Today I celebrate the 60^th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik, the first craft to orbit the earth. History changed on October 4, 1957, when the Soviet Union successfully launched their beach ball sized satellite. It’s also the day I was born.

The race for space framed my early years; as did the Cold War and duck & cover drills, the Vietnam War, the anti-Vietnam War protests, the Civil Rights movement, hippies and all the music of the 60s.

Ironically all the areas I thought our country had grown are now reverting to when I was 10. I’m not going to wax political but I do want to speak Hope over all you generous readers. I’m here to tell you that what you’re personally going through, what we as a country are facing, are circumstances of vital importance, and yet, as my Texan born Gramma said,

This too shall pass.

Sometimes I didn’t get it when she said that because I wanted to see change immediately. Like waiting for the ice cream man to come down the street. Waiting has not been my strong suit. But now that I’m *ahem* older, I understand her perspective more. Working through waiting is still challenging.

But today I’m celebrating being 60 years old with nothing to prove and nothing to fear but tons to share.

Encouragement. Hope. Empathy. Understanding. Compassion. Humor. Tears. Chocolate Recipes. But most of all, help for finding a Way forward.

This is the face of 60.

No wait! That’s my Halloween costume. This is the face of 60!

I like to have fun. At Disney especially, but those stories are for another time.

I’ve walked through a lot of hard things in these 60 years. Things that I pray NO ONE has to experience. And yet some still do. And the wounds can trip you up, make you feel not enough or broken or stuck. I’m here to hold out a hand, to say, You can do hard things and we can do them together.

I am a coach because I care. I want you to be able to let go of the things that hold you back and lean in toward the life you are here on earth to live. I now live the life of the woman I needed in my life when I was in my 20s. And 30s. And 40s. And I want to be that woman for you so you can have the freedom to skip through the challenges facing you and live in freedom. Every day.

This life is a journey, not a to do list of obligations (alright there ARE obligations but that’s not all life is!) Sometimes we lose sight of the good if the hard is overwhelming. Sometimes we get tripped up by expectations from others or even by our own high expectations of ourselves. And sometimes we get stuck and can’t find a way forward or choose to stay stuck because it feels comfortable for the moment. (The comfortable place you’re in will change if you’re really living your life. Just sayin’)

Along the Way I’ve learned the best and most challenging thing to do is face the hard stuff and move through instead of avoid. I’ve learned the Gift of vulnerability and taking the risk to be who I am as God made me. The more I’ve let go of expectations, perfectionism and fear and leaned in toward how I’m made the more freedom I experience.

Good news. YOU CAN TOO.

I want to offer you a gift if you’re interested. Yes, it’s my birthday but I want to offer you a chance to find out what it’s like to coach with me. As a gift. For FREE.

Yes that’s right. Free. My first session is always complimentary, but I’m talking about more than once free.

Curious? Want to try out working with me as a coach? I’m offering you three 50 minute sessions free, if you contact me this week, October 4 – 11, 2017.

Happy Birthday from me to you. That’s what Sputnik has to do with you!