The drive home was different. We weren’t heading to another magical place to explore; we were heading back to the reality we’d left behind as we embarked on this magical adventure.
There were children to tend to, a class to prepare for that we were all co-sharing as teachers and much needed down time to recover from all our traveling.
In all my excitement I had forgotten about the class.
We had planned to share my client’s journey with healing for those who were interested in going deeper in their own.
My client’s husband had his own coaching business, and they had been talking about working together coaching others.
We planned this class as we arranged my trip thinking it might be interesting and fun to combine our knowledge and set up a class that would be offered to both of our client lists.
We had a lot of people signed up which meant we would need to spend time making sure everything was ready.
I felt very comfortable with this, it was my happy place.
The class would take place through Zoom, and I was already very familiar with that application through my own client work.
I felt ready to get back into doing some teaching. After all it was through my work that I was now in the UK.
I sat with that for a moment.
In truth, I initially turned it down when it was offered, it was enough for me to support my client in the way that I had. My reward was to know she was in remission
Healing had happened.
That seemed enough.
Yet here I am and, in a day, I’ll be co-hosting a class with my clients turned hosts.
How unbelievable and exciting!
I never imagined my first trip to the UK would have been because of the work I was doing.
My only objective was in supporting people who came to me for help, meeting them where they were.
In my mind it made more sense that I would one day see the UK because something prompted a spontaneous trip there.
Maybe it would happen through a friend suggesting we should plan a trip to explore the places to paint.
Or perhaps it would be a family vacation like the many I’d taken with my brother, his wife and my mom exploring different islands like Hawaii, Cozumel, Jamaica and many more.
There was also a moment’s reflection for me knowing that the path opened to this trip through someone first having to become ill, holding that illness but also holding a deep desire to find healing.
I’ve been told many times that the work is not easy. I know this truth, I was my first client, my mom was my second.
I laugh thinking about her now. She had her angel oracle cards, crystals and sacred jewelry. Sometimes I think she wanted to be in the work for me more than herself. It was a way of finally supporting me in a way she never could before.
I knew if she could see me now, she’d be as happy for me as I was for myself.
The car had come to a stop. We were waiting for the gate to open so we could pull up to the house. It pulled me out of my thoughts.
Two and a half hours of driving had just flown by. It feels good to be back.
Back to reality!
Once in the house the first order of business was dinner. Everyone was hungry and waiting on us to return.
Only one problem, everyone wanted something different! Haha time to get the food figured out and relax before bed.
Tomorrow, we’d have our class to tend to. After tomorrow I’ll be able to proudly say I taught a class in England with my clients, who had become my hosts and more importantly my friends.
It doesn’t feel real, but it is.
Over the next few days there’ll be Formula One Races to catch up on amongst other things, while sitting near the fire with a nice cuppa, which feels warming in the cold damp evenings.
There’ll be more visits to the riding stable to watch their daughter and her horse go through their lessons, and a visit to get some cheese from the cheese shop which is local to go with the sourdough bread from the farm.
Life here is full in a different way than my life. For one I don’t have children to tend to.
That did it, suddenly I’m back home and I need to pack for my move.
I’m no longer distracted exploring beautiful architecture, shops, food, the culture and landscapes.
Being in their home reminds me of the home I left behind which includes packing myself up.
I’m realizing that I’m not thinking about the move, maybe I’ve resolved that inner conflict.
It’s now about packing, gathering up all my belongings to put in storage indefinitely.
That feels big, I remind myself I’m ok.
Everything is perfectly perfect.
Suddenly I’m called out of my thoughts as I’m being asked how I liked my trip so far.
It makes me smile, so far, it’s been great! It felt like I’ve always lived there, like one of the family.
I’ve integrated easily; they made it easy. It feels comfortable, like I’ve always been here.
I feel like I’ve done so much since I arrived.
And then realize I still have thirteen days here!
That feels like a long time, but it’s not.
I sit back in my chair, warming by the fire sipping my Earl Grey listening to the conversation taking place around me when I hear a voice ask, “Maria, what would you like to see next?”
My body gets tense, and I’m blank, I can’t think of anyplace. We’ve already done so much.
I tell them I don’t know. I feel like I saw everything that felt important to me.
My hosts smile at me.
Then they turn to each other, and I hear “I think we should schedule the tunnel for Tuesday”.
“The tunnel?” I ask and take a sip of tea.