A Letter From: Certified Life Coach Riley
“I’d like to start off with saying “Thank you for your interest in my services and viewing my website! I cannot express enough how much it means every time someone new wonders on my site or reviews my social media posts. Never mind how happy it makes me, to see the difference any of my services make for them. “
Who am I used to be such a simple answer but as time has gone on so much has changed in my life. So much has transpired to make me into the woman I am today.
A simple response about who I was back in the day would have led to me telling you I was a Charismatic, Independent Young Lady with a Huge Personality that never took the word NO for an answer. I was a Relentless, Free-Spirited, Big Hearted Optimist/Realist with a level of determination like no one you ever met. People that truly know me would probably tell you there is a very short list of people that could have stopped me dead in my tracks but now a days there isn’t a person under the sun that could get me to change my mind once it is made up. Let alone a single way to stop me once I have decided not to stop besides myself. Sadly, the people on that short list have all passed away. The most recent person that passed away from my circle of support was my husband and that hit me hard. In a way I’m still the same person as I once was but in others, I feel like my whole world has changed which in ways greatly affected my whole being. Grief can do that sometimes, especially for those of us that are a widow or widower. In a big way when your spouse passes you go through a period of time where nothing feels right, where you question everything you say and do all because when you lost your spouse it also came with a huge list of other losses. Which is exactly why I took such a long time out on coaching. I needed to reconfigure my life and give myself time to sort of let the dust settle until I was able to see more clearly. I will say the trauma of widow brain is a real thing that really affected my life for quite some time. Thankfully, I believe I am finally on the other side of it but grief wise I struggle every day as do most widows. It has been quite the adjustment but one in which I feel opens me up to provide assistance to a whole new realm of clients and followers. As I hope to share my story and experiences as a widow to help others to feel as if they are not alone and that even though we feel so withdrawn from the world we still stand a chance of prospering if we find a way to focus on ourselves beyond the loss of our spouse.
Now that you’ve heard a bit about my here and now lets get into a bit about my past.
For such a young person, I always had my fair share of bad luck, mishaps, struggles and quite honestly grew up way before my time. However, somehow, I always found a way to keep a big smile on my face. Some days I didn’t know if I was the world’s best faker or if I just refused to let life take that from me to. When every one of my friends were playing with their toys or watching cartoons, I spent my days babysitting for multiple siblings, working with my dad, and brainstorming with my mom how to help my family be the family we knew we could be. If only, we could just get past all the obstacles that held us back. Growing up I spent a lot of time trying to fit in but also remained who I was while still keeping a divide between my family and the world around me because my dad was always a private person. In a way, I suppose that made me one too. My mom on the other hand she was always a bold, firecracker that didn’t really give a crap less what anyone thought if it didn’t suit her, she would do anything in her power to stake her claim, be heard and seen. She used to always tell me “Screw everyone who doesn’t love who you are, and all you bring to the table because you have one of the biggest hearts and you’re amazing for all you are.” She would tell me “That if someone didn’t see that, then they weren’t worth my time or effort.” She was one hell of a woman my mother.
Until my husband she was my very best friend in this entire world. She was my biggest cheerleader and the reason I strive for everything I ever had and do my very best every day to keep pressing forward toward my hopes and dreams. Everything I’ve ever done in this life was in spite of everything she’s ever taught me, hoped I’d be and wished for me.
