The idea of the Company started years back, in 2015, when Sheyla hired a web designer, created a brand, an icon and started learning about marketing. She was in the Coaching Business since 2012, but wanted to go further with it. She believed in the internet and started recording videos, putting her name and message out there.
She Moved to United States in 2013, and left behind over 20 years of corporate life, her family and her boys, dreaming that in a three months period the whole immigration process would be resolved and she would be once again reunited with her kids that always meant the world to her.
A couple of years have passed when finally she received the green light to go bring one of her boys to live with her, the older one would come to visit, but not yet in definitive. Of course after being a couple of years away from her children, all she wanted to do was to spend time with them, and she did… and got distracted, and lost the momentum, and the business opportunity flew way to a far away land and would take many years to be rescued…
The joy didn’t last long, soon enough she realized her boys weren’t the kids she knew anymore and there were lots of taming and reeducation to be performed after living without rules or limits for a couple of years. The ideal of their presence was greater than reality and once the oldest left, even before the scheduled date, there was a mixture of grief and relief and an unbearable pain to bare… She decided that feeling had to be funneled somehow… as they say, when you don’t know what to do with yourself go help others… So she did and started volunteering at Gilda’s Club Nashville, where she conceived and delivered several Workshops for People impacted by Cancer: “Living the Best You Can with Cancer”; “Live Your Best Life Now”; “Rebirth to a New Self”; “Living Forward”; “Time to Let it Go”; “How do I want to be Remembered”. Even though the concept, content and results were great, the names never attracted as many people as she had envisioned. After a little more than a couple of years doing that, she had to face another personal challenge and decided it was time to put her oxygen mask on and put an end to the workshops.
“My success and my protection come from God alone” – Psalms 62:7
In between the rescuing process she got distracted again with a business opportunity, to go back to the formal workspace, a process that took months and made her excited with the leadership, travel and financial opportunity… she was approved in all the processes, interviews, tests, peers, CIO, Regional Sales, until the informal meeting with HR to discuss hiring details, where she was politely discarded after being classified as “too nice for the role” or something like that.
After the recover process and back to packing for the rescuing journey, another unexpected business opportunity surfaced and once again she got distracted and now all on board with it, completely forgetting about the mission that really mattered…
Somewhere in between that she was presented with a non-negotiable caregiving challenge – take care of her mother-in-law facing dementia… There were way too many plates to keep spinning and in the merge of a breakdown, marked by the almost end of her marriage on New Years Eve and getting the VIP credentials to insanity, she started therapy.
Time played a trick on her, on one hand it flew away – way too fast and there was not enough time to take care of everything that had to be addressed, but on the other side, it felt like an eternity… Babysitting, dealing with mom’s business, falls, ERs, hospitals, recovery, new disabilities, convalescent homes, basic needs, care and understanding the reality behind those assistant living places…it all felt like she had stepped into a Narnia adventure but without the happy end and truly a NeverEndingStory… The hardest part was the anticipation for what they did not want to deal with, ever, but had to be taken care of in preparation for what might eventually come…
Back on her mind she knew there was this fantasy and promise of a far way kingdom where life was colorful and enchanted and all lived happily ever after… well… not really, but that’s how she envisioned her world working in perfect harmony.
“If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put the foundations under them.” – Thoreau
The year of 2019 was something to be remembered…or forgotten… something many might call astrological hell. The exact same day both her husband and herself made the hardest decision of their lives – bring mom to a memory care place. At the end of her second therapy session, her husband waiting at the car informed excited about the one way trip to deal with mom’s state 6am the following morning… As she listened to his plan she couldn’t help but notice a voice message informing that her position has been terminated immediately. It was January 17th. She felt like her whole being had been disintegrated and like melted ice, could never be fully recovered.
2019 was marked by survival lessons and a clear purpose to take care of her mother-in-law’s affairs, she’s realized later on and did it willingly. Between surviving a freeze experience in Connecticut at the day of her birthday, a dog bite in her face that almost took her lips off. It was impossible to focus on anything while she visited 216 places in 41 cities and ten thousand miles within US… By the end of the year, after an immersion of exposition to mortality and all the affairs she had to deal with, she stepped back into her own shoes and noticed how she hasn’t made herself priority and how much she truly missed her family… All she wanted was to go back to Brasil to visit, but she was exhausted and needed to stop and breath for a minute…
December 2019 she stumbled into an opportunity and took it with all her strength, believing it was the right thing and all she need to make things happen. Ever since she’s been dedicating herself daily to learning, studying, applying and building her business.
She consciously planned the trip back home to June2020… who would know such a thing as a lock down would exist!? She missed the opportunity to leave. The winter of disconnect became her reality. All the love and care she had in her heart had again to be funneled somewhere and once again, God provided… between visiting her mother-in-law daily, feeding her and teaching her how to pray again, learning how to run and working serious on her business she found deep in her heart it was time and all was going to work. Until she couldn’t anymore… a stoke at Easter evening brought mom to agony and only then we were allowed to see her again for 5 endless day… no moving, no speaking, no eating… just praying for mercy… she departed 4am the next Friday and we couldn’t say goodbye to her, or have a funeral, or honor her life, to this day… all that was allowed was a FB live with a few minutes ceremony – Seriously, which world is this you are talking about!?
“Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it.” – Buddha
There were two events that were defining moments in her life, which kept the flame on – deep in her heart each time distraction happened or someone else’s agenda tried to steal her focus: a dream she had and a woman she helped at Gilda’s back in 2015…
…besides her own survival journey and the miracle she’s experienced herself…
It is not about us, it is not about competing or trying to show others this or that. It is about Serving, Being the Best you can Be, Trusting your Instincts… it all goes back to the final moment, when you fast forward yourself in front of your grave, look back in life and reflect. A smile in your face reminds you are Proud of the Life You have Lived, the Contributions you did, The Difference you Made and the Legacy you built and left behind.
If you are not proud yet, get back on your feet and ask yourself the question:
– How do I want to be remembered?
You still got time, take the first step, get some help and start working right here and right now!
It is an honor to be here and to be granted life today. Enjoy the P R E S E N T !!! That’s the only time we’ve got.
Live Fully Today. If not Now, When!?
Disclaimer: These words reflect Sheyla’s voice and her own truth regarding facts, moments and people. Others may see things different and have a distinct perspective based on their own perception, observations and experiences.
