GRACE… Soul Dive celebrates 6 months this Saturday
Dear Soul Dive,
This Saturday we celebrate 6 months of Soul Dive. Not sure about half-birthdays? Stick with me here as we reroll the tape a little bit during this gratitude exercise… I can assure you, I never woke up one day and said, “what I really want is a studio.” And I definitely never said, “oh please let it be in a place that gets hotter than the sun’s surface 3 months a year.” Nope. I planned on relocating from Chicago to the beach, starting over with sandy hair and a steady income. But what we can all agree on, is if it’s supposed to be it will be so. There is no fighting divine order. Just trust me, I’ve tried. It was through curious inquiry that the lease for this space even ended up in my inbox just days before I got fired (from an insurance startup, and I’m sure none of you can visualize me pedaling insurance). Call it a universal conspiracy or something meant to be like the sweet kiss at the end of a Hallmark movie, the seed for this place and the budding fresh chapter of my life was clearly planted and watered unbeknownst to me. Funny how that works… when you know, but you’re not aware yet.
We got the lease signed last April. It took 9 months to get the keys. I hope you all love the front door... Bless its sweet black iron heart. We got the keys on September 14th and launched Operation Beautification right away. The work was done on September 27th. I walked into the space with Chelsea and Shannon (whom I barely knew at the time) to a full-blown construction site. Leesann and the others were there too. I had my first meeting with Bella (can you picture it - Alex covered in construction, Bella the sound Goddess) sitting on the curb. These women showed up to a pile of dirt and then kept showing up as Soul Dive emerged into the beautiful, serene space it is today. Their footprints are all over the space. Each of them rolled up their sleeves and got their hands dirty. None of them knew me prior. They all just had a feeling this was going to be something special and they dug in to help make it so.
October 1 is a day I won’t soon forget.
Most of the people that came to celebrate our opening are still a part of our community today. We had some new business challenges right out of the gate. Software glitches, account errors, you name it. All pretty standard stuff. The people who kept showing up for us displayed grace. Those who wouldn’t give us a second chance, well the door is always open for you to come back to your mat. For the better part of 2 weeks, I feared my own email inbox. People can be mean, unforgiving, and relentless. Even those who know better. I’ve learned so much about opening my second business in this post-Covid era. What I can say is this: Trusting the process of divine order is the only way to go. The right people find you and the wrong people get plucked out like someone hit the ejection seat button. Most of all, we don’t have to like any of it, we just need to trust.
Grace is what got us here. The very fact that we are imperfect beings living in a constant state of change makes our work challenging. We have learned so much in 6 months and are constantly evolving to make our process and space as beautiful and special as we possibly can. Our schedule has expanded, our workshops are robust and our teaching team has blossomed. I have no doubt this is what I’m supposed to be doing. To my teachers - thank you for your faith in my leadership and your trust. To our students - thank you for your grace. This place was built out of a palpable passion for you - yes you, people I didn’t even know. And you feel it. It's what keeps you coming back day in and day out.
As we embark upon the next 6 months, please do us a small favor… Tell your friends. Soul Dive has so much room for growth. We rooted hard and built an unshakable foundation. Now it’s time to expand.
Saturday’s 10 am class will be similar to the experience on October 1 (only with far less chaos). You’ll hear from me, Jess, Chelsea, Leesann, Shannon, and possibly others. Come celebrate with us and as you do, take a look around. You helped make this place a reality. I can’t tell you how grateful I am that I was able to build such a place at such a time as this. It is remarkable what can go down in a year… But none of it happens without Grace.
Happy half-birthday, Soul Dive.
With Grace and Gratitude,