I bargained for my fourth child.
I prayed to add one more to our brood.
I had seen family photos and known someone was missing.
Being pregnant, I happily agreed to leave my physical therapy job at the hospital to mother full-time. I was currently working part-time raising our three children. We would adjust our finances. I would have my hands full-er.
If I wasn’t practicing physical therapy three days a week my older brother incredulously asked, “What will you do for work now?”
In his defense, he knew I was a hustler. As a teenager I realized I was getting paid $1/ hour babysitting to his $10/ hour lawn mowing so I changed careers; negotiating for every undesired hilly yard.
“Well Kenneth, I have started a Functional Life Coaching business.”
“Tell me more.” he leaned in.
I explained: “I work with a select clientele who want to maximize their lives. We work on their H’s: Heart. Health. Head. Handbag.”
Heart: Love connections that foster friendships, community and self-confidence. Family. Church. Neighborhood.
Health: Health & nutritional well-being for positive growth and performance. Meals. Medical care. Fitness.
Head: Educational and intellectual development for life satisfaction. School. College. Career counseling. Cheerleader. Aspirations.
Handbag: Financial planning and guidance for compounding wealth. Budgeting. Funding. Investments.
Now I can see he is intrigued. He wants to know my business plan.
“Sounds like a great program. How often do you meet with your people? What are your charges? How do you measure their success?”
I disclose, “We meet daily if needed and then progress to weekly. My clients pay me monthly for my guidance and accountability. Success is measured in what they set as goals and reaching those aspirations.”
That was 2003.
Kenneth never did catch on that what I was flippantly describing as my “new business” turned out to be my best business venture: Being a mom, raising four children.
Beyond the question of “How are things?” I keep up the format of “Talk to me about your H’s: Heart. Health. Head. Handbag.” whenever I check in with my college and grown children.
I did eventually return to physical therapy by way of merging with other talented therapist/moms to form The Therapy Center. I have incorporated those lifestyle H’s into my therapy approach whether patients realized my strategy or not.
I always want patients to feel good enough and strong enough to pursue their best H’s.
How about you? Are you living your best H’s: Heart. Health. Head. Handbag
I would love to help.