved. I let others define who I was and what value I had. I finally came to realize all these things I wanted from others I didn’t even give to myself. I didn’t feel good about who I was, and I never felt good enough. My lack of self-worth and self-acceptance cost me a marriage, my trust in men and myself, and it cost me my self-confidence.
Read moreMy mission and goal in life is to make a difference in other peoples’ lives and to be “all used up” by the time my work on this earth is done. I want to laugh with others until I cry and I want to cry with those who need comfort.
It was my introduction to personal development that had me take a good look in the mirror. I learned that if I wanted to be a better “me”, I needed to begin by asking myself better questions…questions like “What is my accountability in being where I am at?”, “What do I want and what am I willing to do to get it?”, “Who am I really?” Once I started looking within and really got accountable for my life and my choices, things began to change. I am now no longer a victim….I am now no longer powerless.
So who am I? I know now. This is who I am. “I am a confident and trusting woman helping others live their life with laughter, love and authenticity by being all of me, accepting who I will never be, and inspiring others to do the same.”
I have had a few successful careers in my life always working hard and giving my best. I managed pubs and hotels in England at the age of 19 for almost 10 years, I studied and worked in accounting and business for many years, and I managed a personal development program, Choices Seminars and its founder, Thelma Box for almost 14 years. I am a devoted wife, a mother of four great children (2 step children), a grandmother of four amazing grandchildren and I am a friend to many.
In November of 2000 I was 38 years old and at the lowest point in my life. I was invited to Surrey, BC to attend a five-day seminar. Little did I know that those five days would change my life forever. I was given a set of TOOLS to rise above my past and become a better me. I learned truths such as, “just because I have failed does not mean that I am a failure”. These TOOLS also helped me to become a better husband, dad, and “Gampaw”.
Read moreDuring this time I also met my friend and mentor, and for many years after, my boss Thelma Box. She has inspired my definition of LOVE, “When someone knows the worst about you, believes the best in you, and sometimes gives you a chance.” I am committed to using my gifts, all the tools I have learned and my years of experience to inspire, encourage and equip others with the tools necessary to create their best life. “I am a qualified, humble man, who has slowed down enough to listen, bringing hope to anyone anywhere at any time, helping the world to find laughter and purpose in life there by passionately making a real difference so who knows…”
I am a proud mother, a committed volunteer, an avid reader and one who values and nurtures meaningful connections with others. As an educator, facilitator and administrator over many decades in a variety of settings, I’ve found deep satisfaction in working with many different kinds of teams to open up inclusive, respectful spaces for adults and children to learn, grow and shine. go of the past so that we can grow into our authentic selves with joy and confidence.
Read moreMy experience as a school administrator has taught me that 5 year-olds know a lot more about living life to the fullest than most adults, but with some self-compassion and honest exploration we can catch up to them. I love learning. I love discovering what’s possible when we forgive and let go of the past so that we can grow into our authentic selves with joy and confidence.
My father always said “Do good, because doing good is good to do!”. I believe this family motto fits perfectly into “Break Free Seminars”. Throughout my 20+ years of seminar and event planning, I have enjoyed seeing people become the best version of themselves. My presentation style is less lecture and more experiential. As I know from my 5 children, no one learns from a mini-lecture! My own life has been one of evolving. I’m not who I once was, nor will I be the same in another 10 years.
Read more(God willing ;) ) If I can change, if I can let go of the rules and mistaken beliefs that kept me chained, then I know others can too. My heart is truly filled with joy and peace, even though I have gone through great loss and trauma. Break Free gave me the courage to continually blow the sides off my “box” and to never stop scaring myself just a little every day. Recent adventure: learning to sing….out loud…
In 1997, I was living the dream. Newly graduated from nursing school, this small-town girl was working hard and playing harder in the big city. On the outside, I looked like I had it all. On the inside, I didn’t know my worth and believed that I was unlovable. If I could just “try harder”, I could get what I wanted more than anything-someone to love and experience life with. I was hustling and people pleasing to try to earn this, rather than being myself and letting that be enough. This was all leading me down a dark path. Thanks to the generous, loving support of one of my dearest friends in February 1999, I began on a journey of self discovery and personal development. Fast forward 23 years and I am living my best life. It wasn’t easy getting here but I am so thankful for the lessons that have helped me learn who I am and my purpose in this life. I live and work in Prince George, BC, about an hour away from my hometown and my family.
Read moreMy partner and I have built a home on his late mother’s 25 acre hobby farm, and I dream of one day growing much of our own food. I am blessed to be a part of a 3-member parenting team raising up 2 incredible humans. I work as a Family Nurse Practitioner and am passionate about providing trauma informed, patient and family centered health care to people with higher-than-average social needs. I find great fulfilment in my work yet must give special effort to find balance at home so that I am not overwhelmed by the often-intense journeys I walk with the people I serve. I enjoy decompressing by reading, cooking, connecting with friends and logging (my newest hobby which includes my battery powered chainsaw!).
It is with a heart full of gratitude, excitement and HOPE that I join Elaine and our team to provide an experience for people to discover how to get more of what they want in their lives.
A little about myself. I was taught by my father that if you wanted to get anywhere in life you have to work hard just as he did. So just like him, I took that to heart and poured myself into my work. Little did I know that although this was good on the pocketbook, it was not good on relationships. I put work first and family second. After many years and several failed marriages, I started to take notice of my pattern and knew I needed to do something different.
Read moreIt was about this time that I met a lady that had this ‘free-spirit’ about her and didn’t seem to let too much get in her way of having what she wanted. She told me about a program called “Choices” that she had attended and how it had helped her “find herself”. I was very curious and found myself saying “Wow, that’s what I want!” She didn’t have to do much to convince me and I signed up for the Choices program and went through in April of 1998. At this program I was able to find what was missing in my life. I went to all three parts of the program and I was successful in encouraging my daughter to go through the program the month after me.
The program made such a huge difference for me that I could not get enough! I started volunteering my time and every month I would help out “behind the scenes” with anything that the Choices team needed. Over the next few years, I was there every month helping with set up of the course rooms, taking the supplies to and from the office, then I started managing the music as needed. I volunteered so much Thelma, (Choices’ owner) asked if I wanted to video tape her in the room while she was facilitating. That’s when I quit my job as a heavy-duty mechanic, went to work for Choices and went on the road with the Choices team to all three cities (Dallas, Vancouver and Calgary) for over six years.
I was involved in that program for over 23 years and I have seen many wonderful miracles happen. It’s because of this program my life changed for the better and I will forever be grateful. I was so sad to hear that the Choices Seminars closed their doors in Canada August 2021 as it had been such a huge part of my life for so many years and had made such a difference for me. What about all of those people out there who deserve this program in their life? What if I had never got the opportunity to go through this program? That’s when I received a phone call asking if I would be interested in continuing the journey with “Break Free Seminars” and with many of my old team mates and friends. I am delighted to see that the “baton” has been picked up and passed on to “Break Free Seminars” to continue this important work and I am thrilled to once again have the opportunity to be a part of, and witness to, the miracles that are waiting to happen at this amazing program.
