Let me tell you about “Sue”
There have been many success stories with Enliven Outdoor Adventures customers. Sometimes it’s the small wins, like when a customer says their sunset SUP has been the highlight of their week or getting a good post-exercise sleep. Sometimes it’s bigger wins, like standing up on a surf board for the first time, buying a kayak for themselves, or making a new friend. Then sometimes it’s larger life-changing wins, like having have more clarity after taking time for themselves, and decide to change jobs/ partners/ life paths.
I wanted to capture this change with a fictional story of an example client. This isn’t based on anyone, though the character and story is inspired by the thousands of women I have met through this business and in Active Rest Retreats, and some of the changes I have had the privilege to witness. Of course everyone’s experience is unique, and no change is guaranteed, but the benefits of connecting to yourself, to other women, to culture and to nature go deep. Enjoy
“Sue” is 45 years old and a busy Mum with two teenage children and a full time teaching job. She put on weight during pregnancy, and since having kids, she feels she has never had the time or energy to focus on her own wellness. She suffers from low-self-esteem, has occasional bouts of low-level depression and anxiety, and is on medication for high blood pressure and symptoms related to perimenopause.
She has little energy for hobbies outside of her career and running the household, but she does enjoy walking, reading and coffee catch ups with the girls on weekends. She is asked by a colleague if she wants to go for a beginner stand up paddle boarding lesson with Enliven. She is apprehensive, as the last time she did anything like this was kayaking as a teenager on school camp. She remembers being embarrassed that her breasts didn’t comfortably fit in the life jacket her male instructor had adjusted, and that she had capsized in front of all her classmates. Her colleague reassures her that it’s going to be a beginner-friendly lesson and just for women. She reluctantly agrees.
During the lesson with Elise, Sue feels nervous and is full of self-deprecating comments. “I’m certain I’m going to fall in! Get your rescue skills ready, Elise - you’re gonna need them with me!” she chuckles. Thanks to Elise’s reassurance and clear, calm instruction, Sue is able to not only stand up on the paddle board, but she successfully paddles for the whole lesson without falling off. The lesson ends with a herbal tea, a warm towel, and sharing photos and laughs from the session. She books in to a sunset SUP with enliven for the following week with the women she met in the lesson.
During the sunset SUP, Sue meets a couple of other women who are also teachers of her age. She encounters a dolphin, and leaves with a new appreciation of how much beauty there is in her own backyard. With her new-found confidence, her children notice the change and book her a voucher to do an enliven kayaking day trip on the Coorong. Sue books in with her other enliven friends. She loves the day, and re-writes her negative story around kayaking, learns about Ngarrindjeri foods and shell middens, and takes time to journal on 90mile beach. She’s sad when reflecting on the fact that she hasn’t spent money on days for herself in the past, but she’s mostly proud of herself that she is now.
A year later, Sue has bought her own paddle board and she regularly SUP’s with the friends she made in class. She feels less anxious and has less symptoms associated with her perimenopause. She prioritises walking or SUPing at least 3 times per week and takes the time to journal in nature. She has organised a Ngarrindjeri Culture PD day for her teaching cohort. She feels more confident in her body and this has translated to feeling happier in her marriage. She still remembers that evening paddling with the dolphin at sunset, and she has started getting her girlfriends to add in a beach-cleaning walk to their coffee catchups.
These changes aren’t small. Well-rested women are powerful. Connected women are powerful. Self-healing is possible. Mental health and physical health are interconnected. Nature can heal us; we’re animals, afterall. I keep finding evidence for all of these statements, time and time again. Feel free to book a session and prove me wrong.
Elise x
