Yellow Bear Journeys

Experience Your Ocean

Why we’re here

     My mother raised her children, so that by the time we were five, we could take care of ourselves – Thanks, Mom!
     We could dress ourselves, clean, cook, and play on our own. The first time one of her children started crawling up steps, my mom walked and crawled with us until we knew how to crawl both up and down steps. That way we had more independence and she had no worries that we were going to hurt ourselves. Of course, I wanted to have her help me with something. So I refused to learn to tie my shoes until I absolutely had to, in order to pass kindergarten.
     With the help of my mother and my older sister, I knew how to read and print by the time I was four.
     By the time I was thirteen, I had my own paper route and quite a good income for a thirteen year old.
     On, into adulthood, I kept thinking that being independent meant doing it all on my own. And so I did.

     Of course, I didn’t & couldn’t do it all on my own. One grandmother loaned me money to help me go to college. The other grandmother let me live with her until I could afford to live on my own. My uncle helped me get two jobs. At least twice, friends provided me with a place to stay, when I couldn’t afford rent.
     And, there were all those along the way, who said something really worth listening to. (Sometimes I listened, more often I didn’t).

     Somehow in the midst of “being able” to do everything on my own, I also learned how to be part of a team. And, I really valued the dynamics of teams. Perhaps it was because I grew up with three sisters. Together, we were a great team. We all knew each others strengths and when we needed those strengths, we knew where to turn. We also knew that no matter what, we would always be there for each other. I refused to be a part of a group, just to be part of a group. But when I recognized a team that I wanted to be part of, I was fully part of it and helped it pull together even more as a team.
     But, other than my family team, teams were for projects - not for life. Sure, I might be friends with team members for life, but the team aspect only came into play fully when there was a project, when there was something to be accomplished.

     Loneliness, good old loneliness, introduced me to the concept of tribe – the team for life. I still have my family and really enjoy being part of that family. But I needed something more. I needed a tribe. I needed an extended family, I needed something je ne sais pas (I didn’t know what). I turned over every stone looking for it. I tried to create it. Nothing worked. My wife and I were members of the tribe and every so often we’d meet a few other tribe members here and there, but it wasn’t enough. Nothing jelled.
     Nothing worked. I was looking outside of myself. I had no idea I had my own inner tribe. One by one I met the members of my inner tribe – Dale, Yellow Bear, Shanna, Happy Baby, and others. I began to reunite with my emotions. And I came to learn who I was as an Inner Vision Life Coach. When I met my own inner tribe, I was able to become part of a larger tribe.
     Now my tribe of Life Coaches is forming. The team I always knew could be is coming into being.

     The Yellow Bear Journeys tribe of Life Coaches is here so you don’t have to figure life out all on your own. We’re here to walk with you and your tribe for an hour, a day, a week, or for life – whatever you need to Return to Start, Find Meaning, and Live your Dreams.