Positive Pivotal Life Moments

There have been pivotal times in my life where a certain moment or person has provided me with incredible clarity and inspiration. You know, the kind of moment that you still remember every detail about, as if you were standing in the same place of time again with smells, sight, sounds, and especially how you felt right in that moment. And you knew it was an important moment, the kind that could change or impact your life in a really positive way. 

Below are two positive pivotal life moments: 

I was in my early 20’s, 23 to be exact, and I had just started guiding and teaching for a small outdoor company in the West working with teens. This four week trip traveled to different mountain ranges, one being Mt. Rainer in Washington. I had barely spent time on snow, much less a glacier, and had no idea what to expect.

The company I worked for hired professionals to guide us up the mountain. So at 1AM, tied into a rope with three others, watching the stars, crampons on, a light wind, and lightening off in the distance, I began to walk up the glacier. I can still hear the sound of my crampon penetrating the frozen snow with each step. I look up and realize I’m the last one in a line of 20 people, all spread out, headlamps on, and only the sound of my breath and the step of my foot. Crunch, crunch, crunch.

And in that moment, I was in love. Totally in love with the glacier, the mountain, the sound, the silence, the stars, the lightening, and how my body felt as I moved up this enormous hillside of ice – incredible! I knew in that moment that I HAD to do more of this, to experience a glacier again, the vastness, and magic of that moment. And so I did. I went on to climb many mountains, many glaciers, some summits, some not, to experience that feeling of awe in myself and nature. 

A pivotal person in my life: It was when I took the More To Life weekend in the spring of 2009. I had just euthanized my dog two days before after a painful time with cancer. I walked in with eyes red, and a feeling of mush inside my body. Could I do this? I walked in anyway and gave it a try. What I didn’t know is that it would be led by a woman, an amazing woman.

I watched her throughout those 2.5 days, I watched her closely. I watched her as she spoke from her Truth, her Heart, and her Authenticity. I witnessed her compassion and kindness for each person in the room. I listened as she coached and mentored participants on the greatest challenge of their life – being vulnerable. Because she knew to do so would give them the freedom and love that they were there to find.

The other piece of her presence that rocked my world in all of this, is that she was feminine. She wore beautiful clothes, nice jewelry, and held herself in a way that represented feminine power in all it’s wisdom and heart. Coming from a belief that to be a woman meant weakness and struggle, I rejected my feminine side and being a woman, I suddenly found a special moment of clarity – Where you know something BIG is shifting inside. 

I saw for the first time, what women are capable of, and I knew that this is what I wanted to go for in my life. To be Authentic, Truthful, Compassionate, Loving, Empowered, and Feminine. 

Since then, I hold that feeling and clarity inside as a hand that guides my actions. It gives me light through the darkness of doubt and frustration. And I come back to it again and again as a vision, intention, and goal of how I want to be. 

I found the weekend to be pivotal in my growth on many levels, but that was one of the bigger pieces. And what I left with can not be quantified into a package, but to be expressed as incredible joy and freedom on the inside. And love, compassion and strength on the outside. Oh, and not to be forgotten or left out: my femininity!

Last week I had the joyful experience to meet up with this incredible woman, Elaine Alpert, after 3 years, and tell her what I am telling you. She was accompanied by her best friend, and one of my other favorite female role models and mentors (a Trainer in the More To Life program as well), Jan Matney. Together, and uniquely, we are Truthful, Authentic, Powerful, Compassionate, Loving, and of course, Feminine! 
 

Elaine Alpert (left), me, Jan Matney (right)

What are the defining moments in your life? Think of one or two right now, and think about and/or write down why and how they have impacted your life. This gives you a light post for your daily actions on who and how you want to be!

Categories: Feminine Power

About the Author: Angela Patnode

My passion, my calling, is for you to be totally you. Through private coaching, in-depth retreats, and online group coaching programs, I help you tap into your intuition and clarify your desires and vision, I guide you to take active steps toward making your desires a reality.

One response to “Positive Pivotal Life Moments

  1. Javeria

    It was so nice to go through ur article..u r ryt..we often experience moments that add value to our life..but unlike you we dont save them…but now and onwards i will..keep it up!!

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Skip to toolbar