I believe that everyone has a circle of people that they honor, trust and respect on different levels. I was raised to believe the only way to protect your own and everyone within that circle that matters most among all. Is to prioritize and keep everyone I love or hate as close or as far as it takes to allow myself to lay my head down on my pillow at night. Growing up my dad would tell me blood before water and my mom told me family is who you make it. As you can tell my parents came from two very different worlds, but they had a love most could only dream of. Those two worlds and all the chaos that wreaked havoc on my childhood and life are the details that spun me into the wild, big open hearted, free spirited, charismatic, goal getting, independent, spit fire, I am today! When I was a kid, I would have given anything to be like the other kids, living simple lives where their families got along. They just got to be a kid and live without a care in the world. Back then I had a lot of friends but till I met my husband I never knew anyone that understood the rage, anger or sorrow deep within my soul that I suppressed so long. I suppressed it all so I could be the best daughter, sister and granddaughter possible. Now you may be thinking perhaps I had a bad childhood after saying all the above, but the truth is my childhood was kind of beautiful. It was nothing short of crazy, outrageous, and definitely not the easiest one to have but regardless of the chaos that surrounded me I was raised with a lot of love, given chances to learn things that most people never get a chance to learn till their later years. In a way, when I was younger that kind of sucked but now that I’m an adult the experience was worth gold. I may not have always loved my life, but I love the woman it turned me into. I am strong, because of every fall I ever had and each moment that got me here is one stepping stone after the next that built me.
Everything That Got Me to Where I am Today
I was so blessed back then even though my childhood was not easy and had its fair share of issues. I had a mom and dad that loved me beyond words. They gave me 4 little siblings that mean the world to me and even though occasionally we fight. At a moment’s notice, if need be, we will drop everything to be there for each other depending on the severity of the situation. So, I truly love my Crazy Beautiful Family and life! I don’t know who I would be without each and every one of them. Even though my parents raised me, in a way I was raised by a village. My parents were young when they had me and when I was born everyone played a little role in molding me and my foundation. So, I like to give credit to each of the people that helped. I do this by saying I was raised by a village because without all of them teaching me their own morals, boundaries, religions, experience’s, struggles and so much more I wouldn’t be me. Some certainly could have done a bit better in some ways and there’s a lot of lessons I didn’t need to know so early in life. However, as I said before in the end looking back at each lesson no matter how much it affected me then it gave me strength, perseverance, dedication and follow through. I didn’t know how much I was going to need all of the above ingredients that made me who I am until after Aug 2019 when my best friend, love of my life, Knight and Shining Armour / Husband Jimmy Riley passed away unexpectedly at 36 years old. That was the day my heart broke, that’s the day I believe the universe had been building my survival skills for my whole life. It was the last day of my life as I knew it and the one after was the first of a whole new world.
For More See My Future Inspired Widow & Widowers
How I Got Here & Why I Do What I Do!!!
Back in 2018, I had this grand plan of using all my life experiences to help people like myself, my husband and family members. People who felt out of place, different, unconfident, unsure, curious, lost or angry. People that grew up in family settings where finances or family held them back, who felt out of place, were left out in the dirt or just lived through complex scenarios and were not taught how to manage their life in a way that would help them reach the type of hopes and dreams that at the time may feel impossible. I want to help the survivors of the world not just survive, I want to help them thrive! I want to help the people that were told they can’t ! Learn how to show everyone that ever told them just how wrong they were. I want to be the light that spreads motivation to those that can’t find it but go to bed praying for a chance or extra hand every day.
In May 2018, I passed my Certified Life Coaching Course and proceeded to take the steps that lead me here today. Funny looking back, I had so many great plans and each step I took through the process brought me so many beautiful directions. I started this thing with a blog called the Crazy Beautiful Pursuit of Life. Which grew into me opening my life coaching business Crazy Beautiful Life Solutions. Which somehow along the way spun into CB Life Solutions. During this process, my blog traveled far and wide. I was so excited everyday shouting, jumping up and down about the map lighting up on my WordPress account to represent all the places in the world people were reading my blog from. My husband and I would celebrate everyday while I covered my bed in tons of papers trying to build coaching programs and rough drafts for different blog ideas. At the time my social media was kicking ass with followers. I was meeting so many new people from all over the world online. Chatting with them learning about new places, life experiences and so much more. So much, so that I started wanting to broaden my horizons and others by not just sharing my story or life experience but to actually start helping others to share theirs as well. You see I am a firm believer in knowledge! Some people will tell you money can buy you anything but at the end of the day it can’t. There are things in this life that you can only gain by experience, the adventure, the scars you gain from wars won, and from falling on your face a few times. Life is a journey that is meant to be lived, it’s meant to be experienced, enjoyed, and sometimes even down right hated! However, what you choose to do with the memory and energies from those moments is up to you. For me it took a bit of time to get back on my feet after I lost my husband. If you want to hear about that experience, follow my blog and check out this link.
