How This Previously Depressed Purple-Haired Woman Got Her Life Back!
~ A success letter from Denise Harwood
Sometimes I like to share the unfiltered emails I get from some of the amazing women who finish our courses. This letter is from the oh-so-awesome Denise Harwood who came on board as a brave participant of our life-changing Virtual Retreat.
What follows is a letter Denise wrote to me a year after she started working with me. Raw, unedited. Just like we like it. 😉
Dear Tera,
I kept putting off this final email, as I wasn’t sure if my life ‘counted’ as a success story.
HA!
Okay, so: I’m still overweight, I’m still prone to depression and anxiety in the winter. My house isn’t super clean, I still eat pizza and soda sometimes. I still make bad decisions.. .sometimes.
But that’s not all that I am. That’s become an ever-shrinking slice of the pie chart that is Denise.
I am also:
A Kick-Ass Dungeon Master.
I provide storytelling for friends and strangers, giving people an opportunity to have a social connection while using their creativity. I’ve grown my local community table from 5-6 players to almost 25 players who come to the shop monthly to play games. I’m also fostering new DMs, having two people, who had never run before, now running games in the local shop so they can pass on the love.
Convention Creator.
I was on the board of Wagoncon, a gaming convention, which just had an extremely successful first run. It was a weekend where people came together, played games and made friend connections. People felt relaxed and safe and we all had such a fantastic time we’re already figuring out how to do it bigger and better next year.
Best Cat Mom.
My cats are receiving care as good as I should be receiving; with high-quality homemade food. And, making that food reminds me to take care of myself.
Avid Book Reader.
I have returned to my love of reading and am really exploring the universe of ideas other people have created. This has inspired me in two ways. I’ve become a book critic, where I think about why I like particular books (or why I don’t) – my YouTube channel has over 40 subscribers and I think I have 10 videos up so far? It’s also inspired me to toy with the idea of authorship. I have a big document of ideas of things to write about – ideas that have come from consuming stories – and now that that con is over it’s time to start really exploring this.
Great Employee.
Even though my employment sucked, I kept faith and got a surprise management change. He fought to keep me, got me re-engaged with work and actually just came to visit me at my local shop tonight!
Great friend.
I’ve gotten better at figuring out how to be a support without burning out; how to offer what I actually feel capable of giving, and speaking up when that boundary shifts in either direction. This is good everywhere!
Great Wife.
My relationship with my husband is stronger than it’s ever been; our communication is something that continues to improve and we continue to discover that the things we need from each other feel so easy to give.
Perpetual Beginning Runner.
This sounds silly, but I love that whenever I put down exercise for more than a little while, the first thing I always grab again is running. I enjoy moving my body, knowing what it can and will do for me and getting outside. Yeah!
Awesome Overall Life.
Look at that above list! That’s not even everything! I could go on for another ten minutes. While it might be cathartic, all that really matters is that I KNOW IT.
Do you see how many of these things are about telling stories and building communities and social connections?
Do you remember my purpose as I wrote it during our personal retreat?
POW!
Now I hope you’ll pardon me as I’m off to explore more great ways to fill my life up with joy!
Love,
Denise
p.s.
I was so excited about the changes Denise made in the short time we worked together that I asked her to be another of my WISH Radio guests. Stay tuned this week. You’ll be able to access my interview with her on WISH Radio very soon!