Just a word to the wise: the story I share in this article isn’t exactly my finest hour. I’m not proud of where I was, but I’m terribly proud of where I’ve come and where I am going every day.
From the back door of my house to this destination, it’s about a 10 to 15-minute drive. It’s not a long drive. But on one Wednesday in December of 2012, it was almost the final drive I ever took.
Yeah, how’s that for a start. This is going to be one of those upbeat articles.
Our story begins on March 18, 2011. That was the day I was let go from a job that I had for five and a half years. This was a job that I never enjoyed, but it kept my bills paid. It kept food on my plate. And it provided quality healthcare when I needed it most.
But this job killed my will. That’s no exaggeration.
People of my skills and my talents aren’t exactly in demand in Southeast Alabama. And for this reason I stayed unemployed for over two years.
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I found that people of my skills and my talents aren’t exactly in demand in Southeast Alabama. And for this reason I stayed unemployed for over two years.
Oh sure, I went through the motions of trying to become an insurance salesperson. But I didn’t have the courage to do what needed to be done to be successful there. I hated cold calling (and I still hate cold calling.) And I could only quack so much.
You feel me on that one?
Flashing forward to December, 2012: that was perhaps the lowest point of my life. I had been unemployed for almost two years at that point. I had no prospects. I was lonely. I had no friends. I had no girlfriend. And I had no money.
One Wednesday, I got in my car. I forget the exact date, but I want to say it was about a week before Christmas. I got in my car and headed east.
About 10-15 minutes from my house is the Chattahoochee River. Specifically, a lock and dam on the Chattahoochee. I enjoyed the sound of the water rushing through the lock. I occasionally saw a deer nearby. It was strangely soothing. I used it almost as a meditation spot.
But my state of mind that day was different. It wasn’t about soothing and meditation. My state of mind was…perhaps I should go for a swim?
Keep in mind that water at this lock is deep. And the rapids make things difficult to traverse for a large barge and tugboat, to say nothing of someone who can barely swim in a pool.
Do you see what I’m getting at here?
Something outside of me stopped me. I mean, I obviously didn’t go for a swim.
But I thought about it.
After I composed myself, I pulled out a notepad and a pen and I started writing. I needed to get some stuff out of my head.
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After I composed myself, I pulled out a notepad and a pen and I started writing. I needed to get some stuff out of my head.
I knew I needed help. So I wrote out a few ways that I could get help. Man, I wish I could find that yellow notepad…
Here’s what I wrote:
- Find a therapist
- Get a job
- Check into this life coach I’d been hearing about online
It took me two months after this to find my therapist. And I am still seeing her almost four years later.
The job finally came for me three months after I found my therapist.
And early the next year, I took the plunge and hired my first coach.
I’ve managed to turn my life totally around in the last few years and I see no signs of it slowing down. In fact, things are getting faster and I’m getting stronger every day.
It’s been a long four years. But here’s what I’ve made happen in my life in those four years.
- I not only wrote, but I published my book (Written in the Stone – available on Amazon and team-ryan.team. #shamelessplug) That was a dream I wanted to make a reality for more than 30 years.
- The gift of coaching has meant so much to me that I made the decision to become a coach myself.
- I’m working with, training with, and am among the finest group of coaches in the world.
- I was accepted – sight unseen – by the greatest group of human beings I’ve ever known. Without condition, reservation, or regret.
- To say nothing of contributing here every week.
And that’s for starters.
Here’s the point: from the deepest breakdowns come the biggest breakthroughs. Discover your passion. Get supported. And make your passion your life.
I have many exciting announcements coming to Team Ryan Coaching for the new year. So slots are filling fast! Connect with me for a sample coaching session.
Here’s how you can reach me:
- Website: team-ryan.team
- Email: [email protected]
- com/ryanhallwrites
The next two articles in this space are going to set you up to shine in 2017. Stay tuned.
Photos by Superior Hiking and Ryan Hall