However, when he passed away, I went through some very dark times, and I closed everything down to protect myself and everything I had left. It was a time for mourning, grieving and rebuilding. Which leads me to, how I started going by my last name Riley and Why I chose the name Rising with Riley as my website, tag and everything! I felt this whole new world ahead of me needed a new title, headline, and new inspiration. Although, just because I was ready to move forward didn’t mean I wanted to forget the woman and man I was leaving behind. So, in honor of my husband and the woman I became because I had him by my side. I now go by Riley, and I figured what would be more fitting since I was starting over and rebuilding to call my business Rising with Riley. As I always say “Every step I take is a stepping stone toward my hopes and dreams.” The way I see it is each new client or follower that takes my guidance or assistance, that reads my blog or grows in any way shape or form from crossing my path is just one more soul that is rising with me toward the future.
How You Choose to Live Your Life Is Your Choice & Yours Alone but Here’s My Perspective of a Human Life!
The truth is from my prospective it is not easy growing up for anyone. Our foundations are built of the morals and thoughts of those before us! They are built off our guardians thoughts & beliefs. As I said before I was raised by a village and each of the people, I consider part of that village taught me from their own experiences. I was raised by my parents and like any kid as we grow and meet new people, learn at school or take on new experiences. All of which then start to transform our thoughts on life, religions, values, morals, ideas, dreams, goals, and so much more. As we pick and choose through all the parts instilled in us and all the new details life has to offer around us we grow. I always like to call babies, little sponges that just sit there and absorb all the energies and knowledge around them. As they grow, in my mind they somehow grow into beautiful, amazing young minds that become curious, wild, shy or bewildered. At this point, your guardians are usually still in charge of your direction, trying to force their own ideals, hopes, dreams and values on you. Hopefully, they try to keep you safe, point you in the right direction and give you the type of support you deserve but sometimes people don’t know how to do that. Which is generally, what leads to people taking a longer path to peace, happiness, stability, structure, balance and last but not least personal success.
The truth is some will tell you success looks like some model, in a fancy car, living in a big house, that has the weekends off and travels all over the world whenever they want. Now, I’m going to be very frank here when I say “If that’s your life or what you want to be your life, than more power to you but all the material things under the sun don’t bring you success it just brings you more crap to take care of or manage. Ever hear the words “More Money, More Problems” well that’s what it looks like! Constant management of all your belongings, the upkeep, the maintenance and etc. If that’s what you’re looking for I can help teach you the skills it takes to better manage your life and help you build a plan of action to reach all the above like most life coaches. Although, my specialty is helping people find who they are when they just aren’t sure anymore. I help those who are unsure of what they want out of life when they are lost and then I help them build a plan of action towards their own version of personal success. To some that may be a life of simplicity, travel, a career, building a family, better managing the life they have built already but that may need some fine tuning. At the end of my day, there is nothing more beautiful than helping someone realize their own true potential, assisting them in building the confidence and motivation it takes to help them grow beyond the things that hold them back! Helping someone to take the parts of their past that may have left scars. All while teaching them how to take that negative energy and spin it into positive vibes. Teaching them how to own their zone, stand up tall and turn all their energies good or bad into the type of power that feeds their soul. Power that assists them in getting them back up when they fall down or gives them enough strength when they go into their reserves to help them reach towards the life they have always wanted, deserve and have strived for.
