My why's to becoming a coach, & the amazing humans that impacted me along the way.
I remember this moment to this day. I was living in a city working at a job that did not serve any passion, and at this time, I did not know what I wanted to do. I was in my 20s, married, owned a beautiful home, and felt I was happy. Little did I know there was a lot more to life coming my way.
I recall having pain in my abdomen and having to rush to the bathroom. The next thing I knew, there was blood in the toilet, and I had no idea what was going on with my body. All I knew is it was painful, and I had a hard time trying to keep food down. I started going to doctors and trying to understand what was going on inside of my body. It took countless blood work, scopes that were uncomfortable until finally I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. It did not stop there as I had to find a medication that worked and put me in remission.
I was part of a study that entailed going into the hospital quite often to get a scope to see if any of the studies were working. I was on placebo as part of one of the studies, and then came steroids prednisone, which I later found out I would NEVER go back on because of how they made me feel and was not getting any further with reducing flare ups.
Having Ulcerative Colitis and not being in remission is hard. I remember being nervous about taking the bus to work as there was no bathroom, so I had to prepare myself mentally. Then there was the embarrassment around finally getting to the bathroom and other people being present while I was there. I felt I had no privacy and felt embarrassed about what I was suffering with daily. The everyday struggles of living with UC are hard. It is a disease that is unseen by others and hard to explain to others what you are going through. The only thing I can describe what it feels like is knives being stabbed in your abdominals and colon when you go to the bathroom and after, all the while vomiting due to such intense pain, and then picking yourself up to get to work on time.
After moving out of a city into the Rocky Mountains of Banff, Alberta, starting a new lifestyle, no more city life of riding the bus, this was a dream come true. I landed a job that had a purpose behind it. It was time to shift my life and see what more it had to offer for me.
When I was 11 years old, my parents signed me up for competitive swimming. Let's just say I LOVED IT! I loved the water then, and I still love it now. It brings a sense of calmness, adventure, and determination into my life.
I remember my mum getting up at what seemed like 4 am to get me to the bus to compete in the Toronto area and beyond. I remember my mum being proud of me and supported me with love and also teaching me how to be independent, I know my mum saw something in it that I truly loved.
I recall going sailing with my parents every summer, learning the ropes of sailing. It takes a team and proper communication to sail. My dad brought this into my life; the love for water is in our bloodstream. My dad taught me never to do a half-ass job and use consistency and determination to succeed.
Ok bringing you back into my adult life, I felt I needed to introduce swimming back into my routine, water. I remember meeting one empowering woman during one of my master swim classes she was a bit hard of a hard ass at first (but I liked that). She shared her passion for racing triathlon and had such determination to succeed, and she has to this day at many events.
I also had another friend that was very encouraging at work, she ran marathons all over the world, and I would listen to her stories (sometimes I would forget I was even at work). It was not just about the running that she shared. It was about the living life to the fullest, good food, having adventure in your life, & having a passion and a purpose. She was the most kind-hearted friend and was good at getting you to do something you thought never would…. I mean, I did an Ironman and became a coach (she was a big part of this, she believed in me). She was relentless and would never let me give up on my goals and dreams. I currently take this into my coaching practice. There is always a ray of sunshine that enters my life whether it be in my coaching practice or day to day life of being a step-mum, or training in the pool, this beautifully infused into my coaching. I know she will always be that ray of sunshine pushing me towards an authentic life. xo
I went to my first triathlon, a Tri-It tri, and I was hooked!!! I remember my coach at that time telling me; you are a triathlete! I took that and ran, and I was also humbled that I was now a 'triathlete'. But, I was hit with this roadblock, Ulcerative Colitis. I went to run my first half marathon, and I became sicker than I had ever been. I was throwing up and on the bathroom floor in so much pain. I wanted to race and not let this disease take over all my hard work and determination. But that day, I was defeated, a DNS (Did Not Start).
If you know me, you will know I am a compassionate and tenacious woman, I do not give up and I do not give up on others. After this DNS, I took a stand for myself and talked to my doctor from my heart. I wanted to communicate how important it was to do the things in my life that I was passionate about at that time, which was racing triathlons with no pain. I was started on a new medication to try out. This method was the last resort, and then it was an operation.
