accomplishment ), but I discovered it was something that came very naturally to me . Just a few months after completing the program , and starting up my business , my Aunt , who resided in Florida , became terminally ill . I had to drop everything to go there and oversee her care and manage her affairs for a few weeks . Needless to say , this caused an upheaval in my personal and professional life . As much as I tried to resume my activities with the Image Consulting business , I honestly didn ’ t have the energy , time , or focus when I returned to continue my efforts to grow and cultivate the business … dream deferred .
I knew I had a calling , but I had no idea how I was going to get there . As I got older and assumed greater responsibility , not only at work but with my volunteer activities , the “ calling ” became an even greater burden in my heart . The pull and tug of my responsibilities wore me down and eventually led to a complete shut down because I had allowed the challenges of life to exhaust my true passion . I won ’ t say this was all due to the demands of the job , but it did come to a head at the loss of my father and a few months later a dear friend and co-worker .
Putting together the services for my father was an eye-opening experience . My father was 92 when he passed and my friend , just 33 years old . Despite the differences in their ages , their memorials had many things in common . The many family , friends , acquaintances and community leaders who came together to honor the lives of these two great people who made such a powerful impact on their lives .
Obviously , they both lived and operated in their calling .
Sometimes , it doesn ’ t matter what you do in your day-to-day , it ’ s how you do it . I ’ m sure you ’ ve heard the saying , attend someone ’ s funeral and you ’ ll see what kind of life they lived . When you ’ re dealing with the “ dash ” of people ’ s lives , it really makes you look at your own . It led me to ask myself the questions ; what kind of legacy am I creating ? What am I doing to make an impact and make the world better ? I knew I had unique gifts and talents but they didn ’ t fit into the confines of Corporate America , and I couldn ’ t see myself operating outside of that realm . I had lost my true identity chasing after “ the dream ” but whose dream was it ?
Though it hurt me to my core to lose them , it also inspired me to live better ; to not keep putting off things I have been aching to do . There is no right time or right situation to begin to fulfill the call on your life .
In the next issue , I ’ ll share the steps that I took to complete the shift in my own atmosphere . Frederica A . Peterson , M . A ., CPC , ELI - MP Coach | Speaker | Author of How to Shift Your Atmosphere www . fredericapeterson . com 2015 NJ Assembly Resolution Honoree - International Coaching Week
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