The world pulls at us constantly. Expectations. Noise. Fear.
And it’s so easy to lose ourselves in the chaos. But there’s real power in coming back to yourself – to your truth, your needs, your energy.
In this reflection, I share a deeply personal story of identity, grief, and what it took to return to centre.
The world pulls at us constantly.
Expectations.
Noise.
Fear.
It’s easy to lose ourselves in it all.
But there’s a quiet power in choosing to come back to your centre.
Again and again.
To remember who you are beneath the labels.
To return to your breath.
Your truth.
Your energy.
Every time you choose alignment over approval,
Truth over people-pleasing,
You come home to yourself.
For me, that choice came wrapped in a label I had deeply identified with.
The Power of Coming Back to Yourself
For almost seven years, I was a volunteer with St John Ambulance NI.
It wasn’t just a role—it was a calling.
It shaped me. Strengthened me.
It became a core part of who I was.
My identity.
It was adrenaline, laughter, grit, friendship, compassion, and courage.
It was standing shoulder to shoulder with my crew during a pandemic.
Sugar-fuelled giggles on patient transport shifts.
Mud-soaked Moto X events.
Rocking out at Iron Maiden gigs.
Quiet moments in ambulances.
Standby at racetracks.
It was life in motion.
Service.
It was love.
But eventually, it became too much.
Life was pulling me in too many directions. And as much as I loved it—still love it—I had to choose myself.
Because what I didn’t see at the time was that St John had also become a lifeline.
A beautiful distraction that held me when my mum was dying.
My unit surrounded me with support and purpose in those months after she passed. But in the busyness, I hadn’t had space to grieve.
I’d thrown myself into service.
And it eventually caught up with me.
So I made the hardest choice:
I stepped back.
I returned to me.
And even now—especially at this time of year, when Facebook memories show photos of those unforgettable times—I still feel the pull.
The ache.
The question: Should I go back?
But then I remember…
If I don’t look after me, how can I possibly serve anyone else?
So I breathe.
I anchor.
I come home to my centre.
Your Turn:
What would shift for you if you chose to come back to your centre today?
Is there something you’re clinging to that once served you—but now needs releasing?
With love,
Debi x
