Growth and All About Love

For the last month I’ve been dealing with the fallout of the pandemic. Initially I grieved the loss of my world as I knew it. I lost a lot of (in hindsight) trivial things. I can’t head to my usual coffee spots and have my favourite mocha. I couldn’t go to my favourite cinema when I had a really shit day. The more important things were not being able to stay in physical contact with my friends and partners. That hurt, but I got used to it.

One of the positive effects is that I had to pivot my business offerings. In this case for the better.

• I now offer packages with a sliding scale of payment so those who don’t have as much funds to hand can pay at a lower rate and still get a great service.
• I’ve also started to do guided meditation every weekday at 1030AM BST on Facebook Live (and soon Instagram Live too) to help others ease their minds.
• Plus I’ve been developing a few more programmes for groups which might dive into other more spiritual areas in the future.

The biggest takeaway from this pandemic is to carry through an attitude to serve through your businesses. Plus I learnt a lot away from actively coaching too.

There’s a big recognition that the love I was taught was destructive or possessive.

I finished reading ‘All About Love’ by bell hooks. It was a short book but it’s a powerful illustration of what love is in its truest form. I think I will keep it to refer to now. There’s a big recognition that the love I was taught was destructive or possessive. It was truly defined by how women were seen as ‘second class’ alongside other marginalised people. Also the struggle to not take on the same practices we’ve seen illustrated in patriarchal or in our colonisers.

It feels like I’ve just touched the tip of the iceberg in my other personal practices too. What I do know is that love is always about encouraging spiritual growth (and spiritual doesn’t even have to be about religion at all) and I’m holding onto that in whatever I do. Money is important but service is the prime order of the day.

Until next time folks #embraceinfinity and wash your hands!

Aquila Hope is a coach, trans activist, spokesperson and musician. They’re found through Instagram, Twitter, Medium and their own website. Aquila lives on the outskirts of Birmingham, enjoys self improvement, creating music, good coffee and pizza.