Here’s the thing I am no therapist, I’m not a counselor, I don’t have a doctorate, I didn’t even go to college. I did trade school though but nor for life coaching. However, I am a life coach and people come to me to help them better manage their life, to assist them in finding motivation, direction and solutions that will help them grow! I think of people as flowers, we all go through different stages of growth. As a life coach I am much like a gardener, I assist the flower in the growing process by helping it to find the ingredients it needs to reach its full potential and maximum growth.
Beyond My Life Coaching Career & Past Life, Who Am I?
I am a Daughter, Sister, Widow, Aunt, Granddaughter, Niece, Friend, Girlfriend, Gardener, Snorkeler, Traveler, Artist, Blog Writer (Maybe not the best but I give it all I have.) I’m a Bird Trainer & Groomer, Insect Breeder, Crafter and I run a Free Talk and Support Group. Last but not least I am a mother of 2 cats named Luna June and Comet, along with several fish, 2 tarantulas, 2 tree frogs, a gecko, bearded dragon and tons of baby insects looking to be adopted by a good home! People always freak when I tell them about my bugs but to me its a great and fun hobby. I love all my babies. Every day when I get home from work, I feed everyone and watch my fish eat, swim and be merry. Something about it brings me peace and solace. It reminds of many memorable moments, I shared with my grandfather growing up and my late husband.
Things I Love to Do:
My most favorite things to do include going to the beach, swimming or floating along anywhere, going on vacations, strolls through parks, site seeing, adventures, hanging out or talking to my loved ones, watching my favorite television shows, gardening, snorkeling, working on fish tanks along with all types of animals, interior design, organizing stuff, photography, creating art like painting, sketching, drawing, graphic design, writing stories, songs, and blogs. I love singing, dancing, playing pool, card games, chess, checkers, playing darts, monopoly, the game of life, clue, yahtzee, learning new things, and so much more.
What Piques My Interest:
Things I take interest in because I genuinely consider myself a good person, I have a big heart and love this universe along with all that lives in it. I enjoy helping people grow and bloom into who they deserve and want to be in spite of what they have been through. I love helping and seeing people find justice, solutions, peace and happiness. Since I was a baby, I have always been head over hills in love, with life, nature and animals. Growing up, I always had an interest in all types of animals but when I was old enough to work. I started working in the pet industry. Where I learned tons of amazing things about not just animals but also business, customer service, planogramming, sales and so much more that I have used every day throughout my life. Since then, I have owned a traveling pet service company, where I successfully groomed, trained, cared for, taught about, showed, rehabbed and rehomed many animals. I did this full time and part time for close to 14 years until I decided to close down and move on into life coaching. I won’t say I don’t still dabble in the pet world because since I closed down, I still see several of my clients on the regular but just don’t advertise my services anymore. As for rehabbing, caring for and training animals I do that on a base-by-base process now. When I do it is only to help them keep the homes they have already or to help them to find new ones that better suit their needs. Every once in a while, someone will hear about my knowledge and experience, or I’ll come across an animal that piques my interest in working with and then I do. However, now a days its more for the love of the animals and not financial gain. I have since let my interest in working with animals on the regular go. Another interest of mine was I always loved playing with hair, make up, nails and helping people look the part they want to look that makes them feel good about themselves. So, growing up I went to school for cosmetology, which also taught me a lot not just about hair, make up, nails and skin, but also business management. There is nothing more in this world that interests me than building a business that helps me to help people like myself and my loved ones. However, I love learning different ways to keep good health and wellness. It inspires me seeing different ways people choose to look. What they like to wear, how they dress, what make up they wear, what different hair designs they try, what new ways to do make up as well as following fun exciting trendy ways that people use to express their personality on the outside not just their inside. I think there is something so beautiful about life and how people and other life forms live it or choose to express themselves.
