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My Journey with Heather

She was one of my first friends 15 years ago when I first came to Toronto. She was my mentor for over seven years and our friendship grew over the years. In 2009, we went our separate ways (life tends to do those things with friends…)

Many years later (I think it was 2 and half years ago), she sent me an email asking if we could meet. I immediately said yes, and we met.

“Something in me said, call Patrick” she told me when we met.

 I was glad that the ‘something” had made us meet again. We were about to start a new journey together.

During our meeting, she told me she had decided to leave her long-time corporate job so that she could follow her dream which was to mentor young women who had experienced abuse in their lives. I thought it was a noble cause

Over the next months, we met several times and I got a chance to help her set up a Not for Profit Organization called “Mirror Mirror Mentoring”. She was pretty excited about the opportunity of being able to make a change in young women’s lives.

I have to tell you, there was some crying involved in our meetings. She was experiencing some hardships and there were moments she couldn’t understand what was happening to her. I tried my best to inspire her the best I could, and it seemed to work. Do you know why? Because I was also going through some tough times (but I didn’t tell her lol). We were in the same boat.

Her organization was set up, but she kept telling me that she was feeling that something was missing. I then, gave her some books to read and movies to watch (maybe she could be inspired and know what could be her next steps). One book made a huge difference for her. It was Bruce Wilkinson’s “Secrets of the Vine” (this book changed my life).

Later, she came back to me with some plans. She had decided to go back to work so that she could fund her dream (so she thought). She secured an amazing position with a good pay and an opportunity to drive a band new luxurious car (when I saw the car, I was blown away).

Life was great again for her (so she thought)

Months later, we met again, and she told me that she felt there was something missing (again lol). We talked a bit and she told me that she knew what she wanted to do then. She was called to go to Jamaica and do some work there. She even had decided to go there on vacation months later.

So, she went

When she came back, she KNEW that Jamaica was the place to be. She then quit her job.

Troubles came back in hurry….I won’t tell you the details, but she faced real tough challenges.

After so many delays (a real school in patience and trust), she finally flew to Jamaica. I witnessed her departure as I went to pick her up at 4.30 am to give her a ride to the airport. I was so excited for her. She was like Santiago in Paulo Coelho’s book “The Alchemist”.

What she didn’t know was that the toughest challenges were about to begin. No kidding…

Four months later, she just came back to Toronto. I met her last week. She has REALLY changed. She lost tons of weight…

There was some crying involved when I heard her story. This time, it was me crying…

Stay tune. I will share her amazing Jamaican story in my next blog (I am now putting you in the school of patience and trust.)

Trust me; her story will really inspire you.

See you then next week

Moral of the story?

Do you want to live your dreams, just fly to Jamaica and there will be some crying involved

Always a pleasure

Patrick
The Journeyman




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