liv.alive

A little known story about me

Memories of a past life - Rome, Italy, April 8, 2005.

Let me preface this with a statement that I'm not religious but I'm fiercely supporting freedom of worship as it is nobody's business but your own.

Now onto the memory.

When Pope John Paul II passed, I was in St Peter's Square in Rome, for his funeral, as part of a diplomatic delegation accompanying my then boss, a head of State. It was a very solemn day and moment. Very heavy atmosphere. Very dark.

Today's funeral ceremony for Pope Francis comes at a heavy time for the world so I can't imagine how it must have felt.

I don't have pictures from that day. But I've kept the booklets (or what do you call them?) that I'm sharing here. And the black mantilla. It's that black lace veil that women are required by protocol to cover their heads with -- you can see it everywhere on the footage and pictures from today. I still have mine and only wore it once, for the Pope's funeral.

Until I picked up these booklets from my bookshelves just now, I had forgotten how April 8, 2005 was a key date in my personal and professional path.
That day was also a turning point in my life as I decided right there and then to remove myself from my employment. This is when my path towards leadership coaching opened up and how my interest in ethics got fueled insatiably.
The years spent inside the close circle of powers (plural) taught me a lot and gave me the tools I use today to gauge politics and characters every damn day.

After 7 years in financial journalism, I'd wanted to no longer be on the sidelines but in the middle of where decisions were made and actions were taken. But on April 8, 2005, as we bid goodbye to John Paul II, I decided that I wanted to be in the crowd and hold a different kind of light. I took a few more turns until I embraced coaching full time again in 2017 but it's really strange how I forgot about this.

5D consciousness in a 3D experience is the new luxury. Community is the new currency 🫶🏽 Full episode on @mbaydoun1

🌱 Amid all the turmoil, chaos, division and negativity, I am making it a daily practice to anchor myself and create spaces of respite and safety within and around me.

As you may know, I'm hosting a women's retreat this upcoming June 1-7 in the Loire Valley. I *NEVER* could have anticipated how needed this would be. Especially for women in their late 40s and their 50s for whom there seems to be not as many offers available on the market as for the younger generation. The vast majority caters to women in their 30s, which is a demographic I love, but we need to do better with ageism, as Cindy Gallop has been advocating for years now.

5️⃣0️⃣ Five 0. That's my age, I'm now 50 and soon +, I've been stunned at the lack of 1/ dedicated retreats that weren't 2/ more geriatric in substance than fun and re-energizing. 😒

The mission has always been, and still is, to provide a space where these women can just be. Where they feel taken care of but not reduced to an age stereotype; where they have a choice of things to do but no rigid schedules.

A place where they can express themselves creatively, through movement or by making things with their hands. A space where they can be silly and have a good laugh with women they barely knew when they arrived but will keep as lifelong friends when they leave. Because, make no mistake, building community is our biggest strength in these times of division.

That's why I call it a "retreat-meets-summercamp". Fun, light, supportive, lots of outdoors, excursions every single day and also pampering, self-care and well-being at the heart of it all.

👇🏾

Have you ever tried?

This is the foundation of my client work. And I use all sorts of modalities, starting with meditation, rest and play.

I shifted the way I work in 2020, fully embracing the heritage from my lineage from Madagascar and the gifts my mentors around the world gave me. I also added one extra layer, by leveraging neurosciences and more specifically neuroplasticity.

Little did I know at the time that I would have a bonus kid with neuro developmental issues and that all this was preparing me for what was to come. Now I'm in a unique position to understand and help her while maintaining healthy and well needed boundaries.

I learn every day, we all do. And when I am struggling, I go back to this. Feed the body with inner experience through meditation or play or any relaxation modality, and watch things unfold.

Anyway. I felt like sharing this today. I guess I'm in the mood for even more vulnerability and authenticity in the face of so much chaos and destruction. To me, that's how we'll win, if we all shine through. Let's bring some SOUL into the stone cold reality.

Be gentle with yourselves!
Yes, it's Spring, you're still defrosting... (see previous post 😉).

🌿 If you want to have a conversation or work with me, you can book a free consultation (link in bio)
🌱 If you feel like spending a rejuvenating, deep reset week with me and a small group of women 45+, go to the retreat link in my bio. We have only 2 spots left, so don't delay!

Mucho love,

Liva

To my sisters around the world,
Happy Galentines Day!!!

What's a girl without a tribe of crazy badass gfs supporting and cheering on them, near or far?

I don't have all of you here but you are in my heart: Alex, Janet, Xochi, Maryam, Sam, Sarah.
Special thanks to all of you who made it to the farmhouse in the Loire Valley, including and Ele 2336 who doesn't like to be tagged 😜. I'm sure I'm forgetting a few names but you know who you are.

Also in my heart are those of you, my dear sisters, who have transitioned over the past few years: Patricia, Fatima, Blanca 🕊️ forever in my heart.

To all of us. May we rise and bring light wherever we go. Our work matters. We matter. Let there be light.

beoneagain
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This.
Music: "Let's start" by Fela Kuti
You get my drift.

Don't let them dim out Black History Month with their DEI and book bans.
You can make a difference by
1) reading up REAL history books (vs propaganda that has passed as school history books so far) about the setting up of the mustached guy's regime starting in 1933.
2) shopping where your heart is: leave behind the flip flops who struck their DEI policies but still want and NEED *our* money to thrive

My loves, I see you.

From a fellow African

Today is an important day, it's Martin Luther King Day.

Also, I can't stop crying. You know why.



How are you feeling today, my darlings?

🙏🏽 In light of the current events, I'd like to dedicate this week's sisterly call to those affected by the .

If you're directly or indirectly affected, head to the link in my bio and book a free 1:1 call with me. I'll extend the duration of calls, don't worry. I'm still working on my calendar to open more slots at times that serve the Pacific coast better. Just put "LA fires" in the one of message prompts.

✨Please pass this on if you have friends who need this✨

🙋🏾‍♀️ All I want to do is hug you and all I can do is offer you a place to talk, hopefully find respite and just be.

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Sisterly Calls

🦋 Come find community every Thursday morning (pm if you're in Europe). It's a safe, fun, yet serious and nurturing place.

🌿 I'm Liva, your mischief planner, peace builder, life leaps facilitator, and much more. I hold space for 40 minutes. (if you want more time, feel free to book a call with me)

Come one, come all.

✨ Women/womxn and men supporting women.
That is all.

👉🏽 Link in bio

No, you're not alone.

Join us today for the weekly sisterly calls. Their goal is just that, to remind you you're not alone.

Link in bio

Someone sent me this. It truly resonates. Safety is the bedrock of any life form.

And today, specifically, thinking of my friends and all the people in LA.

Stay safe.