Press Pause and Play as a Kids Life Coach
Have you ever had one of those days where something happens to remind you about your big WHY? An unexpected little 'gift' comes your way that confirms you are on the right track?
Well today was one of those days.
So before I tell you what happened, let me give you a little bit of context.
Usually just before my birthday on 2 April, I engage in a time of reflection and recalibration. So, just over a week ago today, I pressed pause and I went away to the Midlands in England for two days, for a personal planning and strategy session.
It is usually at this time that I stop all "urgent" items on my to-do list and I play and dream a little. Usually when I do this...my mind is free to think out of the box and it was then that I had an epiphany - as I usually do when I press pause and play!
I realised that it has been literally almost three years since I have run a face to face Kids Life Coach retreat. I also realised just how much I have missed it! I realised that I was stuck in fear mode and despite all Covid restrictions being lifted in England and the major pandemic threats now behind us with freedom of travel almost back to normal...I had chosen to remain in a space that wasn't serving me or our global network of Kids Life Studio® Coaches.
It was then that I spontaneously paid heed to the voices I had been hearing. My own little inner voice and that of some certified Kids Life Coaches I had recently spoken to who had asked when our next face to face training would be! And...
I took massive, determined action!
After doing an informal survey with our Kids Life Studio® Coaches listed on our website, to gauge their interest...I saw I was on the right track. Then the magic started happening...
Within those two days everything was in flow. It wasn't work. It was play. Everything was easy. I was doing what I loved. I was planning to share my time and energy face to face with amazing children's change makers from around the world. Everything fell into place as if it was simply meant to be! By the end of last week (just 5 days later...), I had extended an invitation with an information document about our 2022 Press Pause and Play Retreat for Children's Change Makers. It felt good and it felt so so exciting!
So today when I did a site visit to Elmers Court Hotel in Lymington England to confirm the arrangements for our conference venue and sign contracts, I didn't expect something this special to happen!
I met the lovely receptionist Lucy in the regal wood panelled 19th Century Manor House lobby. Whilst I waited for the events co-ordinator Chelsea to arrive, we started chatting about the history of the hotel. I had already read up that it was once owned by James Whitaker, a former member of parliament and justice of peace who originally used the building as a courthouse. During the Second World War it was requisitioned by the War Office and used to co-ordinate D Day landings. It was also used as a Spy Training School and was where the famous intelligence agent Odette Sansom Hallowes was trained.
Gosh...quite a history right? For this little South African girl now living in this area of natural beautify in England...this is the stuff I never imagined hearing!
Lucy and I spoke about how a Spitfire had apparently crash landed in the garden during World World 2 and she walked me to the site....now with manicured gardens and with stunning views over the Solent River with yachts sailing by.
It was then that she told me this...
"Some of the old school children relayed the Spitfire story at their reunion in 2009!"
Wait...what?...Back track a little.
"This hotel used to be a school?" I asked. As a former school teacher I was unable to hide the excitement in my voice. Yes...I may just have shown a little too much zeal in that moment!! (LOL)
It was then that it was confirmed that this was the PERFECT venue for our 2022 Retreat! Not only was it a school, but Lucy told me it was a previous school for "delicate" children.
Not understanding what she meant...I asked what she meant by 'delicate'? She told me...for kids with asthma and eczema etc. oh....and "problem children" she said.
"Problem children?" I asked. Yes "children who were special" she said.
I couldn't believe my ears. Here I was...a former special needs teacher, a currently trained clinical child psychologist and about to host a retreat for childrens change makers from around the world in a former school for "problem" children!
She handed me a leaflet of this unknown history and I just knew in that electric intuitive moment that this was the perfect venue for us to share time, space and energy in our 7-day Press Pause and Play retreat!
By the time the lovely Chelsea, the event co-ordinator had arrived, I was in awe. I was literally jumping out of my skin with excitement!
By then I had heard that one of the past "problem pupils" from the 60's, had attended a reunion in 2009 for his class mates and that he was writing a book about his drug addict mom and his time in this special needs school! I am going to do my best track him down!
Since this mornings conversation, I have been doing a little more digging and I found a few archives and also some minutes of Education Department meetings from 1965. The school opened in 1945 and closed in 1979 but I hope to have much more to share with the retreat attendees by the time we meet 2 - 9 September 2022!
I am a believer that all happens as it should and that when we are in flow, we attract the right things, people and opportunities! This is the case here! I know that the right people will join me as we press pause and play. So that we can strategise and map out a plan for a bumper 2023 ahead!
Gosh...I am jumping out of my skin here. Cycle rides in the New Forest to see the wild ponies and fancy high teas and traditional English pub lunches aside...I can just feel this is meant to be! Not to mention the facilities onsite that include full use of the gym, golf range, indoor and outdoor pools, sauna, tennis and squash courts.
If you want to join us there is an early bird discount for full payments made by 30 April or you can pay a $250 deposit to secure your space with full payment due by 31 July 2022. Payment plans are available on request.
Do you want to know the best part of all of this?
I know that when I press pause and play I create beautiful things....so I am confident that the networking opportunities and the collaborative projects that will be 'birthed' out of this event amongst the attendees will be priceless!
Looking forward to seeing you there! Come and 'Press Pause and Play!" with fellow children's change makers!
Regards with zeal,
Zelna
Kids Life Studio® Founder
