One of the things I struggle with most in my work is telling people what I do and explaining how I do it. Somehow, I’m always short of words, and whatever I come up with feels so dull compared to the magic that unfolds in the room between my clients and me. Perhaps it’s my difficulty with blowing my own trumpet, or maybe it’s simply because I need to see my work through the eyes of my clients.
A couple of weeks ago, I received this beautiful letter from a client I love working with. I am constantly in awe of her beautiful healing journey. With her permission, I’m sharing it here, word for word, without changing or editing anything—apart from her name.
So, this time, I’ll let her words speak for me. She does so beautifully what I sometimes struggle to do.
“So, where do I begin? I am filled with gratitude for you and in awe of the amount of knowledge you have, your ability to make it accessible, to connect the dots, and to do it all completely without judgment.
Your approach of focusing not on taking things away, but rather on adding things in, is something I have adopted and am actually managing to live by.
When we started our conversations, I was skeptical. For years, I had been carrying the feeling that nothing would help me, that I was addicted and that there was no solution. I even spent two years in OA and tried all kinds of approaches and steps and self-reflection. But before I spoke, I always had to say, “I’m Anna and I’m an addict,” or “I’m a compulsive eater,” and I always struggled with that. Because when I say, “I’m an addict,” what chance do I have of changing anything?
Later, I started having sessions with a nutritionist who works with a non-diet approach. I met with him several times over Zoom. His approach was really nice, he gave me permission to feel, asked me to keep a food journal, to notice how I felt before and after eating, but he legitimised eating a bit too much without paying attention to quality, and I ended up gaining three kilos.
And then there was something about our conversations: your knowledge, the way you make it accessible, your listening, the fact that I came out from our sessions on a high, with a desire to actually do what we had talked about, and then followed through during the rest of the week. All of this, together with the complete lack of judgment from you and your availability, created an enormous change for me.
I was very worried at the beginning. I was afraid you would tell me to do things I wouldn’t be able to do, that you would demand that I completely give up sugar and chocolate, and that you wouldn’t understand me.
And now, suddenly, my cravings for sweets have decreased and my habits are beginning to change. I go to the supermarket and shop without buying something sweet. I go to the organic shop to load up on good food. Just recently I was there and felt like treating myself with something, there is a lovely café there. I simply asked myself what I needed at that moment and realised that what I really wanted was to sit at home and have a nourishing breakfast.
At the beginning of the summer holiday, all I wanted was to escape the house and go to cafés. And suddenly, I feel comfortable at home. I am eating regularly. Yesterday I organised the bookcase in the living room and got rid of things. I booked ten Watsu treatments for myself. I am much more attentive, relaxed, and take time to rest. I even finally took care of myself and had my IUD removed, which I had completely forgotten about, and booked other appointments that I had been putting off.
So I simply had to write and thank you.
I know you’re modest and don’t like hearing that everything is thanks to you, so I won’t say it’s all because of you. But you have helped me enormously through this process. You helped me move forward, and you are simply a blessing. Anyone who goes through a process with you is lucky to have you.
We started with nutrition, and look where we ended up. Even my psoriasis has improved a little, and I have genuinely learned that this is a process that takes time.
My whole way of eating has changed, more listening to myself, making choices that feel better for me, and suddenly I actually enjoy being in the kitchen and preparing good food for myself.”
She calls me “modest” but it’s not really that. It’s the realisation that my role is that of a facilitator. My clients must place themselves behind the steering wheel of their own healing journey. I’m here to mainly listen, create a safe space, share my knowledge and offer support. For most people, that’s already a lot.
I hope her words inspire you.
Galit
