2021 in books….my story thus far.

Book club

Jul 3

As I cast my eyes across the colourful spines of my 2021 Bookclub titles, I am bemused by how my selections reflect the emotional rollercoaster that’s been 2021.

I’ve never had any real methodology to my weekly selection. Mostly, I’m influenced by the Magnetic Stories that beckon my attention from the towering shelves of my cheery local, the Avenue Bookstore. The choices seemingly Limitless.

Kicking off the year with our usual Noosa family holiday, we all relished the opportunity to just “be” after 12 months apart. It was our time to emotionally refuel. To reconnect with each other & drink in the mental elixir that continually oozes from the spectacular oceanic national park. Like a traditional secret family recipe, it never fails to deliver. The menthol scent of eucalypts that lace the air, spotting the lucky turtle gasping for air at dolphin point, the hot midday sand that burns the soles of our feet or licking the dripping Massimo’s macadamia ice-cream from it’s waffle cone perch.

It’s all my instinctive Mind Strength Method to righting my brain for the year ahead.

I Can’t Even imagine a year starting without it, we’ve been doing it for so long. And gee, did I need that mental preparation for 2021.

February 18th was the date my self published book My Beautiful Mess was born, one of the proudest moments of my life. Seeing her in all her glory for the first time was beyond overwhelming. The sheen of her vibrant yellow logo more beautiful than I could have imagined.

Sharing my story felt a little like running up a busy city street naked during peak hour. My deepest secrets & thoughts exposed to the world. I knew for it to have the impact I’d hoped, it had to be real. Warts & all. Otherwise what was the point? The Values Compass in my heart had never failed me & instinctively, I knew it wouldn’t now. I’ve never been one for pre tense, The Way of Integrity only possible by being Brave, Not Perfect.

As the first few hundred pre-orders left my hands, I had to sit, wait & listen to the deafening noise of Silence. I was prepared for Welcoming the Unwelcome. There were No Rules. “Peta, you start where you are & run with it. If & when things fall apart, you’ll be fine. It’s not like you haven’t been there before. You’ve got this.” The self talk was on repeat.

Things never fell apart. There was no emotional female (ok, maybe once or twice out of happiness!). Overwhelmingly, readers reached out offering kindness, support & looking for their own safe place to reveal their deeply personal stories. Many were on the brink of burnout themselves. They were craving conscious leadership. Someone who would empathise with their plight. Whether they were women working in male dominated environments, especially in the operating room, or professional athletes who could no longer keep up the pace & were desperate to divorce themselves from the pressure. My story had given them a glimmer of hope that they no longer had to tolerate what they’d assumed was normal. They had a choice. Someone understood.

The words on the pages offering hope & insight on how to do the work required to rediscover your professional ambition & lead a happier, more fulfilling life.

A few months in & the first print run is almost complete. I’ve worked my way through the self publishing journey, worked out how to publish an ebook, make changes to a website & learnt a range of new skills I’d never had thought would have been a part of my daily life. Most importantly, I’ve found a way to keep writing through my blogs.

I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to record a number of podcasts. Each reaffirming how much I love inspiring audiences through my storytelling & speaking. They are new skills I keep working on, much to the amusement of my Man-child who has to listen as I pace the kitchen practising to my adolescent audience of one. Little does he realise it’s my way of delivering what he needs to hear! ;-)

Parenting a teenager has certainly delivered some unexpected challenges. The road from Feb through to May a little too bumpy for my liking. Thankfully, we are back on track after a few tweaks & a mid semester family break in Byron Bay. Without doubt, parenting from a position of kindness (with the odd crystal by the bed) rather than a the FBI way of militant structure is bringing out the best in our kiddo. Call it the kindness revolution if you will. It’s working!

I continue to be inspired by my amazing coaching clients who have been conquering fears of change & rising to new professional heights. Some more literally than others! It’s taken a while to find my coaching niche. Especially after last year’s lockdown. However, I’ve now landed on Sales & Career Performance coaching & am super excited to do more in this space from here on. Mentoring young women & raising leaders my passion project along with inspiring teams through my My Beautiful Mess stories.

And now we are here - midway. Half time entertainment for 2021 has delivered a lockdown bonanza in Australia like no other. Like dominos, the states have fallen victim to Delta & despite Victoria not being amongst them, I can’t help but feel like I’m there with the rest Australia. Just when we think we have a handle of it, it’s time to think again.

For now, it’s downhill for 2021. Will you be whooshing down a black diamond run with your best parallel moves, or clumsily snow ploughing down a green slope? No idea is going to manifest itself or problem go away on it’s own.

There really is no time like the future. Embrace it!

Peta x

Sales & Career Performance Coach

Author of My Beautiful Mess - Living through burnout & rediscovering me

Follow Peta’s “book a week” challenge over on Instagram @petasitcheff

Full 2021 Reading List: