From Little Acorns…

If you’ve read my ‘About me’ section, you’ll have got a sense that my journey to becoming a Reflexologist has been quite a rocky one. Over the coming weeks, I’d like to share a little more about that rocky journey, so you can understand what drives my passion and why I believe complementary therapies such as reflexology are so beneficial. I wouldn’t actually be here (maybe even literally), doing a job that I love, if I hadn’t experienced health and wellbeing challenges myself. So, maybe a little perversely, I’m actually really grateful for what the universe threw my way and everything I learned as a result of that.

Before I start to tell my story, and write more here about the things I’m really passionate about, I wanted to share with you an extract from my diary which I kept during ‘the IVF years’. During the 4 years of trying to conceive, I kept a diary which not only was really cathartic at the time, it’s now proving to be a rich source of information for me in my new career. Funny how things turn out isn’t it? I hope that by sharing this personal insight, you can get to know me a little better – what drives and motivates me and why I’m so passionate about reflexology. But also, if you’re having your own tough journey, I hope this can act as a ray of hope that things can change for the better. I used to love reading positive stories, they really kept me going through the dark times.

To set the scene, I wrote this just after I’d received my thyroid cancer diagnosis, in the limbo period whilst waiting for surgery. My world had been turned upside down as I’d received the diagnosis as I was gearing up for our 3rd IVF cycle that same month.

11 June 2012– I’ve been thinking a lot about work and the fact that I think this latest event is another kick up the backside for me to listen to my body. Having fertility problems and cancer is a bit of a double whammy I know, but this must have happened for a reason, surely? I need to take something positive from all of this and I really don’t think that message is ‘go back to work and carry on as normal’ once all this is over. That sounds ridiculous in fact.

I currently work 1 or 2 days at home and the rest of the week do a daily 140 mile round trip commute, working mostly 10 hour days plus the travel time. I generally like my job, but it doesn’t feed my soul in any way, shape or form. It doesn’t change people’s lives or have any real meaningful impact (albeit it I’m good at my job, but so what?). I’m mostly exhausted by the time I get home, don’t have much of a life outside of work and fertility talk – is it a wonder I’m not healthy? I’m not saying this caused the cancer, but it’s not going to have helped and it certainly wasn’t going to help me create a new life to bring into the world either.

So, this must be the universe trying to tell me something. Right now, I feel like I must channel all this knowledge and experience I have into something positive. I’m feeling I want to help others in some way and share what I know. I guess this soul searching is quite a normal response, but it’s a very strong feeling I have right now. If it were that simple, I’d go as far as saying I just want to quit my job – walk and not go back. Of course, I won’t be doing that, but everything has now changed forever and things will never be the same, so it feels like this has to the catalyst for something. I’m really interested in complementary therapies as they have really helped me cope over the last couple of years. Maybe I could train in reflexology, nutrition…offer my services to ladies in a similar position. Start small. Build up a client base, then maybe go part time. Maybe it’s all too soon to be thinking like this, but I can’t seriously believe that I won’t come through this surgery and face more dark news – there has to be some ray of light for me to focus on…

So, there it was. I had written it down and the seed was sown. 6.5 years later I have 2 beautiful children and that new career my gut was drawing me towards. Little did I know, but as I moved towards my forties, the best chapter of my life was beginning to unfold and I continue to be excited about the possibilities that lie ahead. Every single experience in my life has led me to where I am today and I feel absolutely privileged to channel these experiences to help you on your own journeys towards wellness. I’d really love you to continue to follow me along my journey as I share my experiences, my passion for reflexology, more info on my treatments and my approach, together with tips and resources to help you to take control of your own health and wellbeing.

If this sounds like something which would be of interest to you, I’d love you to follow my blog and give my Facebook page a ‘like’ and Insta page a ‘follow’. And, if there’s anything specific you’d like me to cover, just leave a comment below and I’ll do my best to cover it off in a future post.

Jane x