A steady, guiding light
It's taken me a while to write this testimonial for Ané and my time with her, simply because it's been so far reaching and life changing that I've not quite been able to express it fully. My only regret is that I didn't take the plunge to work with her earlier - it would've saved me so much struggle, heartache and confusion. But as Ané said - the moment you're ready will be the perfect moment - unfolding the way it's meant to be in your story. She was so right. When I started working with Ané I was absolutely focussed on meeting someone and getting into a new relationship. I had enough of being on my own (not counting some disastrous dates and ill-judged one-night stands that made me feel awful about myself), and after being divorced for nearly 5 years and dedicating my life to my 2 children, I was going to do anything and everything I could think of to make this happen. Within the space of a few sessions this changed dramatically. My focus shifted completely as I realised that I was heading for another disastrous relationship if I didn't focus on myself and my own life first. I've been so busy keeping everything together, making sure my children came through the divorce and all the upheaval as best as they could, practically being a single parent for years, keeping a roof over our heads and working full time in high pressure environments - I had no idea who I was anymore, or what I really wanted my life to look like going forward. I actually had no idea what kind of relationship I really wanted either. I realised that despite my confident exterior I was terrified of dating again, not to mention being in an actual relationship. Today life is very different, I am different - but I haven't changed. I'm just me, finally. I have the courage be who I always knew I could be, and it's only now that I'm ready to meet the person I want to spend the second part of my life with. I actually enjoy dating and meeting new people and I know it's just a matter of time before I will meet somebody very special. But life is about much more than that. Ané with her depth, wisdom and experience has challenged me to become the most interesting, confident version of myself. She is the one of a kind and one of the kindest people I've ever met, but don't let her soft voice and exterior fool you - she's tough too. She was exactly who and what I needed as I went through this re-emergence out of my previous life, which I am also very grateful for. She taught me to define myself by who I am being, what I stand for and not to be define myself by my past. From the beginning she said that it would be almost impossible to know what was going to come out of our time together - we would both bring 100% to the table, but work like this isn't completely tangible. Some of what we started working on in the beginning is only now coming to fruition, 9 months later - it's ongoing, a work in progress, much like me. A journey that I'm more than happy to be on, by myself and also with somebody who will be aligned with the life I want. 'Aligned' has now become one of my favourite words too, thank you Ané for being a steady, guiding light through some of the most difficult times in my life. I'm forever grateful.