What did you want to be when you grew up?

On wishes come true and unexpected fulfillment

My mom is preparing to move in a couple weeks, and yesterday, she brought over a box of my old stuff. I took a quick trip down memory lane… old report cards and notes from elementary teachers, cute art projects and funny school photos.

It turns out that 1989 was the year I went from wanting to be a “wateress” when I grew up to hoping I’d be a “perfeshanal dancer.” I was 8-years-old. It must’ve been the year I danced around the house enough that my mom put me in lessons.

The waitress gig I had in high school was great and all, but I have to say, the dance teacher gig was way better. It wasn’t “perfeshanal dancer” status by any means, but in so many ways, it was even better.

I’m a Manifestor in Human Design. I’m here, in large part, to know my impact. To inspire and initiate. What a gift to be in a classroom, getting to teach and see, in real time, how I affected my students.

But an even greater gift often comes after my dancers have moved on from the classroom, when I can see the foundation I helped lay grow into something so much more. I have students who have danced in companies and on professional sports teams. One became Miss America (who would’ve thought?!) Many have become mothers or dance teachers themselves, or lawyers or nurses… the list goes on.

When I get little notes from them, years later, telling me how I helped forge in them the confidence and connection and “can-do” to get where they are today? It’s nothing short of magical. ✨ I could live off those warm fuzzy feelings for weeks, a smile on my face every time I think about it.

These days, I don’t teach as much as I used to. It was a conscious choice - to be able to spend more time at home in the evenings with my own kids. But it makes me sad sometimes. I often miss knowing my positive impact on the world in that way.

But then I got an email from a Human Design client the other day that helped me remember… I’m still making a positive impact on the world. I’m just working with a different modality now. ☺️

She said, “I am thinking of how much of my life I have tried to be different than what I know in my heart is true for me… It is a ‘freeing’ feeling to be open to the possibility that I am meant to be the way I am. Then I can also realize that we all have our unique design, and I can appreciate the gifts I can receive from others.”

I got the warm fuzzies, for sure, playing a part in her newfound awareness. I mean, finding the freedom to be more of our true selves, combined with more acceptance for the uniqueness of those around us…

It feels dramatic to say, but I believe this is where we begin in order to bring about more peace in the world. We begin within ourselves and those whose lives we touch.

So I guess I say all that to say that whether we’re dance teachers or Human Design coaches or mothers or horsewomen or “perfeshanal” nose pickers (which is probably what I was back in 1989), we can make a positive impact. We can find that fulfillment in unexpected places. We can be on the journey of self-discovery and acceptance of ourselves and others. And it matters. It matters that we care and that we show up and that we continue to do so.

It makes me wish I could go around giving big high fives to everyone here at The Herd. 😂 We’re doing it, you know? We’re showing up. 🙌🏼

I’m proud of us. And I hope you can stop for a moment and truly see the beautiful difference you make.

In lieu of high fives, here’s one of the many gems from the box my mom dropped off. It’s little Hannah in 1989.👇🏼 She doesn’t know it yet, but yes, braces are in her near future. Hehe.

And if you’re picking up what I’m putting down today and you’d like a little support on your journey, I still have a few open days for sessions in December. I offered the Journey On Podcast Summit attendees a special $50 discount code on a Human Design Deep Dive (two sessions), and I’d like to offer it to all of you here:

I appreciate you tuning in,
Hannah

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