The first time we meet, she’s standing patiently petite and
unassuming, waiting for me to come and greet her at the reception desk. I can see from a distance that she’s
casually yet deliberately scanning through the wall that’s full of the team’s
pictures. This makes me
realise how observant my new coach is.
unassuming, waiting for me to come and greet her at the reception desk. I can see from a distance that she’s
casually yet deliberately scanning through the wall that’s full of the team’s
pictures. This makes me
realise how observant my new coach is.
I unintentionally interrupt her observations. As she catches my
glimpse from the corner of her eye, she twists her body towards me and smiles. I walk closer. I instantly feel her
warm, welcoming energy. Petite as she is, she has a great presence – one that
is noticeable. She’s one of
those whose presence blends in with whatever atmosphere and makes you become
part of the space – body, mind and soul.
glimpse from the corner of her eye, she twists her body towards me and smiles. I walk closer. I instantly feel her
warm, welcoming energy. Petite as she is, she has a great presence – one that
is noticeable. She’s one of
those whose presence blends in with whatever atmosphere and makes you become
part of the space – body, mind and soul.
We both smile and exchange a friendly look as if we were long-time
companions. We neither hug
nor shake hands – we just connect. Actually
there are no introductions – we quickly dive into a conversation about how she
almost got lost driving down Jan Smuts Drive towards Pinelands. I lead her to my office, offer her a
seat and dash out to get her the black-no-sugar cup of tea she requests.
companions. We neither hug
nor shake hands – we just connect. Actually
there are no introductions – we quickly dive into a conversation about how she
almost got lost driving down Jan Smuts Drive towards Pinelands. I lead her to my office, offer her a
seat and dash out to get her the black-no-sugar cup of tea she requests.
As I walk back to my office with two cups of tea – one mine, the
other hers – I observe her through the glass and I notice that she’s on her
feet, candidly scanning the surroundings. She has even looked at some of my
photographs on top of the cupboard. She politely inquires about the people
in the photographs.
other hers – I observe her through the glass and I notice that she’s on her
feet, candidly scanning the surroundings. She has even looked at some of my
photographs on top of the cupboard. She politely inquires about the people
in the photographs.
The session starts without me realising. Throughout our conversation we touch
on different topics: childhood, marriage, divorce, motherhood, love, work and
intimacy, partnerships – there’s no moment of silence. Her sense of humour, her genuine
laughter and the light approach makes it easy for me to open up so the
conversation flows than I ever imagined. During
the session she subtly challenges some of my ideas, she interrogates my
approach to conflict, and she brings new
awareness into the way I perceive the Self. She also shares with me how she got
married at the age of 21, went through a divorce, remarried, became a widow and
now, remarried again, shares her life with a man who understands her and mostly
understands her strong need for her “me-time”.
on different topics: childhood, marriage, divorce, motherhood, love, work and
intimacy, partnerships – there’s no moment of silence. Her sense of humour, her genuine
laughter and the light approach makes it easy for me to open up so the
conversation flows than I ever imagined. During
the session she subtly challenges some of my ideas, she interrogates my
approach to conflict, and she brings new
awareness into the way I perceive the Self. She also shares with me how she got
married at the age of 21, went through a divorce, remarried, became a widow and
now, remarried again, shares her life with a man who understands her and mostly
understands her strong need for her “me-time”.
Before we know it, two hours have passed and she has to honour her
next coaching session. Before
I walk her out, I thank her. We
stand face to face and smile. We
exchange a friendly look – this time, with a hug as warm and genuine as if we
were long time companions – silently acknowledging the perfect timing of our
meeting. “We could not have
met at a better time in my life” I say once she’s gone. Just when I am in the process of
making life-changing decisions – decisions that impact not only my life, but
the lives of others. When the student is ready, the teacher appears! And there I was living my life
thinking that my days of being a student are over.
next coaching session. Before
I walk her out, I thank her. We
stand face to face and smile. We
exchange a friendly look – this time, with a hug as warm and genuine as if we
were long time companions – silently acknowledging the perfect timing of our
meeting. “We could not have
met at a better time in my life” I say once she’s gone. Just when I am in the process of
making life-changing decisions – decisions that impact not only my life, but
the lives of others. When the student is ready, the teacher appears! And there I was living my life
thinking that my days of being a student are over.
How little did I know!
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