If there is one thing I have taken from my Global Sisters journey so far, it is that I have the power to change things.
At Global Sisters, there is camaraderie and hope and such a strength of force. I imagine all those going through the program have stories of hardship, but without talking about our pasts, there is a sense of a common purpose, a knowingness among the Sisters. Together, we are growing, improving, following our dreams and our goals – no matter if they are women with young children, or women like myself, who have had an amazing life and find this turn of circumstances in the last third of their lives.
I was once a sales rep with a budget of $1.5 million. Then came the separation of my relationship and marriage of 35 years, depression, anxiety and the sudden death of my son. I was unable to work but attended an outdoor yoga class and this internal voice said ‘You can do this’. I began yoga teacher training, then teaching. It started on a voluntary basis, people would come to my classes with a gold coin donation. It was an opportunity to share some life experiences with people who might have been navigating some of those challenges too.
Finding the Sister tribe has been huge for me. It’s remarkable to have that level of support and training, but also the softer skills, having someone shoulder to shoulder with me.
They have showed me how to expand my hobby business and turn it into a financially viable model. It’s a heart-based business, very different to promoting a product on a shelf. I found social media challenging – I had to find a way to use it while maintaining the barriers that I felt were right in my life. I would consider myself an introvert but I’ve learnt how to reach out.
I was once on a list for being at high risk of homelessness and the training has given me hope to achieve my goal to be financially independent, not be a burden, not be one of the statistics. Women need to be honoured and treasured, obviously by their partner and family, but also by society. The growing homelessness among women is just abhorrent.
Global Sisters helps to give people a ray of hope, a way to rebuild and navigate a completely new life. I want to show other women that there is a pathway out. I started at a very low point, I’ve come a long way, but I still have dreams of where I’d like to go.
