Gratitude for Transitions
The world is full of magical things patiently waiting for our wits to grow sharper. - Bertrand Russell
In the waiting God is working…
In last week Friday’s newsletter, I shared my gratitude for detours and how they have changed the course of my life and in those detours were transitions, which in hindsight have also been some of the turning points in my life to date. I have found true gifts and meaning in my transitions and I know that if you looked deeply you too will. So today I show my appreciation for transitions, what does she mean you might ask. Well I believe we’ve all been in transitions at point in our lives, when we were waiting on an answer for something, in-between jobs, waiting for the next step in a relationship, looking for a job after graduation, trying to get back into the dating world after a break-up, divorce or whatever that waiting period is, there is “gold” if only we are open minded.
Though this might not be what you want when you are in one there is nothing much to do but waiting it out and what do you do whilst waiting? That’s where I have had some beautiful breakthroughs for myself which I will share a few here and oh by the way that wasn’t my perception during those periods, all I wanted was for them to be over and me to get to the other side. But if there is one thing I’ve learnt in my life’s journey it is, it’s not necessarily the destination that counts but how I get there and the learnings that really matter.
In 2012, after months of applying for corporate jobs without any success, I fell upon baking. I was on the of giving up and very disappointed for how could someone with all the qualifications I had not be good enough even for underpaying jobs. On an ordinary day where I had been applying for jobs for hours on end a programme on the TV caught my eye - Cupcake Wars. I’ve always loved baking but until then baking buns and boxed cakes were the skills I had crafted. However, there was something about this that got me to start dreaming again but then a little voice inside me said “This has nothing to do with the jobs you are applying for and will be a distraction” so I let it go and continued my job search. Still, this would not leave me alone so I thought maybe this could be the way I could actually relax after long hours behind the laptop, doing something other than job hunting. (A sample of the first batch, tried jazzing it up)
So, I got some ingredients and made an attempt, brace yourselves people, my first batch of cupcakes weren’t the prettiest or tastiest and my poor mum and sister had to be the tasters of these (me sighing). I remember my mum, who by the way is not a sweets or cake lover asking me this after a bite,
“Are you going to bake again?”
Me answering confidently, “Yes why?”
“Oh boy, no nothing at all” she responded looking over at my sister as if to say tell your sister something.
“Then she added jokingly, you are still sending the job applications right?”
“Yes I am” I replied. Thinking back I cannot stop laughing at the look on her face when she had that first bite.
Had I not been determined I would have stopped there and just let that talent die for I was want particularly thrilled with the cakes but I persisted because I remembered how immersed in the moment I was when I was baking and that feeling gave me new hope, whenever I sat behind my laptop to search for jobs. I kept on practicing and yes my mum and sister still were my tasters, not easy people to please but I was falling more and more in love with baking and so I took all criticisms on board and worked on them. By the way this is also what happens to us sometimes that we let ourselves or others talk us out of our dreams or passions with the first attempt or fail. I know my mum said that as a joke because she’s on of my biggest supporters who normally tells us you have to practice more, try all avenues before giving up and, whose support has been immeasurable through my transitions, oh and she now absolutely loves my cakes.
The fire in me was growing, I was still unemployed but I had found an opportunity here that I loved. I knew nothing about it from the start so I invested time, money (buying the right and necessary tools) and energy in mastering these skills working hard to getting the sponge fluffy, moist, not dense and the frosting smooth not grainy or runny to creating just the perfect balance for every bite. Soon I was getting orders for birthdays, christenings, girly nights, and hosting pop-up restaurants.
Mind you I was still searching for that corporate job all this while as the income coming from the orders wasn’t enough to support myself but I was happy doing this. I started a little business but still wasn’t generating enough so I moved countries and in this new place I found a different passion in addition to this and this was also through a hard period in my life.
After a hard period of unfulfilling relationships and positions, I sought the help of a coach who guided me through inner work and after this she encouraged me to become a coach to help others as she had learnt so much from me. After some months of self enquiry, praying and meditation, I took the step of getting certified and like magic I had found the right academy to enroll and the right study tempo for me.
I got certified and one of my first clients was one that really made everything I had experienced and my decision to help others with one of the best I had made. Being in a transition of job searching and parenting themselves they had lost confidence in who they were so in our sessions as we explored things it became easy for them to accept that the possible reason why they still weren’t successful in a full-time corporate job could be because one of their kids needed special attention and they as the primary caregiver was the best person to be with the child at that particular moment in time. So bringing this to light made them appreciate the wait and not see it as a waste of time but a time to help their kid and be firsthand observer of their development. They said that realisation has brought more peace to us now and made us grateful for this period in our lives. They discovered a purpose in their wait as I discovered a couple in mine as well.
Believe it or not there is a gift in every mess and I don’t know where this finds you today and I am not downplaying what transition you are going through but what I know for sure is that if you are open, not set on having things your way and trust in God/Source you will see that in the chaos and the mess lies potential and opportunities for your growth and for your good. So as a Self Worth Coach who focuses on helping my clients build confidence and acceptance of who they are, and find the opportunities for growth in their transition, this is why I love what I do. Now these are the types of cakes I make and I always receive great feedback on them. I found one of my greatest passions in my waiting and so can you. If you are wanting to discover what opportunities lies in your situation I would love to have a conversation with you, so leave a comment or reach out to me and remember whatever transition you are in right now, this too shall pass.
Affirmation
I am grateful and open to opportunities for this period of writing in my life
