In Amanda's own words....
"Ever since I could remember I believed there was another me somewhere on another planet in a far out galaxy thinking the same thoughts as I did, I have never stopped thinking this. As I got older, life seemed to get in the way and the thoughts and dreams I had always had were pushed literally to the back of the wardrobe or under the bed.
I have always felt as though I was on a journey. Life’s a journey so people say, but the questions I sought answers to weren’t coming or getting any easier; why am I here? What’s it all about? What am I here to do? And in addition I felt tormented by the innate belief that I was here to make a difference – What a wonderful life?!
I have always felt I was moving forward, sideways and at times definitely backwards, but since my 40th birthday I certainly felt I was on yet another plateau if not a parallel universe. I was not living the life I was meant to live.
My 40th birthday should have been a huge celebration as my daughter had been given the all clear a month previously from leukaemia. I was to have a party celebrating ‘life’ but it didn’t happen, if anything I retreated further into my sketchbooks and notebooks, but even these took fits and starts as creative urges to write or draw were sometimes denied as it would be too painful, other times I would let it flow then the book would be closed and pushed aside (in the wardrobe or under the bed) until the need came again.
It’s funny how my written work and drawings ‘helped’ so why did I continue to buy ‘self help’ books? It had got to the stage where I was reading very similar words and phrases in books by different authors. Had they, as well as I, lost the buzz and could find nothing new? But it wasn’t them, it was me. I was left asking………..
Is this what it is all about?
I didn’t want to wake up the morning I went in to have a coffee with my neighbour Mandy; who was recovering from a car accident. That particular morning she had decided to leave her job and create her own future – I filled up with tears and asked if she was OK? The rest is history.
I don’t want to bore you with the detail, in fact some of it I can’t remember or remember it differently to my husband and at this moment I don’t want to re-visit my notebooks; but there is a dark story waiting to be written and unleashed on the world.
The mind is a great and funny thing, mine has served me well I guess as I wrote and drew my way through the bad bits; my monsters. They are friendly to me, representations of the emotions I have had towards my life events and the people involved.
Some of the monsters are the people themselves as my story will reveal.
The rest is to come……………..
Please enjoy what you see – I see as I believe!
The Birth of Oria - by Mandy Russell
In her story Amanda talks about the ‘cup of coffee’ with me and the changes in her life. I wanted to explain what happened after the coffee, and tell you about the transformation I have seen, experienced and been a part of, so that you can understand how Amanda and I worked together and why her story is here.
As Amanda arrived at my door on 1st April 2009 I had made the scary yet exciting decision to leave my senior corporate Management job and start my own business – a car crash and a month off work really does allow some time to think!
I had started work on Mpower's ‘Achieving Peak Personal Performance’ workshop which was a combination of my 23 years as a leader, my life experience and my education. I knew that this workshop would be transformational for individuals and teams and here was my opportunity to conduct a live trial.
As Amanda told me that she didn’t want to wake up that morning, I told her about the workshop and asked her if she would like to be my guinea pig?
She was delighted and agreed readily, so we planned it over ten weeks and Thursday evenings became coaching evenings. Amanda was an amazing student and really receptive to change, which made the whole process enjoyable for us both.
The talent that I discovered in Amanda took even me by surprise. Her sketchbooks and notebooks were literally under the bed and at the back of the wardrobe and contained some of the most emotional, poignant and exquisite work I have seen. Original and inspirational, Amanda had to believe that her work was worthy and that she had talent. That is where the workshop came in.
After ten weeks Amanda had gone from where she was on that morning to being well on her way to where she wanted to be, which was fulfilling her dream of becoming a professional artist and author. She had the qualifications, the experience and the talent, she just lacked the confidence and the know how.
2010 will see Amanda create her own personal brand (Oria), her website, complete her two books (the stories about her monsters), and present a range of unique greetings cards at the NEC.
She has illustrated my book – 'Cancer – Diary of a daughter', designed the Mpower logo and is available for commissions now through her Mpower mail: amandahallyounger@mpowerinternational.co.uk.
I am proud of her achievements and could think of no better testimonial than to showcase her story and work on my website.
What is your hidden talent?
How can you make it work for you?