Sometimes, a few events change the course of things in your life and make you rethink what you're doing. That's what happened to me last week.

As I mentioned before, the natural disaster and misfortune happening back home (Colombia) changed the course of life for many. People are still recovering and working together, collecting resources, supporting each other, and those of us living abroad try to help as we can. I do what I can, and I tried not to feel guilty the first few days — I cannot do much from here, but I can keep sharing information, donating, not forgetting, and continuing to be present, even from a distance.

Two days after that earthquake, the solar eclipse took place on August 12th. Thousands of people in Düsseldorf rushed to the Rhein or open meadows nearby to watch it. I tried to get special 'eclipse glasses', but they were all sold out by the time I wanted to buy them. With my head still stuck on the earthquake, I left my place without proper glasses to observe the eclipse, so I had to use the glasses a friend of mine lent me. Thanks to her!

However, my mind felt separate, thinking about necessary changes I needed to make and things I'd definitely have to let go of for the sake of my mission and my own peace. As the eclipse ended and reminded us of letting go, I remembered my framework and the fears and anxiety I've dealt with while trying to build something from scratch — as I'm doing now. Just with a book, a workbook, and a framework. After getting started and giving my first steps to build this REBUILD project of mine, last week I felt the need to keep going and realign my actions with purpose. That means: stop holding onto people or things that don't reciprocate or align with me anymore, pause a few things I was posting and doing, and see the big picture from a different perspective. How much of what I'm doing is actually making an impact?

Talking to a 'mentor' who has done something similar before helped me rethink my content strategy and listen to my intuition more when posting something, instead of doing it as an 'obligation'. This is great feedback I got from someone who has had her own business running successfully for 3 years. So yes — not many years, not experts in the industry... yet, but on the way. I'm sure. I'm getting to know people who have recently started, like me, and have had good results over time. That's refreshing and motivating, especially considering my current 'corporate only' dominant environment.

So I've been rethinking: How much is too much? How much is just noise? Which message am I actually communicating? For me, everything is clear, of course. I only think about my book, framework, workbook, and I can explain every part of that, but there's a lot more to it — and I want to go beyond what these physical products are. There's more than just a framework I want to introduce. I want connection, accountability, and to offer support. I'm not a coach with years of experience now, but I'm someone who has lived through many of the transitions I mention in my book, and more.

And remembering those days, one of my deepest wishes was to be able to support and help someone in a similar position in the future, once I knew how to get out of it. I felt like a failure and I've been through a lot. I know nobody likes feeling alone in that position. And now I can help.

Many years ago I used to be a language teacher, and I loved working with people — teaching them, helping them reach their goals, designing activities and methods so they'd learn faster, in a more entertaining and efficient way. I knew I always wanted to work with people. I loved every part of the interaction, connection, progress... But I was also sure I wanted to teach something more meaningful to me. Something I could apply to my own life as well and keep learning from the process. I didn't want to repeat grammar rules over and over again, I got fed up of repetition. I wanted to offer something I could outgrow and adapt over time. Something that made me feel I was becoming a better person every day, by helping others overcome their challenges and become their best versions in their own lives.

Now I can do it. After many years, I finally figured it out, and know how I can help. And that's why I'm here today, presenting not just a book with my story of struggles and transitions, not just a framework with 7 steps, or a workbook with daily exercises to complete. I want to guide and accompany someone in their own process — someone who wants to implement the framework or try out exercises from the workbook, so they don't have to go through it alone.

That's my intention and direction now. That's what I want to communicate, and I will keep trying to share it so the right message gets through.

I'm just starting out, so I'm learning a lot as well. I'm happy to accept that, and to be able to share this with you.​

That's all for now.

This is me, and I'm very glad you're here.

Abrazo!

Leslie