I had so much belief that this was going to work. I had a dear friend who was also on this medication she had Crohn’s . I will never forget the compassion and empathy that this incredible woman brought into my life. Her smile was contagious, and so was her nurturing personality. She will always have a special place in my heart, and I know she would hope for me to share that with others I meet to create an impact in their lives, to live a fulfilled life. xo
I had immediate results with my new medication, no pain, no rushing to the bathroom, no worrying about going out for a long run, long bike, or swimming!!! I had so much determination and support around me that I was unstoppable. I competed in many triathlons and then did my first Ironman in 2013. I was in remission. Ulcerative Colitis and racing have taught me so much at that point in my life. It taught me to be determined, strong, and open my mind to other people’s stories and illnesses. To believe in me, have consistency, and drive.
It really clicked for me that I wanted to become a coach when I saw other athletes and amazing humans going through Leadership programming, racing events, training, and being a part of other friends’ journeys and how they empowered me to create an impact in my life, to follow my heart & make shit happen!
Hearing about their pain points, struggles, loss, illness, divorce not being heard or seen, or able to make their dreams come true, had the desire to make an impact in the world, to live their best life, no equality, exhausted. I want to create an impact in others' lives, to create a disciplined approach to living an authentic life; however, that may look.
I started my coaching journey with swimming coaching and built a successful swim squad for adults. This step led to Triathlon coaching and helping age group athletes reach their dreams of becoming a triathlete and more beyond racing, and then came along Life Coaching. I noticed that in my coaching with sport, I brought something different. It was not heavy on the technical side; it was the heart-centered side to the pool deck and my coaching programs for triathletes.
I started the next chapter after being coached by my favorite Life coach to this day. I first came across my first coach in a leadership program. To tell you the truth, I was a bit nervous, and she dove right into it, no holding back “What’s holding you back from taking the first coaching program?”. Well, that led to going right through a certified coaching program with CTI that took 2 years, and I was certified by 2016.
My coach inspired me immensely. She brought kindness, braveness, and rawness. She never tip-toed around, had a no-bullshit approach, but also had a very calm & graceful side to her. To this day, I am grateful for her gentle but tenacious pushes she gave me along my journey. She will always be remembered in my heart and present within my coaching practice through my infused calmness and tenacity.xo
As you are reading this, you may notice my story is not just one thing that impacted me to owning my own coaching practice. Keep reading; there is more that brings it together.
It was 2016, and I remember sitting at the kitchen table, coming to terms that my marriage was ending. It was surreal; my heart hurt, I felt alone, scared, blindsided by dishonesty, and panic. It was real, and I had to deal with trauma head-on. I am not going to lie. It took time and support from my dear friends and family, thank you! My mum was my rock and helped me pull through; she never gave up on me. Going through a divorce has taught me a lot. But after some time of healing, I know one thing that did bring my healing full circle forgiveness. Forgiveness to myself and to others, this led into a WAY more self-compassionate life.
I was sitting my chaise in my bedroom before my divorce happened and thinking, “Is this my life, is this all the intimacy I will have in my life, is this what true love feels like?” Have you ever felt like this? I believe in every vibe in my body that the universe was listening.
Soon after my divorce, I started going on dates, I wanted to find true love, and I did meet the love of my life. Please know that there is love after divorce if you want it, you have to find time for you to heal. Whether it is before or during, like I did, as there was no way I was going let the love of my life pass by, and I am in my 40s.
I found love in the next town over, and every morning I wake up, I am grateful for my husband and the love I now have in my life, unconditional and supported. I own my voice. Along with 2 stepdaughters that teach me so much every day, and I hope to have an impact on their lives to do good in the world through their hearts, making an impact, however that may look for them, to achieve their dreams, no matter how big or small. I believe in them and they are brave young women.
Starting to bring my story to this present day, all my tales of happiness, pain, growth, support, grief, friendships, and love have brought me to a softer self. I started by pushing through and being headstrong, but underneath I am a compassionate, kind-hearted, honest, and brave woman that wants to see others in the world move through their transitions.
I help women in their 40s create a disciplined approach to living an authentic life. Not only this, but I also see these women going out into the world to lead, and are creating an impact in their lives and others, this is happening in my coaching practice. Empower others to be compassionate and impactful GO BIG with your dreams, and in a relationship, connecting wholeheartedly with your partner, and knowing vulnerability IS being strong, holding that space. Creating a heart centered world one heart beat at time, one thing we all have in common is we all have a heart that beats, lets share our kindness, unexpected kindness with the world, this is where human change will happen.
Creating something bigger than yourself!
Sending you sooooooo much compassion,
Coach Sarah Freeman
