I Would Like To Introduce You To Lucie, your Mind coach.
Childhood and growing up
Growing up in an international family with a Greek father and a French mother, she developed from a very young age a strong sense of diversity and understanding of mixed cultures. Living in a household where deeper feelings, thoughts, or wishes were not mindfully shared but mostly expressed under the form of complaints or even by keeping silence, made her feel like an outsider in her own home. She always tried to create a peaceful and caring environment. Not managing to accomplish that, she would often spend time alone or taking care of stray animals in her neighborhood. Since a very young age, she has been very observant of people’s behaviors and interactions – or lack of interactions – recognizing patterns and repetitive behaviors. She would also pay close attention to nature and animals, noticing how more harmonious and peaceful they would coexist and lead together the course of their existence. These elements strongly shaped her personality towards being more aware of people and environments, being more compassionate, having a stronger drive for transformation and personal growth, and at the end of the day, choosing to be different – choosing to be herself.
Except for meeting her best friend at the age of 7 (which is as close as a sister to her since then), these 12 years were not fun. She didn’t like to play the girls’ games, and the boys were treating her competitively cause she was good at sports and probably also cause she didn’t behave as a more regular girl. At the age of 19, she came fully out to herself as well as to her parents. They both supported her about her sexuality. Soon after, she started to go online and found an mIRC chat room with women living in her city. Through this big chat room, she had the opportunity to feel like she was finally at the right place! She made great friends with whom she had an essential point in common: they were all just being true to themselves – at least during the chatting time.
She participated in running competitions and enjoyed very much running as fast as she could, which gave her a feeling of freedom. As a young adult, she started practicing snowboard which she absolutely adored.
She pursued a very intense two years training and then started working in a prestigious hair-salon. Being a hairdresser is one of the toughest professions, where standing and smiling is an 11-hour per day non-negotiable requirement.
the healthiest version of herself
The parade covered a walking distance of around 2.5 km. On that day, she was carrying a cane along with her, available to use in case she needed it. At that time, I was not fully aware of the situation of her health but was wondering about it. When we got to know each other better, I learned a lot on her MS, and she discovered my passion for sports and its value into my life. When Lucie and I got together as a couple in spring 2017, she taught me the importance of appreciating and living in the moment. She helped me give a different meaning to a nice mindful walk at the beautiful lake of Zurich rather than just having one more sweaty run fully focusing on my performance.
When Lucie told me that her legs were weak, in pain and got easily tired, I thought that she could benefit a lot from a carefully planned strengthening training. Such a plan could increase the strength of her legs and of her musculoskeletal system as a whole. So I put in place a workout plan based on her initial capabilities that she would perform without the need of any equipment. I still remember her starting almost hopelessly performing her very first squat and lunge with the aid of a supporting chair. The first repetition was already a victory. She impressed me with her strong will to fight against the weakness of her legs. She insisted on repeating her exercises often and had a tremendous improvement in her ability to walk and stand. Two years later, in a good and rested day, she is capable of doing a full-body workout in the morning and going for a 5km walk in the afternoon. Such a thing was unimaginable not too long ago. Now she doesn’t need any back-up cane while marching at the Zurich Pride or at any Gay Pride of the world. And guess what? She started snowboarding again!
Ithaka
Some bizarre tickling and burning sensations appeared as well as an extreme sense of lack of patience and tolerance towards others. Something was happening to her, and she couldn’t understand what. She ended up resigning from her work. Two weeks later, when she came back from an intense snowboarding weekend, she had persistent pain all over her body. Within a week, she couldn’t walk.
Her journey began involving painful treatments with intolerable side effects and on trying to figure out a new life from scratch. Her physical condition was varying a lot without knowing how the next day would be. She was able to walk short distances with breaks, but couldn’t walk up stairs or run or snowboard or anything involving too much standing or a good balance. Despite this very challenging turn of her life, she never lost her positive spirit and was always saying that others suffer more than her and that she will be alright.
Following a choice of logic, she had a four-year academic education and became a librarian/archivist. Not being able to find a job in Athens due to the economic crisis, and while starting to feel her body becoming more responsive and strong, she was ready to take further action. She and her then-girlfriend grabbed their dog and cat, jumped into their car, and said goodbye to Greece, starting a new adventure towards an unknown future.
All along this time, she had various professional experiences in libraries and archive facilities and also some additional higher-level studies within the same scientific field. She was connected and collaborated closely with people coming from all over the world. That helped her increase, even more, her understanding on diversity and on people’s behaviors and responses to situations.
Nutrition and Discipline
Another factor that undoubtedly increased her physical and mental performance was a significant change in her nutrition and cooking habits. Since April 2019, she reduced the consumption of processed foods, sugar, gluten, flour, pasta, legumes, dairy products, and alcohol. Additionally, she added much more water in her daily intake. She even had to reduce eating her favorite Ethiopian food, which was the toughest of all compromises! Challenging at first, but with persistence, she managed to sustain her efforts due to the incredible response of her body. Her stamina increased, her body pain and brain fog decreased, and her will to support others got stronger than ever realising how much power we have over our own body and mind.
Pride & Proud of Her
She did, though, experiment as a teenager with some boys but never reached a strong feeling of connection. In general, she always searched for powerful emotions, romance, and healthy companionship in her long-term relationships, and she found it. Twice! She had a 13-year commitment with a woman that today she calls her closest friend. (And one of mine too, by the way!) They grew up together, traveled through life’s challenges, and transformed into the amazing women they both are today, each one for her own reasons. It was through her that eventually, Lucie and I ended up meeting eachother, changing my life forever.
She needed more. She quit her secure corporate job and knew that now it was time to make a new professional choice coming from the heart – not the logic, not the wallet, not the safety, but the heart! After having an intense conversation together we clarified her dreams and her skills – which always ended up to be supporting others – and she decided to become a life coach and follow her true calling. She pursuit the best coaching program that totally matched her values and beliefs as a person. She found these qualities at the International Coaching Academy (ICA). She founded her studies with her savings, and leaped. That was the best decision she ever made!
Lucie will encourage you in every way that she can – no matter how well or not she knows you. She will never judge you and will always be empathetic towards you. She has always been supportive of every person that came through her path. This is how she acts towards me every single day!
Written by Vanessa, Switzerland, 2020
Certifications
- Coach Training Certification – International Coach Academy ACTP (Accredited Coach Training Program)
- Advanced Oxygen Advantage Instructor (on going training)