My Hopes and Dreams for Myself
I’ll start with my dreams:
If I’m going to be honest, I have been very blessed and reached many of my life goals. There are several that still exist that I work toward every day along with a few others I gave up on long ago that may have recently had the doors to reopen, now where they once no longer were. My biggest dream is buying a home with a big tub, window seat with a cushion, a wall I can turn into a library, a garage to place all my tools so I can build and refurbish anything I want, whenever I want. I hope I can find a home I can renovate and turn into my very own. One where I can turn a whole wall into huge fish tank, I can snorkel in! A big back yard, where I can grow all the fruits, vegetables, herbs and flowers I want. A huge fence for privacy with one big kick ass pond that surrounds a gazebo where I can relax, meditate, work out or do yoga while I watch my fish and turtles live, eat and be merry. I want a pool I can swim in whenever I want, a hot tub so I can soak and rejuvenate after a long day. As well as a big enough space to house family events and maybe even have enough space so if any of my loved ones are ever down on their luck, they always know they have a place to go. I even want to take 3 decent size vacations a year. One focused on kicking back and relaxing, the next on a new adventure to somewhere I’ve never been to so I can experience new things, and my third based on family. I’d love to get a good tradition going around my late husband’s death day and mother’s birthday to where my family and I just come together to be who we are at our roots, not just who we are every day in the real world. Other than all the above, I have a long ass bucket list of insane experiences I want to have, places I dream of seeing, and adventures I’d love to experience!
As for my business dreams, I really just hope one day I can build Rise with Riley successful enough that I can help as many people as possible to live their best life. I hope I can build my blog, future podcast and Talk and Support Group up enough so I can inspire people all over to world to love themselves, own their zone and grow beyond their means. I hope to find a way to network with other entrepreneurs with similar goals so I can create Health and Wellness Retreats in remote places or be successful enough to build and create a Retreat where I can hire like-minded entrepreneurs that specialize in different specialties that can also help me help others.
Now for My Hopes:
I hope all the above happens, but the truth is even if none it does, I’ve already lived a life worth living. I took care of my mother and grandmother till the day they died, I helped my siblings into adulthood, I’ve been the best aunt I could be and have done my very best to instill every bit of wisdom I can into them and will till the day I die. I married the man I said I wanted to marry when I was 14 years old, we lived maybe not the best life, but it was one hell of a wild adventure, commitment and love story I wouldn’t trade anything in the world for. Anything that happens within my new life moving forward in my eyes is a bonus beyond my past life. The reason I wake up every morning is to make sure my siblings always have someone to be there at their side when no one else can be there. To build a new life that can inspire my nieces and nephews to grow into the people they want to be most without hesitation. To follow in my father’s footsteps by never letting life or the people that didn’t think I’d make it win. My dad has always been my hero, there is no one stronger or more capable man I know who is capable of the impossible than him. I would only be so lucky to accomplish a quarter of what he has accomplished. To go to sleep every night knowing I made my mom and grandma proud. But most of all to live as long as I can and check off as many boxes on my checklist as I can. This was when I reach the other side which I really hope and pray is there. I get to see all the people I have lost along the way. Including my late husband because he promised he’d be sitting on the other side with all my pets waiting for me on some bench. He said he’d be waiting for me to tell him everything I did that he missed out on because his time was up. In return, I hope he will share his story with me as well and then I hope to have one kick ass family party and hug my poppy because I have missed him for a very long time. Here’s the thing I have some big very specific dreams and I may not achieve them all. Some might even be bit much but at the end of the day what I am trying to express to you is life is what you make it. You are the only person that controls your direction, when you choose to shoot for the stars and even when you choose to settle. So, with that being said don’t short change yourself! Shoot for the stars and if you don’t make it keep trying until you do! I believe in you.
Well, that’s all for now folks! I hope this long yet brief bio about myself gives you a little bit of knowledge about who I am, where I come from, what I stand for and what I’m shooting for moving forward. For more stay tuned and follow my blog to follow my journey and see where it takes me next along this Crazy Beautiful Pursuit of Life!!!
Life Is Too Short to Waste! EMPOWER Yourself to Pursue the Life You Most DESIRE! 