Transformational Life Coach
My Story -
More about me, your partner and coach
​​As a small town Iowa boy brimming with creativity and big dreams, I learned early on to listen to my inner voice, forge my own path and to pivot towards personal reflection and growth when necessary.
​
Music was my early passion and I was sure I would “grow up” to be a musician. By providence, I was introduced to ballet in my first semester at college and realized that dance was what I was meant to do. After completing a conservatory program, I landed my dream job with one of most influential dance companies of the time. This allowed me to travel the world, performing, teaching and choreographing and garnering me awards, fellowships and grants for my art.
Those years were the perfect alignment of my gifts, my ambitions and the culture; and were filled with community and much joy. They were also incredibly challenging as the AIDS epidemic raged; affecting me directly with the loss of many close friends and my first partner. Caring for him through his illness and transition has been one of the greatest privileges and transformational experiences in my life; and opened the door to a curiosity and longing for a personal spirituality through which to hold and process life’s complexity.
I met and began a thirty-six year relationship - and now marriage - with my current partner. The ongoing work of nurturing a longterm loving relationship has been foundational in defining myself, my values and how I want to love. Part of this journey has been the constant refinement of our intimacy; experimenting with variations of openness; becoming more free, honest and respectful of each other and ourselves.
I became a “founding teacher” in the creation of a school for contemporary dance in Brussels, Belgium; where over many years was able explore and refine my approach to somatics; integrating body, mind and soul into movement practices.
I discovered a slice of paradise in a remote fishing village on the Pacific coast of Mexico, and have renovated and maintained a casa and retreat space there for over twenty-three years. The connection with nature, the hands on work and the interaction with the local indigenous community have been some of my most precious learning experiences.
​Between the lines of much of this story was a troubled, confused part of myself which eventually led me into my “dark night of the soul” through a substantial substance addiction and the destructive behaviors that accompany that. It became clear that there would be no more change or evolution until I addressed this and I committed myself to a life of sobriety and the truly transformational work that entails.
​
For the past fifteen years, my journey in recovery has been the most powerful force for an ongoing and near constant cycle of personal renewal. Through rigorous self honesty and reflection, and the creation of a foundational sustaining personal spirituality, a complete reorganization and revitalization of my values, priorities and purpose has taken place. This has led directly to my decision to become a coach; to be of service to my fellows, to relieve suffering where I can and help guide others towards living their most authentic, fulfilling and purposeful life.
