by AnnSheybani | Oct 13, 2013 | adventure, Authenticity, Boundaries, coaching, Codependency, Confidence, Daddy Hole, desire, Empty nest syndrome, expectations, extreem dependency, goals, Honesty, identity, Iran, Life, life transitions, marathon, mistakes, mountain climbing, nice girl complex, people pleasing, purpose, reinvention, risk, running, Self love, Starting Over, voice
Once upon a time I was an aimless girl who twisted herself into a little pretzel to win over a man. He was a decent man, with his own complexes and flaws, who led me down the primrose path into the Islamic Republic of Iran. This did not go well. As with any episode in...
by AnnSheybani | Oct 6, 2013 | adventure, Confidence, Courage, Denali, Driving Miss Daisy, extreem dependency, Fearless Living, Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway, Ireland, Reading, route finding, tenacity
I’m learning to drive all over again in Ireland. This doesn’t sound like a big deal, I know, but it feels death defying. Most of the time, I pretty much want to scream and cry, or blame my misery on horrible Walt. Smug Walt. Gasp-y Walt. The Irish, for whatever...
by AnnSheybani | Sep 29, 2013 | Confidence, connection, George Sheehan, identity, Iran, Islamic modesty, Life, marathon, reinvention, running, Running to Win
In grade school, I was one of those kids, the kind no one picked for their team. Instead, I lurked on the sidelines with Arlene, a fragile girl with Bambi eyes, and Joanne, a chubby thing with an attitude problem. The trouble with me was that I refused to...
by AnnSheybani | Sep 16, 2013 | Alcoholic rules, Alcoholism, Confidence, confrontation, Courage, Honesty, Intimacy, Life, marriage, nice girl complex, passive aggressive, people pleasing, rage, risk, Self-Esteem, tension, voice, Walt Hampton
Want to know the secret to personal power? I’m talking Wonder Woman red-cape-wearing power. The ability to stay steady when other people—people that you love and/or need—become angry, sad, or disappointed. Particularly when you’ve (supposedly) done or said something...
by AnnSheybani | Aug 18, 2013 | attachment, Authenticity, Boundaries, choosing a mate, Codependency, Confidence, connection, Courage, dating, expectations, Honesty, Intimacy, limiting beliefs, love, manipulation, misinterpretation, mistakes, narcissism, people pleasing, risk, Self-Esteem, Walt Hampton
I received an e-mail this week that speaks to so many of us raised in alcoholic households. I just went through a breakup again on Saturday. My 34th birthday. There were many things wrong. Mostly, yet again, I was giving it 100 percent and not getting enough back. He...
by AnnSheybani | Jul 29, 2013 | coaching, Confidence, connection, Courage, desire, goals, running, Self-Esteem, tenacity, weight lifting
I attended an exercise boot camp at a local gym this past Friday. Three days later, I can barely walk. Walt keeps making fun of me because every time I bend over, I make these awful sounds. Compassion, as you can see, is not his strong suit. I’m coaching a group of...
