Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Finkelstein.
Anna, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
“The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.” —Mark Twain.
My story begins on the day I was born, Valentine’s Day in 1979, 39 years ago. My Mother used to recall that day and tell me that I came into this world in a hurry, with a fighting spirit, and with a keen alertness as to things going on around me. I used to love hearing that story and the stories of early childhood, they always made me smile with a feeling of accomplishment.
For as long as I can remember, I was an extra sensitive soul. I could connect with the heart and feelings of those around me, knowing without words being communicated what was in a person’s their hearts and feeling a sense of connection with almost everyone I met. One could say the Empath, (or person who can read and feel the energy and feelings of others) in me ran strong from very early Childhood on. Those qualities truly became my saving Grace and have brought me to this point more than I could even begin to describe.
My childhood shaped my way of learning in the school setting, and to be honest, school was always rather a challenge. I am the kind of person who learns by doing and by living, not by reading, writing or being given timed tests. As I was just entering first grade, my mother had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and we were not sure how long she had to live (it wound up being 30 amazing years) but at that time there was no way to tell. Along with her diagnosis, I at that time was struggling to learn in the same way the other children seemed to learn with ease. Looking back, I vividly remember: I would sweat, feel confused, and have constant stomach aches, all while taking in everything going on around me, feeling rather overwhelmed. Because I couldn’t articulate all of these feelings, I decided to not tell anyone about my struggle, and kept it to myself which made it all the worse, I thought I was the only one who felt this way, EVER. I developed anxiety and somewhat low self-esteem because of learning differently and growing up in a not so traditional manner (I was raised by a single mom and her father, my beloved Papa) I truly disliked feeling like I was so different. I might add, growing up as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses made me feel even more isolated from the norm… What was one to do as a kid who felt so different without a way to tell anyone? Keep it in and become and adult who may not be so prepared for the real world at first you could safely say, for this left a feeling of not knowing exactly who I was, or what one’s place was per say. It took a long time to develop this understanding.
In my adult life the lessons continued, as they always do. I took a different means of education one could say rather than college, I set out to live life and learn through experience. It seemed I had to fully learn to understand life and loss in order truly remember who I was the whole time: a highly sensitive, empathic, resilient person born to love. Underneath it all, I felt a deep calling to help, even though I was not sure how.
With quite a few traumatic losses, choosing to the Jehovah’s Witnesses behind, , divorce, and even becoming a widow by the age of 35, I felt completely defeated and my heart felt like it broke into irreparable pieces. I remember thinking, “This couldn’t be what it was all about could it?”
There was a very low point where I didn’t think I could take any more, for everything and everyone was gone and passed, and even though I was spunky, my soul was tired. Then something happened that changed my whole perspective on things, my Coach and Mentor, Ellen Epstein asked me a question that would change my life, “How many other people do you think have it worse?” and that statement lit my fire once again. I tuned in and felt the pain of others around me and decided it was time to heal myself, stop feeling sorry and defeated and GET UP and get moving! I had some living to do and there was a life of dreams to be created, and I had just found my WHY. Thank you, Mr. Mark Twain, and THANK YOU ELLEN!!!
The journey began that day!
To heal, I had to learn to first really learn how to love myself and accept myself for both the gifts and challenges I had within. Then I had to dream of a life I wanted to create, essentially the one I can truly say I have been blessed with NOW. This is where Spirituality and Yoga took and still take center stage for me. When I began to understand my strengths, the weaknesses felt diminished, and faded into the far background. When I understood WHY things happened, or WHY certain losses occurred, they made me feel stronger and more divinely guided.
Within 5 years of that day of me feeling depleted I met the love of my life, Adam, started a business I LOVE and LIVE for, got married and feel more love than I ever could have imagined. Life is fuller than it EVER has been. I know deep in my heart of hearts, that it is really just beginning. I am so excited to see what fabulous things will happen next, rather than fearing what ball is about to drop as I had for so long.
I live each day in complete gratitude for the Universe, or God having watched over me the whole time, as he/she does for all of us, even when we are unsure of it.
It is my firm belief that we all come here for a reason, and my reason was to learn how to love myself and to help others do the same. I use the same modalities that have brought me from a place of feeling broken and in grief to having a life of freedom, joy and wholeness.
Please tell us about A Fine Balance.
A Fine Balance was created with the support of my amazing husband Adam in April of 2016. It was created to assist others to find happiness, meaning and healing within, to create the lives that they dream of, and being of support a to them as they cultivate first self-love, and then dare to dream.
I am honored to share Intuitive Coaching, Gentle Yoga, Reiki, EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique, where you get to the emotional root of a problem) and Creative Expression in giving customized sessions to individuals I work with. This is done in both private and group settings.
It is my life’s calling to help others heal themselves from the inside out, to develop a whole love for themselves and their lives, to support them in creating the life of their dreams! It is a privilege to be able to help them to see, even if they should forget for a moment or two as I had for so long, that there is NOTHING you cannot overcome with support and faith!
I work with people of all ages and backgrounds starting at age 10 all the way up to age 100 both privately and in group settings. It has been humbling to see the business develop from working privately with individuals, to working in corporate settings within Wellness Programs, in family programs in the community, and most recently working within within the school system along with teenage children continues to teach me so much and I am constantly grateful for how life’s path has truly come full circle.
I am beyond grateful for the opportunity and to be able to grow and offer programs like the first one I was blessed to begin just about two years ago at Plummer Youth Promise. I would truly like to thank Joshua Metcalfe, Program Director, and Candace Pechilis, Volunteer Coordinator, who took a chance in co creating a Yoga and Wellness Program for the boys of Plummer. This was a huge starting point and opened the door to several additional various programs within our local community.
Life is made for dreaming, believing and creating. I feel honored and blessed beyond measure for all that has transpired until this point. I live to love and love to live, and that is something that even if it tried, challenge cannot take from us. It is our innate right and truth.
I would like to add one more thing concerning the individuals I work alongside. It is amazing, and completely unexpected, but they have blown this heart of mine, that once was shattered back up bigger than it ever was to begin with. With each smile, hug, and success story, milestone achieved, journey of inner healing, and transformation they experience they echo day in and day out the truth of the word Namaste… We are All One. To be of service and create a business helping others see their light, pure potential, and safety within is exactly what A Fine Balance is all about.
Contact Info:
- Address: 130 Centre Street
Wadsworth Village, Fuller House
Danvers, MA 01923 - Website: www.afbcoaching.com
- Phone: 617-529-9533
- Email: allinafinebalance@gmail.com
- Facebook: A Fine Balance Coaching & Yoga
Image Credit:
Photo Credits: Matt Surette Productions
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