001: Who Am I and What am I to You

You are listening to the Lifestyle Emporium podcast episode number 1.

My name is Ellen Meyer I am delighted to welcome you to your new gathering place,a hub of fresh encounters, inspiration, courage and life skillsthat will help you realize and fulfil the purpose that you have been created for – while living in joy and abundance throughout the journey. This is the debut episode of – an interactive conversational lifestyle podcast and this is the moment where we get better acquainted with each other and where you receive a glimpse of what you could expect during our time together.

 Let me start by preparing you: I am THE imperfect perfectionist. Love things to be perfect, but it has for far too long ruled my life and prevented me from going forward because I found a flaw or imperfection somewhere. My aim is not create a perfectly professional podcast – heck, you may even hear a cow moo as I record from my office in our little Swiss farm village. But it is meant to add value to your life and link our hearts. I see it as a declaration that Progress is better than perfection.

Goals for the Podcast

I have many goals for this podcast, but by far the most important is to be a companion, a friend AND to connect you with others who are – just like you – hoping to connect and be inspired.  As I share about my journey in finding purpose and joy in doing that which I was created to do – it is my greatest hope that I will be able to help YOU find your reason for being, your perfect design and purpose. I want to help you find your place.  Also, if I am honest, I have realised that for a big part of my life I was often consumed with whatever occupied me for that season. An intense work schedule, moving around, starting new ventures or parenthood often left me pre-occupied and frankly overwhelmed. Looking back now I wonder if all that overwhelm – did not prevent me from being better friend, a better sister or leader. Though there is nothing I can do about the past – I look FORWARD to come alongside you now to walk with you in friendship.

 As a bit of a nomad – I have made friends all around the world, but time and distance prevents us from meeting face to face to have a coffee, pour our hearts out, be a sounding board and lift each other up or share advice or even recipes. This podcast is one of the ways I am using to foster that kind of friendship. So to my old friends and the new ones I am about to meet through this podcast, I am reaching out to you today. I would like to hang out with you while you are on your lunch break at work or sitting in a traffic jam, whether you are an entrepreneur girl boss or whether you are steadily working through endless mountains of laundry or nursing your new-born baby.

 This is for you single ladies or the married ones, the woman in transition or the trailing spouse. It is for anyone who is hurting and no idea how to cope with the grief… and for each of us with hopes and dreams that just needs someone along for the journey and a little wisdom and encouragement for a new day. If you need someone to accompany you or believe in you, I AM YOUR girl and this – is where you belong.

Isolation as a Turning Point

The idea for this podcast was birthed during a time, when I experienced the debilitating effects of isolation.I am not talking about the kind of so solitude that all of us need from time to time – the kind where we draw away to be refreshed and are able to strategize ways through the maze in our minds and lives. No – I am talking about isolation. The loneliness where you feel that there is no one to reach out to, the kind that you carry with you whether you are in a crowded room or all alone.  This kind of isolation tells us lies about our life and our value,it leaves us feeling vulnerable and often, instead of reaching out – we draw deeper into our shell. It was during one of these timesthat it became clear to me that I was standing at a crossroads- I was faced with a choice:I could give in to despair – which would swallow me like quicksand or I could make this a turning point.

I realised – if I wanted friendship, true uplifting friendship – I need to DO something;I need to BE a friend.I need to BE the friend that I long to have and whom I know that I need. Whether you are an extrovert or an introvert – there is scientific evidence that we need other humans. We need to interact; we need to share and to be heard. We need each other. 

There was a point in my life where I was a social phenomenon– I was always surrounded by people and friends, hosting or arranging parties or meet ups. A few years down the line, I hardly recognized my life. Away from my home country and friends, I felt isolated and confined in a foreign culture with a foreign language – I was desperately lonely and unconnected. My gift for connecting people was wasted in place where I was not able to communicate well or break down the walls of a different culture. I felt trapped. Can anyone relate?

Thankfully – I realised that I have some choices to make – and I do have the power to make them. I realised that this could be the turning point - to not only pull myself out of this place where I was stuck – but reach out to the thousands of women who -  I came to realise -  were in the exact same position than I was. I realised that I was NOT limited by where I happened to live, as I am able to reach the world without leaving my home. 

