Getting present to where you are in life, who you are for others and how you live life is essential.

Yesterday I woke up with a headache, but with an overhaul of this website needed to bring it in alignment with who I am now, the work I do and where I am going, I forged ahead.

Working late into the night, not even realising the time, because I love what I do, I fell asleep with my head still pounding.

This morning I woke up with a migraine, and I realised it was time to get present to what my body was telling me. Get present to everything I have achieved so far this year, especially in the last month.

Arriving home in the UK unannounced was a great surprise for everyone, myself included. Having said that the surprises that followed were intense.

Losing two friends, attending funerals, ending a 3 year relationship with a man I loved deeply, quitting alcohol, becoming vegan to get my body in great shape for the ocean races coming up and sorting out family issues, clearing out my stuff from my old apartment… Lots shifted.

Starting a new coaching relationship with my new coach, coaching new clients and existing ones, and starting the process of launching The Mermaid’s Locker (news on this shortly) I wasn’t giving myself down time. I just do what I normally do, keep moving forward, keep rising and keep smiling.

Leaving my boys, or rather my young men and my dogs this time was harder than when they flew home from New Zealand when I kick-started this ocean journey. I was present to their lifestyle changes, and although I don’t like a lot of them, I know they are old enough to choose for themselves.

I know I have to allow my ex husband to parent the boys in his own way. It may not be my way, and their stanadst of living may not meet mine, but they are his children too; and he has to be the father he chooses to be without my interference. His actions will lead the boys to love and respect him, or they won’t. Like they say, you make your bed, you lie in it.

Leaving the UK I headed to Gibraltar to do my STCW95 and a few other courses to enable me to move forward in my obtaining my RYA Ocean YachtMaster certificate, but arriving in Gibraltar, I didn’t like the energy.

I worked on my business, got things in place, walked around the rock visiting Europa Point Lighthouse, read lots and then left, without completing my STCW95. It just wasn’t the right time. So I headed to Morocco to see my Moroccan family.

Whilst there I allowed myself to grieve, to release, to be loved on, and then carried on working on overhauling this website so you all get a much better experience from visiting and understanding of how I can help and support you, or those you know personally and professionally.

Joining the Women Who Sail The Med group in Facebook, I jumped on and introduced myself. Within hours of joining a fellow ocean nomad and female sailor reached out to me. I had wanted to meet Suzanne van der Veeken because of the journey she is on, and the work she does in this world.

I left Morocco after just a few days, travelling by train across the country so I could cross the Atlantic into Spain. When looking at trains I chose to take a later train than I would have done previously, before getting present to really honouring myself.

On the train I was chatting with a young woman from Saudi Arabia. Explaining why I had so much luggage with me, she was inspired. She enabled me to get even more present to the work I do with women, and just how important my coaching work is, and the books I write.

Shortly after the journey was underway, we were informed there had been a train crash. We were all to leave the train and find alternative transportation.

Heading into the station dealing with the situation, I got present to just how well I speak Arabic, even though Moroccon Arabic is quite different to the Middle Eastern Arabic I speak.

With news of the train accident coming through, and the number of fatalities and seriously injured being reported, I yet again got present. I got present to how lucky I was to escape injury. I also got present to how much my life has changed by simply not rushing, by listening to my body.

With delays running into the next day, I was blessed with the love and support of the family and friends of my Moroccan family rallying around to make sure I was taken care of; as well as the kindness and generosity of fellow travellers.

I went to sleep feeling very blessed and grateful for being alive, a chance to continue with the positive impact I am making in this world.

I arrived in Spain a day later for the Ocean Nomads meet up, which was organised by Suzanne, who is the author of Ocean Nomad, an impressive book on how to hitchhike across the Atlantic, a book I wanted to get my hands on.

We are now living together in Spain, working on our businesses, our projects and raising awareness of the environmental issues affecting our beloved ocean and planet, all whilst looking for our Atlantic Oocean crossing to the Caribbean.

With so much happening, there was no wonder I had a migraine. I have had to process so much. My body is releasing so many toxins by choosing to no longer drink alcohol and for choosing a vegan lifestyle.

My heart is healing from the neglect I allowed myself to be subjected to in the relationship I just ended. My heart is healing from grief of friends passing away.  I am adjusting to not being with the beautiful humans and fur babies I get to be mother to.

I have released so much emotionally with my new coach. Got present to my new business vision, releasing the old version of myself and stepped up to embracing this new version of self.

I have hired a new team member to help me take my businessto the next level, making sure I honour myself and my purpose by focusing on what I am great at…  Positively impacting the world with my coaching, writing and public speaking… Whilst delegating the rest to someone else who is showing up in her passion and purpose.

After resting, I went for a walk along the beach… Of course I did! Getting present yet again to all I have achieved in the last month, the last year and the last five years, and in my life.

I had ‘Pinch me moments’ and expressed so much gratitude for all the opportunities I have had in my life, and for the passion and purpose I live into daily.

And now here I am, able to share my journey with you, which I know continues to inspire so many of you.

If you are ready to live your dream life, getting present to who you really are and your full potential, email me using hello@dawnbates.com and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.

With so much love and gratitude to you, and for you,

Dawn xx