From Struggle to Strength: Myrna Lapres’s Journey

Written by: Myrna Lapres

Some years ago, I found myself in a multi-level parking garage at the MARTA station in Atlanta, walking around clicking my remote to locate my car. That morning, in my haste to arrive at my destination on time, I had failed to make note of which level and section I parked in. After 20 minutes, I heard the faint beep several levels below. I finally found my car!

Once in my car and on my way home, I began to think about how this incident applied to my own life. I am a doer! I thrive on organizing, making lists, accomplishing tasks, getting things done. On my healing journey, I have begun to realize that it is my way of making order out of chaos. It is my “safe place” where I don’t deal with feelings and emotions.

However, I am also learning this stops me from being present. Being a doer keeps me from connecting to myself, my family, and my loved ones on a deeper level. How often am I not present to my impact on my husband because I am caught up in getting a project completed? When was the last time that I missed the cues in my son’s voice as he wanted to tell me more about the challenges of balancing work, life, family, and the addition of a new baby? Wasn’t it just yesterday that I complained about the tension in my shoulders without realizing that I am not making enough time for self-care?

So, how does one undo years of “doing” and grow to be more present? First, it must start with being more connected to myself. For me, the awareness began a long time ago, but I fought it tooth and nail, always falling back into what I knew—the familiarity of doing. But over ten years ago, my husband and I moved from California to Georgia for his work and I found myself without all the “doer hats” that I had been wearing.

I struggled to find what I was supposed to “do.”  I read “Who Moved the Cheese?” “What Color is My Parachute?” and I did a lot of crying, praying, and meditating. Joining a yoga studio gave me the opportunity to become more self-aware and taught me incredible lessons about being more flexible and letting things flow. Joining a community band allowed me to reconnect with the love and joy of creating music with others while playing my flute.

During these past years, I have discovered my passion for working with others as they begin to heal their relationships and their families. Repeatedly, I have been reminded that healing is a process of being intentional, it takes presence and involves peeling back layer after layer to discover our true self. It begins with the willingness to do the work.​“

Recovery of Your Inner Child” is a book that helped me on my healing journey. The author Lucia Capacchione says, “For us to be fully human, the Child Within must be embraced and expressed…Inside every adult, there is a child crying, ‘Let me out.’” 

My recent inspiration is working in partnership with Heavenly Parent, our creator—not just relying on my own abilities to plan and conduct activities but checking in with Heavenly Parent to see if this is my best next step or if I should have a different focus. Mother Moon said in her memoir, “It is women whom our Heavenly Parent is calling to serve as the mediators of forgiving, purifying and regenerating grace to all humanity.”

This is my hope—to be a mediator, facilitator, and supporter of others. And it starts with finding that love, joy, and grace within. I believe that on our journey in life, one of the most profound things that we can offer others—partners, children, parents, friends, co-workers, bosses, neighbors—is our own healing and growth towards being a more loving person.

Visit www.coachmyrna.org to learn more about Myrna Lapres and her work.