I know we are overloaded with media and messages. Yet it is my hope that this podcastwill not just be something that you mindlessly listen to, but that you will take it all inin, engage, interact and allow it to become a part of a transformational experience.Even more importantly – I hope that this will be a way of linking our lives, sharing stories and truly helping you to find you’re your place in the world. The world is dealing with an “isolation” epidemic. While independence can be a good thing, an individualistic lifestyle leaves us ultimately weaker than we could bewhen we put our big beautiful hearts and mindstogether. Frankly, life could be so much richer if we reach out and make an effort. It may start with a podcast, but how wonderful if it can go beyond that.

A Multifaceted Zone

Thus, friends, I introduce to you The Lifestyle Emporium, this is what you can expect in this multifaceted zone:  Each week, I will deliver this interactive podcast and blog post that will address a segment of what makes up our lives as women. For example, there is a lot of talk about mental health – but I believe that on the road to healing and wholeness – we need to address the many facets of you.This includes your spirituality, health, relationships, marriage, parenting, community and society as well as creativity.

 We will also talk about our goals and dreams – which may be expressed in many different ways, in our families, our community, entrepreneurship or self - development. And then, there is the gift of creativity, which I believe, plays an important role in eliminating anxiety and producing fulfilment. This could be expressed in art creation, party or home design or creatively putting systems into place to find order in your world.  We are diverse and magnificent beings and there is SO much joy to be found in discovering what it means to be YOU – and how YOU can make a difference in your family, your community and in the world.

 This is a journey all about discovering what it means to live life to the full – regardless of your circumstance. I hope for it to inspire you and I even hope to sometimes challenge you – and if you reflect, engage and apply what you learn, I am convinced, that you will be one step closer to the live the joy-filled, purpose driven life that you were created to live. You are not that far from it.

The Lifestyle Emporium is proof that life’s saddest moments can be turned into something truly amazing.I wish that you and I could just have a coffee together face to face – and share the stories of joy and sadness that make up our lives, but this will have to do.

A Little More About Me

For many years – I felt that I needed to prove myself and I had a subconscious belief that my personal accomplishments and career achievements defined me and equalled success in life.  I convinced myself that my entire value and worth was closely tied to success or failure. Have you ever evaluated yourself based on your performance, your bodyweight, beauty or what others think of you , perhaps men in particular? If you have – I hope you have realised by now, that this is an endless road that leads to a place called heartache.

 Two things happened which rocked my world: Firstly - I discovered that a God who loves me wildly lovingly created me, regardless of my performance and secondly though we were not able to have children, a miracle baby boy entered our world.  He was the gift I never asked for and turned my world and my plans upside down in the best possible way. He has taught me more about life than any other person that I know. I am launching this podcast on the 10^thbirthday of my gorgeous little boy.

 Though I am a work in progress – I live each day, from a place of knowing my true identity. This boy mama is a recovering workaholic, a compulsive organizer and sugar addict with a love - hate relationship with carbs. Gathering people around the dining table and organizing parties is a passion, so I married a chef! Mr Meyer is the love of my life – and there is no hesitation when I say that he is my better half. Creativity, fitness and faith are my therapists and I am in my happiest place when designing anything or pottering around our home with my boys. We are in the process of what feels like the lifelong renovation of our Swiss country home which I LOVE – though friends - at heart, I am a city girl who loves to dress up, wear red lipstick and high heels!

 The Dreaded Introduction

As far as introductions go, I have a confession to make: I truly love meeting new people – it is one of my favourite things in the world. But there is always one part in the conversation that I absolutely dread: It is the part where people ask me “So, what do YOU do for a living…?”

Life thus far – has proven to be quite an adventure! And if you knew me, you would understand that I like to play it safe and adventure was the last thing I was looking for. This girl wants stability and security.  As a child, we moved around a great deal in the country and I always felt unsettled – all I wanted was to stay in the same place, build tree houses, form a gang and save the day, like Nancy Drew.

