Copyright 2011, 2019 Erica Boucher All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission from the author or publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
ISBN: 978-0-9849081-0-3
Published by Earth Harmony Publishing, Orlando, Florida
For Information Address:
Earth Harmony Publishing
7330 Cherry Laurel Drive
Orlando, Florida 32835
The author can be reached at .
Printed in the United States of America
Design, Composition, and Layout by Erica Boucher & Martin Wolf Murphy
Acknowledgments
Id like to thank the many people who have influenced me and my work, and therefore this book, over the past 12 years. Some had a very direct affect on me and my growth both personally and professionally. Sometimes that growth came in the form of disappointment, heartbreak, pain and conflictand for that I am eternally grateful. These are the ones that so often had the biggest impact, and inspired the greatest evolutionary growth spurts within me. Thank you, thank you, thank you for being such an important part of this life experience for me.
Then there are those who, without which, I would never have been able to carry this vision through to completion. I am blessed with a beautiful network of friends and family who do a wonderful job of spurring me on, always encouraging me to keep writing, to keep sharing, to keep going. A body of work such as this, that has taken me over a decade to complete, could never have been done without the love and support of countless others. Sometimes that support came directly, through words and acts of encouragement. Other times it was a simple, off-hand comment made by another that would inspire an entire section of this book.
Throughout this book I share stories and examples inspired by friends, family and the many people with whom Ive worked to help support the understanding of the material. In each and every case it is with reverence, appreciation, respect and gratitude for what they taught me, and while I always protect the anonymity of others, I can only hope that for those who find themselves somewhere in this book, that they realize the spirit with which I share.
This book is a thank you to Life, and to everyone who shares in it with me. With that being said, I would like to specifically thank my parents, who loved, challenged and supported me in all the right ways to make me who I am today. Everything about our experience together has been perfect. Thank you for believing in me Mauro Diez, Mark Miller, Sonya Savage, Christine Dalton, Sherry Evans, Marsha Defacci, David ODonnell, Harley & Sue Bessire, Rave Mehta, Laura Larmay, Kristen Manieri, Krista Berman, Brian Burgess. Thank you to my ex-husband, Steve, for everything we shared together. I have no regrets, and I wouldnt change a thing about our experience together. It was exactly what it was supposed to be. A very specific thank you to Martin Murphy (Wolf) for your editing, layout and design work, not to mention the hours upon hours of stimulating conversation we shared around this material. This would not have been possible without you.
Thank you to all past and future Empath Yoga graduates for answering the call within you to spread love and light through your work with others.
This list goes on and on, and since I cant possibly include everyone, I simply say thank you to everyone who has been a part of my journey in any way. You know who you are.
Introduction
I ll never forget the day, now more than 20 years ago, when something inside of me finally let go. I was in my late twenties, a graduate of a prestigious college, and working in a corporate environment in which I felt completely out of placemiserable, really. I was married with a comfortable home, a nice car, trendy clothing, and lots of friends. I had everything I was always told I would need in order to be happy. And yet I wasnt happy. Participation in numerous leadership training programs did little more than build me up so I could get better at playing the corporate game. Something deeper was missing. One day, after working so hard to get somewhere and feeling like I was spinning my wheels, I finally had enough.
That day, as I drove home from work, I put my hands on my steering wheel, looked up at the sky, and prayed, honestly prayed, for the first time in my life, to a God I wasnt even sure existed. God, I give up. I dont know what Im supposed to be doing here. If you exist, and if I have a purpose on this Earth, please show me because I obviously dont have a clue. I realize now looking back that I was letting go, admitting to myself and to life how much I didnt know. Although born and raised Catholic, I was never a religious person, and that direct, heartfelt communication was the most honest, sincere conversation with God I had ever had.
I started searching for a meaningful job that would allow me to feel passionate and alive and purposeful. So when I was offered the opportunity to work at a shelter for homeless familiesat a hefty cut in paymy hesitation lasted only briefly. My responsibility was to create a comprehensive rehabilitation program for homeless adults. I was given very little directionjust instructed to create a four-week program that would teach life and leadership skills to homeless adults to help break their cycle of dependency. This greatly appealed to me, for up to that time I felt my career, and my life, lacked creativity and inspiration. Finally, I could sink my teeth into something exciting and meaningful.
I spent my first three months behind closed doors brainstorming about what to teach, in what order, and to what end. I ventured outside of my office only to interview guests at the shelter for insight into what they thought would be most useful to them. I toyed with the idea of teaching typing skills, showing them how to use a register, and other marketable skills. I had almost complete creative license to teach them the skills I believed would most benefit them. In the end, with some coaxing by the executive director and program manager, I streamlined my approach. My objectives became to boost their self-esteem, motivate and inspire change, and open the door to a new way of life.
On January 3, 2000, the first 120-hour Adult Leadership Program was launched. I walked into a room with 13 homeless adults who had just been informed they would be required to attend this program before looking for a job. Most of them were angry and resentfulboth for being homeless and jobless, and for being forced to attend a program that would only delay their goal of leaving the shelter. I spent the first hour overcoming my own self-doubts about a program that had yet to be taughtall the while accepting everything from grumbled complaints to angry outbursts. After hearing them out and validating their concerns, I offered another way to perceive the situationas a tremendous opportunity to get to know themselves and some of the habitual patterns of behavior that may have contributed to their current situation.
By the first break (a mere hour later) the faces looking back at me were much more open and interested. Somehow, by acknowledging their concerns, standing my ground, and making the argument to give it a chance, I got through to them. From that moment on we were a room of fully-invested adults.
