Here's how it all started:

Mayday Mayday! 

When we hear the phrase, “Mayday, mayday!” most of us associate it with a distress signal from a ship or plane when they are facing a life-threatening situation.

On the contrary, when I hear those words, my first thought is of my birthday, which is May 1st, celebrated as May Day…a much more pleasant association.  More recently, however, another day in May, specifically May 27, 2020, is associated with a cry of distress.  On that day, while I was sitting at my dining room table looking out at the trees, I heard the news report that the United States had passed the mark of 100,000 souls lost to the Coronavirus.

I felt the weight of that statement personally because the pain of grief associated with loss of life was very fresh.   Just a few months earlier, both one of my sisters and my dear mother “relocated to heaven” eighteen days apart from each other.  My sister passed on August 25, and my mom on September 11, 2019.  They were my number two and number one champions, respectfully, so grief due to the loss of life of a loved one was very fresh and raw for me.  The thought of multiplying the pain I felt by 100,000+ was almost unbearable. 

 I remember crying out, “Oh my God, what is happening in our world?”  What do we do with all the projected pain and sadness out there?  Being a speaker and trainer with the spiritual gift of encouragement, I internalized the question, “What can I do?”  How can I help counter the weight of our collective heavy hearts while I’m still struggling to carry my own? 

And the grief did not stop there.  Beyond the loss of life, many people lost their jobs, lost their income, lost their freedoms with restrictions on their coming and going; they/we lost our sense of safety and security, wondering who will get this virus next and die.

Additionally, we could not even honor those that had fallen in our usual manner of gathering and loving on each other at a funeral because we had to stay isolated.  Oh my goodness. What do we do?  What can I do?

The reply I received was the thought that we need to counterbalance the hurt from the loss of 100,000 souls with 100,000 voices of hope!  

Indeed, at the time, no one had an idea that 100,000 was just the beginning.   Two years in, we have lost shy of 1 million souls, and the number continues to escalate.

There have been many fallouts from this…suicide rates are up for young people, frustration is rampant, uncertainty, stress, and despair are at all-time high levels—many people want out and/or better but are unsure where to start.  are choosing not to go back to previous work or to retire early.  

And those who opt out or are simply at a crossroads of change in life stage, what’s next for them?  How do we get out of this free fall and come out on the other side with a sense of hope, meaning, and contribution?

I’m pleased to say that I am back in alignment with my God-given assignment to help people, especially women, transition from pain, despair, and heartache to purpose, determination, and HOPE!

More specifically, I am charged and excited about identifying, equipping, and inspiring an army of H.O.P.E. Ambassadors.  Hope ambassadors are people who desire to use their lives and their unique stories and experiences to impact the lives of others positively — to encourage and lift them.   They are willing to do the work to fill their hope bucket first and then to share and inspire hope in others from the overflow. I have created a six-part program that facilitates this transition to a life of enhanced purpose, meaning, and impact intentionally…by design, not default.  It’s called DARE to Transition by Design…on Purpose!  Become a H.O.P.E. Ambassador!

According to Bronnie Ware*, the five most common regrets shared by people nearing death were:

1. "I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me."
2. "I wish I hadn't worked so hard."
3. "I wish I’d had the courage to express my feelings."
4. "I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends."
5. "I wish that I had let myself be happier."

A 2018 study reached similar conclusions, finding that people were more likely to express "ideal-related regrets", such as failing to follow their dreams and live up to their full potential.

Stephen Covey is most famous for his book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, with the second one being, “Begin with the end in mind.”  That is excellent advice.  The VOHA/Live by Design, Not Default blueprint acknowledges the top 5 end-of-life regrets and positions our members to avoid 4 of the 5. 

We facilitate the process of deep-dive self-auditing to reveal your true self, your full potential, and dreams and encourage honoring them in the design of your next chapter.  The process and the community support bolster your confidence and courage. Additionally, the program’s communication/storytelling skill development component enhances your ability to courageously and confidently express your thoughts and feelings.  The Living your life by design process is all about including the elements that will yield a happier, more fulfilled life full of purpose and meaning.  

The bonus is that others who observe your transformation will find hope for themselves.  It’s all about being a Voice of H.O.P.E. - Helping Ourselves & Others Pivot, Prosper & Excel!

*The Top Five Regrets of the Dying - A Life Transformed by the Dearly Departing is a 2012 book by Bronnie Ware inspired by her time as a palliative career nurse. 

Some exercises and suggestions you will receive immediate results. Others may take time for the new mindset, behavior, and results to be evident.  Your choices to engage and apply what is being shared are more determining factors than anything.

Materials will be delivered in various formats including live Zoom sessions, portal downloads, private group engagement and postings, and video to name a few.  We will address all learning styles.