 Not much has changed, I still want to build a tribe and save the day and we kept moving around even as an adult…, which has made my career path very colourful. I have worked as a Beauty Therapist and Make-up Artist, I have worked in top, luxury hotels in Public Relations, Marketing and Communications; I have continued by studies to become an Interior Designer and become a Shop Owner. I’ve been an entrepreneur a few times over!  I have been the co-founder of a small community where we looked after the hearts of people, where we taught and trained and walked together in friendship, counselling, mentoring, and sharing life, over countless meals and coffees. All of these roles have developed me, prepared me for life, given me skills and compassion and enlarged me as a person - but by far the most rewarding and amazing role that I was given as a gift – is that of mum and wife.

 My way of Giving Back

I – probably much like you my friend – have weathered many storms in life. I am no stranger to brokenness and failure – but I can confidently say that I am living a whole and purpose driven life. This would have not been possible without a loving family, a life-giving community and faithful friends who took time to walk with me. This has been a big motivator for me to start the Lifestyle Emporium and to form communities and walk with people in their healing and wholeness journey – I wanted to give back some of what I had been given.

Hardship set my life on a course of development and learning, traveling the world and meeting and fostering relationships with the most extraordinary people, mentors, leaders and friends. This road has been bumpy at times but it has brought me the richest of life experiences. Yet it is FAITH which has made me not only a survivor, but a conqueror – and which have led me to discover my true reason for being – something which I would love for you.

After all the years of moving around – I think we may have finally settled. We have been living in Switzerland for 7 years. Don’t let the illusion of Switzerland deceive you into thinking that we have “arrived”. It has been to date the most uncomfortable, personally challenging chapter of our lives. Yet once again, these adversities have produced opportunities that would have been impossible to recognize, if life was cushy and comfortable. Pain and discomfort is often the seedbed for creativity and growth and the place where PURPOSE is born.

I am a multi-passionate girl and could never be contained in one little box. My career journey has been so diverse and unexpected – it certainly did not go as I planned. But you know what… it has turned out better than I could have dreamed and has made my path cross with amazing people and now I am able to share it with you.

 Perhaps my friend, you are standing at the edge of a new season, entirely unsure of what the future holds –this prospect may fill you with excitement or paralyzing fear… I am here help you to look for the beauty in each moment – no matter how hard. Your amazing story is being written as we speak and I know that you will find here, some treasures of wisdom and joy that I have gathered through life and that could help to improve yours.

Crafting my “Title”

Coming back to the question of what I do. I’ve come to realise that most of us like to have or give titles – it somehow helps us define ourselves and understand others. But no matter how comprehensive the title is – it can never really express who you are. But for the sake of brevity, I have crafted the title of “Lifestyle Designer”. I am a Creative, a Designer, I am your mentor and I am your friend. I am the author and creator of the Lifestyle Emporium podcast and blog, which will be a free weekly resource for you.

 Where You Can Find Me

 You can find all this and more on “The Lifestyle Emporium website: www.thelifestyleemporium.ch– which offers both learning experiences and personal mentorship to help you discover your gifts and strengths.

I have a big request. All the most recent podcasts, blogs, freebies and inspiration will be posted on social media, so connect me on:

Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/lifestyledesigneroninsta/or

Facebook @thelifestyleemporiumtribe 

Your Turn

Friendship – one of the main motivators of The Lifestyle Emporium – is not friendship if it is one-sided. I would love to hear your story, I would love to hear how I could love and serve you better or address an issue that you are wrestling with. So do connect with me through social media or via email: ellenmeyer@thelifestyleemporium.ch.

 Here are three things that I would love to know from you:

1. If someone asks you to introduce yourself, how would you do a concise little intro in 2 mins?  
2. What are the areas of your life that you would most value to gain skills or inspiration?
3. What are the areas in your life where you most struggle or wish to change?

I cannot wait to hear from you. For today, I leave you with this truth: whatever your belief system - you were created out of love you were born with a purpose. It is my hope and my belief - that as we journey together, you will learn to love yourself and others in a way you have never done before, that you will discover your perfect design and that you will find joy unexpected places.

 So don’t give up, take one day at a time and know that you are not alone.

 

Until next time!