When the past comes knocking

A story about unexpectedly meeting an old version of (my)self, and the reflections that can ensue (July 5th 2026)

Have you ever made or been part of a time capsule? Very often, you hear about schools or even towns creating a time capsule, sharing a moment in time with future generations. As I was writing these words, I'm not sure whether I contributed to one or if my memory is playing tricks on me.

Last weekend, I opened up a very different kind of time capsule, and trust me when I say, it was more incredible and wild than I could have ever imagined.

It started when Sally suggested some of us meet soon for a BBQ and catch up. I haven't seen Sally in more than 30 years, and some of the other people invited, even longer than that! I was excited. I was also a little nervous.

When I was about 15, a group of volunteers arrived in the place where I grew up. The concept was simple: people came over from all over the world to work and help out, while in return, receiving a place to stay, all their meals and some pocket money.

For these people, this was a unique way of travelling, meeting people and seeing the world. For me, these people brought a world I didn't have access to. They brought a sense of freedom and introduced me to a world far beyond my wildest imagination. I was given a chance to explore life outside the community where I lived, and play around with possibilities that I, too, would one day be able to fly out of the nest and create a different life from the one I was living.

Sally was one of these volunteers. Alex, Claire and Sarah, too. Meeting them over the weekend landed me back in the time when we first met. All the memories - not only of the mischief, the day-to-day, the ups, the downs and everything in between. Meeting with these incredible people brought back my own sense of self, time-stamped to way before any of my grown-up life had started.

I remembered a version of me that wasn't scared of standing up to things that bothered me, like injustice, or how 'The Man' was making demands and sharing expectations about how life should be. I was reminded of a time when believing in the good of people was more automatic, and a version of me that had not yet understood what it meant to hide behind self-created limitations, fear-based compromises or the one that forgot that anything I wanted was simply on the other side of the decision to have it, make it or be it.

Meeting with Sally, Alex, Claire and Sarah was magical. For a moment, I was with people who knew me way before I knew myself. They loved me then, and they love me now. The 30-odd years since the last time we hugged were wiped away the moment we saw each other again.

I didn't know what it would be like meeting these wonderful people again, after all this time, but it brought a sense of awareness of how far I've come in the time since we met, and the chance to reflect on things I wanted to do vs the ones I actually did do, and to remind myself I still can. Because I am a part of a wider sense of people, of love, of being, and all I need to do is be. Nothing more, nothing less.

I guess some people have this sensation when they go back to their parents' house, to their old rooms and the old neighbours. Many times, this time-travel brings a sense of distance, as if the ones who were left behind got stuck in the past, while the people who left have had a whole lifetime of stories and adventures they can now share.

If you took a moment to pause for a moment, and think back to your youth days, what would come up?
- What did you use to dream about?
- What did you imagine would come out of you?
- What did you think would always be a part of you? And is it still there?
- What got you going? The one thing everyone who knew you knew about you?
- What would that young version of you make of the person you are today?
- What is one thing you would bring back into your current life that you used to do then?
- What are three words you could use to describe yourself at: age 9, age 16? age 20?
- Will you use the same words to describe yourself today? (Is that a good thing, or a sad one?)
- What is this reflection helping you realise about the person you are today?
- What is one thing you might choose to do differently now that brings you more into alignment with the person you always knew (or hoped?) you can be?

At the end of the reunion, another beautiful surprise awaited, and I got to meet Sue, with whom I did The Power of Eight masterclass. It was a delight to meet in person, and the funny thing is, it really did feel like Sue met the old version of me, the one who had a heart so full, having spent awesome time with her heart people.

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Dottie's Corner

Sometimes I have to be a little more forceful when it comes to people sitting in my favourite place on the sofa.
It goes like this...
I come back from some important activity, only to find a HUUMAN sitting in my seat like they own this place!
So I stand next to the sofa and give them a hot stare. If that fails, I make a special turkey sound I once picked up at a summer school.
If this fails, I start humping (that usually gets their immediate attention, I must say), and that's usually when they move over, help me onto the sofa, and I can finally rest my head, doing my favourite thing in my favourite place on the sofa!!

I work extensively with people to help them transform their lives from fears, limitations and compromises, to harmony, alignment and joy, or in other words, helping people find natural healing to mind, body and soul.

To chat about your own situation and how my methods can help, please book a chat using the link: https://calendly.com/einav-4/coaching-discovery-call

einav x