We all want to know our purpose. We strive to be purposeful and feel at our best when we know we are useful, necessary or helpful.
When the pandemic hit, our purpose was beautifully whittled down to caring for ourselves and our families. A day’s activity no longer harried or scattered from here to there, we were at home finding a new normal.
A year ago, at this time, when all of our kiddos were home doing online school during the pandemic, I received an unexpected email. The young woman who I nannied when I was in college was now a mom and was looking for childcare for her newborn. I was happy with my coaching client load, actually enjoying having the whole family under one roof, but I was needed, and this opportunity sounded lovely.
Fast forward, this little boy who has captured my heart is now fifteen months old and our time together as his caregiver is coming to a close. The important part of this story is that this past year, I have never felt more purposeful. I have never experienced so much joy. A completely different experience then when I had my little ones at home, who are now ages 20 and 17. As a mom, I was so stressed out. This past year a deep-seated joy has been uncorked by caring for this little human. I have felt like each day I cared for him was filled with purposeful activity.
I never thought I would be a nanny again and if it weren’t for COVID and this special family, I wouldn’t have even considered this situation.
When you are committed to living on purpose with a purpose and detach from what that looks like, you never know what will come your way.
During this pandemic your career may have taken a radical turn. For me, I still kept my coaching clients, but in person retreats no longer could happen with everyone being quarantined at home. My joy didn’t come from a job title, my joy came from connecting to this little soul. A blessing in too many ways to count.
Living on purpose is purpose enough. Finding your joy in the unexpected and sharing it with another is a purpose no one can ever take from you. Be open to discovering that today’s purpose may be far different than your purpose of yesterday.
I encourage you to anchor to living on purpose with purpose and let the Universe figure out the details. I invite you to not get in your own way and to be open to possibility. It is easy to get caught up in what we think purpose “should” look like, but the beauty of intention is that you often don’t have control of what it looks like. One day you can be minding your own business and the next your heart can be cracked wide open.
Cheers, Jenny
