Four years ago, over looking snowy ski runs while enjoying a gin and tonic in a bubbling hot tub, I told Mister that I felt that I needed to host an event where I brought women together and somehow they would be inspired. I had no idea what it would look like or what exactly I would talk about, just that there was a pressing on my heart to do it. Being the amazing supporter that he is, he encouraged me to do it. And so I did.

Every second Tuesday for almost a year I held an ‘Inspire to Be’ event at a café in a city near Vancouver that was convenient for everyone who attended. We discussed life, dreams, aspirations, failures, and that week’s highlights and low lights. Deep lasting friendships were made through these evenings and I look back at them fondly. I hosted them until I left for Europe, and then completely forgot about them!

Recently that pressing came back, and so did all the memories of the Inspire to Be evenings. I began planning inspiring evenings in my head while I walked around the seawall. I envisioned what I would talk about, what kind of woman would want to attend, I even dreamed what kind of food I would offer. They were all just dreams, thoughts swirling around asking to be executed. And they would have stayed that way if someone hadn’t told me I needed to pick a date and host the event. And so I did.

Last Thursday, as the rain clouds came through and blanketed the city in a warm grey haze, six beautiful and wonderful women entered my home and I hosted my first event.

The evening was amazing. My living room was prepared with with layers of candles, a vase of fresh peonies sitting elegantly on the coffee table, and a newly acquired cake stand with a fresh chocolate cake stood next to gluten-free cookies and chocolate mousse. There were gold dessert forks and art deco napkins to add a graphic element to the softness of it all. Silky calm piano music played in the background to complete the space of beauty and elegance.

They slowly trickled in as it began to rain, and I handed each one a glass of champagne to which we toasted with to welcome the evening.

I was nervous and excited, but somehow composed, like I was supposed to be there, in that exact moment in time.  I began by inhaling a calming breath then explained how the evening would proceed. We started with each woman telling their story – from wherever they felt the need to start up until that day. It was a beautiful moment of guards coming down and being vulnerable.

Once each woman had shared her history the last one perfectly lead into the evening’s discussion of designing your ideal day. We sat around sipping a delicious Pinot Noir while discussing different elements of our day, the struggles of limiting schedules, the demands of children and work. Pen and paper met, fingers and iPads took notes, they all went to work and what came out was truly beautiful. Someone said they didn’t need to do it because it actually made them feel worse, like they were constantly striving for something they could never achieve but reminded them to live according to their core desired feelings. Another said they needed to have events that they scheduled weekly instead of daily, as their schedules were too hectic that scheduling life daily would cause more chaos than peace. Some where able to work through their entire day and identify exactly what they needed to change to make everything happen.

There was resistance and doubt, but we worked through it. There were questions of financial worries and strain to which each person had their own view on finances and spending and interacting with money that feels authentically them. There were discussions of dreams that were different than their partners, and somehow my answer was exactly what they needed to hear. We are the catalyst to the vision of our family, and if you’re in a good relationship, all he wants to do is make you happy.

We ended the evening with discussing some bigger life dreams. With communication, designing the right steps to get you there, and making sure your dream is aligned with the desires of your heart, your dream, or a version of it, will come true.

The night slowly came to and end and as they were putting on their shoes I brought Isla out to say hello. With her in her white pyjamas and sleepy eyes, we hugged them goodbye. I was reminded that we’re in this together – we’re a team, each woman who came inspired others but also left inspired. It was exactly how I wanted it to be.

I plan on hosting intimate group coaching sessions, in my home, throughout the year, where women come together to deepen their desires through living life with intention and designing the life of their dreams. If you’d like to find out more about these evenings, please check out the group coaching page.

Space is limited as it’s hosted in my home in downtown Vancouver, but if you’d like to receive information about the upcoming sessions, please register below. There is no commitment needed to register.