Thank-you for allowing me to speak to you on the Zoom call last evening. I was able to watch this interview this morning before leaving to do my volunteer work. I tried to comment then and to download Alison’s book; I was on my phone and the keyboard would not display. I took a chance now and was able to get it and to get to comment.
I relate to so much of what Alison said. I was born an empath; my maternal grandmother, who lived with us, was a Shaman and initiated me when I was 7. Knowing and articulating what others were feeling, and even sometimes knowing what they were thinking, scared a lot of people away, so I often felt the need to hide these gifts. When I was a teenager, I learned to use them more subtly and many people were drawn to me and I could help them (often without them realizing it).
After college, my friends started calling me the “People Gatherer” because diverse peoples, who would probably never be drawn to each other, would be drawn to me and would become friends. Also, whenever I went someplace, it suddenly got busy (this still happens; I’ve thought of renting myself out for openings).
When I decided to take a coaching program, my 2 cousins (1 a month older, the other a month younger) both said to me, “Why? You’ve been doing that since you were 3!”
I call myself a Teacher because I don’t know how not to teach; I guess, for me, Coach and Teacher are synonymous.
I have failed at a coaching business in the past because I don’t know how not to give it away. When I am in conversation, and something hits me, I blurt it out. The “light bulb” goes off in their eyes; they’ve had an “ah-ha” moment; and I haven’t thought how to convert that into offering them more.
I apologize for running on and on. I really just wanted to say I relate to a lot of what Alison said and can’t wait to read her book.
Thanks, again, Brionne, for these interviews.