I was feeling restless.
Eighteen months into the coaching business I had launched, I kept waiting for that spark — the sense of deep fulfillment I had known so well in my international work. The ROI wasn’t what I’d hoped for, but more importantly, I wasn’t “lit up” inside.
Sensing the need to get out of my busy mind and into my body, I enrolled in a Body-Centered Coaching program. During the final class, the facilitator invited someone to demonstrate a body-centered decision-making exercise. No one volunteered so I put my hand up.
She guided me to find a line on the floor and said:
“Think about what you really, really want. Notice the fears or emotions that arise. Imagine each fear as a rock in a knapsack on your back. Feel the weight… then release them. When you’re ready, cross the line — however you choose — and say aloud what you want.”
I took a breath, gathered my courage, and leapt across the line shouting:
“I want to play BIG!”
Three days later, an email arrived inviting me to apply for one of three technical positions in the health sector in Afghanistan.
One role had my name on it:
Senior Technical Advisor – Strategic Planning & Performance Measurement for the Ministry of Public Health.
When I shared the opportunity with my husband, he supported me 100 percent.
Within a week, I “threw my hat into the ring.”
Two weeks later I was interviewing.
A month later, I was on the ground in Kabul having signed a nine-month contract that later became thirteen.
The power of intention — and aligning energy with desire — still takes my breath away.
My time in Afghanistan changed me forever. Supporting the Ministry to develop its first strategic plan and equipping Afghan colleagues to lead future planning work was both humbling and deeply meaningful. The courage, resilience, and generosity of the Afghan people touched me in ways I will never forget.
This is just one of the stories I share in my newest book,
Truths & Contradictions: Life-Changing Experiences in Afghanistan.
I wrote this book to:
- Dispel myths about Afghanistan, Afghans, and Islam
• Shine a light on the strength, humanity, and resilience of the Afghan people
• Inspire women who feel a calling to something more — even if it doesn’t “make sense on paper”
If you are a mission-driven woman at a crossroads, feeling the nudge to expand, evolve, or “play bigger,” this book is for you. I was at a crossroads myself when this opportunity appeared — and I hope my journey encourages you to trust your own inner calling.
📖 Get your copy on Amazon:
Canada: https://bit.ly/amazoncatruthsandcontradictions
U.S. & International: https://bit.ly/amazoncomtruthsandcontradictions
If the book touches you, please help amplify its message by leaving a short review on Amazon and/or Goodreads. A few sentences about your experience and who you believe would benefit from the book makes a meaningful difference.
✨ Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/232291591-truths-contradictions