15 years ago
The plan was set in place.
I can not believe it was 15 years ago that I made a career move. If you would have told me twenty years ago that I would be doing what I am doing now, I would have thought you were crazy. So how did I go from being an elementary school teacher to where I am today? Let’s take a little peek.
My Past Career
When I graduated high school, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. I went straight from high school to University where I received my Bachelor of Education degree four years later. From there, I searched for a job and landed my first teaching job in Vulcan, AB. I taught Grade 2 for one year before moving to Foothills School Division where I spent the remainder of my 17 years teaching grade six, grade one, and then back to grade 2.
I wouldn’t change my teaching experiences for anything in the world. When my two children were born, it was a great career to be able to have the summers off with them and create many wonderful memories. I worked with many great individuals who are still present in my life. I actually loved being in the classroom with the kids however, I did not enjoy the politics that came with the position. I also didn’t like seeing where education was heading. And for that, I knew I would not retire a teacher. I’m too head-strong to just ‘go with the flow’.
I still remember the Sunday night where I was taking a hot bath and tears were steaming down my face. I didn’t want to go to work the next day. And not just the next day - forever. What the hell was I going to do?
Speeding over the Steps
It was a meeting I had with a colleague who as starting her new career as a Life Coach who assisted me in making a change. Elizabeth worked through a series of exercises with me to help me guide my new direction.
When I left the teaching profession I started this business as a Professional Organizing business. What I’ve learned along the way is that although I love to be organized, I don’t necessarily love to organize people. I have helped numerous clients get organized and yet I still felt something was missing.
In addition to organizing, I worked with many great Real Estate Agents assisting their clients in getting their homes ready to sell (Staging) and helping them organize the move. The move part I did not look forward to but the changing of the home….that’s where I felt the magic. In a short timeframe to see a home go from ‘Meh’ to ‘WOW’ – it sometimes gave me chills to see the transitions! My first real interior design project was taking a townhouse and staging it for the new client to live in it. That project ended up being a full gut renovation!
These are my number one cheerleaders and I wouldn’t be here without them.
My Mister, who I will be married to for 30 years this summer, has always been my number one cheerleader and advocate. He questions me with the hard questions while at the same time supporting me .
My two adult children (I still call them children) who also provide me with many laughs and unwavering love and support.
My parents, who also cheer me on from the sidelines - I couldn’t do it without them.
To all my friends, you know I’m not sappy but know that I hold you near and dear to my heart! I’m not crying….you are!
Here I Am
I still can’t believe that this journey started 15 years ago. Through this time, I have created systems for the business, I have gone back to school multiple times to educate myself and continue my passion of being a life-long learner, and I have worked hard to formulate a team of trusted trades to carry out the work of our designs.
We have had some fun projects where the clients are fully on board with fun colours to enhance their space.
We have had projects where no walls were removed and have used existing material to update the space. The outer cabinets were painted - nothing was structurally changed!
And we have had projects where the entire home was taken from old and datesd, to new and sexy!
Where to go from here?
I can honestly say, I’m in the home stretch and have been thinking about retiring and what that will look like. I am working on an exit strategy but haven’t got to the final chapter. I know that my work is not done. As we move into more new build projects, I have the itch to build. I think I’ve always had the itch to build as we have built every home we have ever lived in. Our current home is 20 years old and it just seems like yesterday we built it.
During Covid, I wrote a blog series about aging in place and what my bungalow would look like.
I’m putting this out to the universe that I would love to build my own Master Community for Aging in Place. I’ve not only been working on home design plans in my spare time, but I have also been working on what the community would look like and offer to the 55+ age group.
Living is much more than just thinking of the house. The house needs to be designed right so that you can have many, many years of living. However, living also means being part of a community, being social, and being active. I believe it is important to take into consideration both the mental and physical side of aging. Who does not want to age gracefully and in style? I know I sure do…and I’d love to build once again!
