Two years and two weeks ago, the core of my (re)Discover Your Spark content was gifted to me by the Universe. Earlier this summer, I engaged two women to help me market this work to a larger audience. This time last week, I was waiting to launch my virtual, FREE 5-day (re)Discover Your Spark retreat, and now it’s all over.
Isn’t time a funny thing? We spend so much of our lives waiting for something to start, the days and hours seeming to drag by. And then, when it finally happens, it flies by and is over in a flash.
Let me share some of what I heard from people this week, because while you’ve heard me talk about why this work is important, as Lavar Burton always said on Reading Rainbow, “You don’t have to take my word for it.”
You were simply amazing this week and I saw miracles happening all around me. You are truly gifted at this work, Dayna. Shine on Silver Star! If not now, eventually I will take the retreat. This was truly magical, and I don’t say that lightly.
I have really, really enjoyed these days!! Connecting with younger people who are at a different place in their lives than I am is so exciting! At 67 I’m looking at what I want for my end journey (ok, I’m looking at being around for at least 25 more years!) and COVID put that on hold. Now I’m ready to move forward!!! This retreat has pushed me to see what I really want. Thanks for the inspiration I needed!
While I’m knee deep in deadlines this week, you’ve inspired me to have some accountability for a number of items that I’ve needed to check off to give me the space to put my energy more in the places I want it to go. So props to you for helping me have the conversation that is buying me more time with my family, carving out the time for a few self-care needs, and setting aside a few moments this week to just breathe. Thanks for opening the door.
I didn’t realize I had found my spark after the first session until Monday evening. A little background for you: two years ago my young granddaughter and her parents gave me a lifetime subscription to watercolor painting classes online because I so enjoyed participating with my granddaughter in her watercolor painting class. I was thrilled but could not get myself to get the supplies and start the classes. Without consciously thinking about it, I went to the website on Monday evening, ordered all of the supplies needed and signed up to begin my first class. My husband asked me what I was working on. I told him and he said, “Something gave you confidence today. “ I knew my spark was the confidence to try my painting class. You never know, right? Thanks a bunch.
Thank you for answering the Universe’s call and sharing it. It’s coming at a time and place where I need to do some soul searching and planning, I’m glad I have this to make that journey.
More than 160 people signed up to be part of this past week, a number that exceeded my goal. The daily live engagement during the hour session and number of people watching replays was incredible. This week was another confirmation that this work is what I am meant to do.
I created the framework and worked with a team to reach an expanded audience. I showed up as authentically as I could and shared with people why this work matters. Each day’s lesson guided people to experience for themselves the extraordinary value of making this investment of time and energy to (re)discover their spark and put steps in place to pursue it.
So now it’s a waiting game to see who signs up to do the actual *six-week course that starts Monday, October 10 from 11-12CDT. The course that takes these past five days and dives deeper, invites you to dream bigger and develop a concrete plan of action to keep the spark burning brightly in pursuit of your dreams.
If patience is an admirable virtue, then I must have been out sick the day it was handed out because I don’t seem to have one single ounce of patience for myself inside me. Try as I might to “let go and let be” about things, my mind always wends its way back to “how about now?”
It’s not entirely lost on me that one of the great lessons this work is “gifting” me is just that: have patience. This work is not right for every person in this moment, or maybe even ever. Many people in my life have some idea of what I’m pursuing and are only marginally interested in it, if at all. Others like it and won’t pursue it for a valid reasons, because they are afraid, because they can’t afford it, because they don’t believe they deserve it—that one breaks my heart because everyone deserves to strive to their fullest potential and dreams.
It’s my lot in life to patiently wait for the “right” people to hit the right moment and say yes. Meanwhile, I’m slowly (or rapidly!) falling apart inside. Cue the singing:
I invite you to take a deep breath and take the leap. Invest in yourself and your dreams. Say yes to (re)discovering your spark because you deserve it.
But—and this is actually much more important than anything else—the world needs you to (re)discover your spark, too.
You can’t live to your fullest potential when you’re putting yourself last, ignoring your dreams and running away from all that you are meant to be and do.
So much of my impatience over this is because I know it works. I want to guide people past their stuck places and into a brighter, fuller life. And I want to do it RIGHT NOW…because why wouldn’t you want that for yourself? I’m here, offering this gift that I was given that will change your life if you’re willing, and I just want you to say yes.
But I remind myself to take a deep breath, to honor people’s timelines and readiness and to acknowledge that my own journey, the only one I can actually manage, is laid out before me. All I need to do is take the next step.
Come, (re)discover your spark and watch its light change your life. There’s never been a better moment than right now to take your own next step. I’m right here, walking beside you on the path.
*Of course you don’t have to have taken the 5-day retreat to sign up to take the course. Everyone is invited to participate. Send me a note if you want to talk about it.
