A Reflection on Growth and Confidence

Last week, I had the joy of welcoming my first grandchild into the world. I flew down to Wellington to support my son and daughter-in-law during this special time—and of course, I completely fell in love with their gorgeous baby.

But something unexpected happened while I was there.

A memory bubbled up from deep in my past, one I hadn’t thought about in years. In my early 20s, I was working in London as an agency nurse, taking on jobs in people’s homes. One particular role stands out: I was placed with a family who had just had twins. My job was to support them through those chaotic newborn days—but I was completely out of my depth.

I had very little experience with newborns, and I was suddenly living in someone else’s home, helping to care for their other children, and even walking their unruly boxer dog. It was the middle of winter, around Christmas time, and I remember feeling so far from the warmth of a New Zealand summer—and from my friends, who I was meant to be living and adventuring with. I felt homesick. I felt out of place. And not surprisingly, I didn’t last long in that job. I ended up unwell and moved on, ready to spend New Year’s in Scotland with friends—which was, as you can imagine, much more fun.

I’m not sure why that memory surfaced so vividly last week. Maybe because once again I was entering a new chapter—supporting my family in a different way. But this time, I didn’t feel out of my depth. I felt grounded, calm, connected. I knew what I was there to do, and I trusted myself.

It reminded me how our brains work: sometimes, old experiences resurface without warning. Our nervous system can’t always tell the difference between past and present. A situation that feels vaguely familiar might trigger an old emotional response, even when our current reality is completely different.

But it also reminded me of something else.

We grow. We change. We gain confidence through experience, reflection, and simply living life. What once felt overwhelming can now feel like second nature.

So if you’ve ever had an old memory pop up and wondered, Why now? — know that it’s normal. It’s simply your mind doing what it does. The key is to notice it with compassion. And maybe, like me, you’ll also get to notice how much stronger and more at ease you’ve become.

And if you're curious about how life coaching can help you navigate these kinds of moments, or support you through your own new chapter, I’d love to talk.