Today’s shared stories come from Marie Pickering and Lisa Grace Byrne.
Lisa Grace Byrne
The story of the birth of my business is really the story of when “That Which You Must Do” became radically clear and in focus. It also happened to coincide with my own birthing as a mother. It’s a fascinating phenomenon that many women share upon becoming a mother. Whether it happens early on after the birth of your first child or in a later season of your life… for some of us, motherhood is the crucible that refines a powerful urge to contribute in a specific way. It is as if your experience in mothering your actual child brings up your maternal nature toward yourself, toward others and toward the world. But first it isn’t always pretty.
I have three young children, all close in age from five years old to almost two years old. I can remember when my second child was born, my oldest just a young toddler. I was so unprepared for the physical, emotional and mental intensity of motherhood, that I had literally run myself ragged. Eating poorly, sleeping poorly, out of check stress, post partum depression. And then a cold hit that knocked me out cold. Double ear infections in each ear and deep infection in my lungs, I literally couldn’t move an inch without triggering vertigo and intense vomiting. It was a pretty bleak place. I was encouraged by many people to go and see a therapist (which would have been a very good and wonderful thing to do – I’m not against therapy!), but that is when a small flicker of who I was caught my inner eye and I knew. I knew how I was to reconnect to myself again and what I needed. At that point, WellGrounded Life began.
Something within whispered that in order for my mind and body to heal, I needed to give it the raw materials – the literal nutrition it needed in order to become whole and healthy. Some inner voice gently asked me to extend loving kindness toward myself and consider walking the path of whole nourishment, paying attention to a soul’s need for beauty, silence, friendship, meaningful work, laughter, fresh air, movement, joy, ambition.
Part of my meaningful work was to lift others up as I cared and tended to my own health. It was a way to self-care without wallowing. To firmly offer my gifts to the world without succumbing to self neglect (which happens all too often when our lives become others-focused and outward-looking- very easy for a mother to fall into).
WellGrounded Life just grew and grew out of my heart’s own journey of healing and stepping into a vibrant life as a woman and mother in the world. What started as a blog and private coaching grew into speaking and live workshops and grew still into online multimedia courses, an international community within my membership site and a forthcoming book. It has been a way for me to knit together an integrated and congruent life from what once felt deeply fractured and scattered.
One of the gifts of doing what you love in the world is that it can grow with you, you can keep moving your great work along your own growth edge. For me that is exploring how we as modern women of this generation are navigating the path of motherhood while honouring our ambitions, passions and great purpose.
I believe that in order to be a happy and energized mother you must begin by being a healthy and self-connected woman. My work offers tools to moms who are feeling scattered and depleted… and in turn it keeps me on my path of self-kindness, restoration and growth.
[All images courtesy of Lisa Grace Byrne.]
Lisa is author of forthcoming book ‘Healthy Woman, Vibrant Mom: 7 habits that will make you a calm, energized and healthy mother’. To find out more about Lisa visit her website.
Marie Pickering
The Enchanted World of Needle Felting is full of Rainbow dyed soft New Zealand Wool Its warmth and light speaks to me, I feel it breathe in my hands and fingers. I want to warm peoples hearts and ignite in them a stirring of their spirit. Magical creatures, fantasy figures, Waldorf Inspired, Gnomes, Fairies. Living out in the rural countryside. I am inspired by Mother Nature. Here all is calm and peaceful.
Children especially find my art appealing as it appeals to their wonderful imaginations. My small homestead and garden is organic and was built 25 years ago. I work on the kitchen table, and the sun’s light bounces off the wooden walls, to create a heart-warming glow.
I started making a few small wool dolls, and took them to markets and fairs to sell. They were well received. I friend suggested that I start a blog, and I have been astounded at the interest and following. I joined Etsy and the New Zealand on-line shop Felt. I wanted to share my art with others globally, to let them have in their homes a little piece of me. To this end my art is affordable to all.
By going global this has extended my view of the world. New Zealand is a fairly small Island nation, but now I consider the seasons happening in the world and create items for others’ Seasonal Nature Tables. I love what I do and have written a lot of short poems that go alongside my original 3D needle felt art. My hope is to publish these in a book.
Soft light falls
The pale yellow sun’s light
shines down on to the little child
Her pale pink dress glows softly in the pale sunlight
Flowers abound in her long golden hair
Soft light falls
May the sun’s soft light shine on you
My original designs come easily to me. I feel I have a spiritual connection to each piece and that the receiver is imbued with my light. This I feel is what I am meant to be doing in the world.
[Images courtesy of Marie Pickering.]
Find out more about Marie on her blog.
(Image via 
(Photo by Sienna Verdugo)
