Legend of Africa in Japan, Francesca Conate
"You don’t have to be recognised as a Legend, to live like one."
In this uplifting and emotional conversation Francesca Conate talks about dealing with a drawn-out diagnosis, dating with a disability and bringing beautiful energy into the world and the connection between our mind and body.
From a coaching perspective there is so much to jump into - the twists and turns of life, taking responsibility WITHOUT BLAME for your situation, living life with a joyous and optimistic energy - living like a legend, even if you are not recognised as one. Having confidence from the inside out.
She moved to Japan and spent 13 happy years working as a business English Consultant for Blue Chip Companies and started the Facebook Group African in Japan, where she shares the joy and stories of people and cities in all the countries of Africa.
After 13 years in Japan, she returned to West USA to deal with health condition and entered a two-year period of uncertainty and heartache while waiting for a diagnosis. Although this was a difficult and emotional journey for her, it is through telling this story that she becomes life coach to us - advising how to navigate such a situation with skill and wisdom. And of course it applies to many other areas of life - not just diagnosis.
Eldest of 3 children of an African American Mum, born in the 50’s, and West African Dad, we talk about losing a parent very suddenly and very quickly when she was very young, and about disease, balance, blame, fear and how we are always trying to work out how we can stay well and live a long life.
How she started to lose herself in her long diagnosis journey but them realised that Francesca was alive and well inside her. It didn’t change - nobody, on her return to Japan was treating her any different because of her cane, her changed mobility and her adjusted energy levels
Being your own best advocate and how she would invite us to go through the diagnosis process - this gets emotional from the heart as Francesca thinks about how it could help people from going through the same heartache she did when she was going through the 2-year diagnosis process.
She talks about how she pushed back to Doctors and demanded diagnoses not guess-work, her approach to advocating for herself, her body and her health and how her Dad’s logical approach is forever present in her daily life. Her Mum is the biggest influence in her life, having been a solo parent since her 30s, her Mum made her everything she is today and her Dad is ever present.
She was and IS still 100% Francesca.
One thing that strikes me about Francesca is her uncompromising presence. And her focus. As we talk about masculine energy, not allowing being a woman to silence her, and how to win at life, we also muse on how it is crucial to be happy for other people’s winning.
What a treat this one was - I feel like I just had a coaching masterclass in living fully with our mind, body and presence. And of course with our loved ones.
Africa in Japan on Facebook
Go and follow this to share in the joy of all the different countries of Africa and the amazing people, cities and culture.
You can find information about MS here.
I mention an NPR Tiny Desk Concert by Rhiannon Giddens
You can listen to all of the past legends interview series here.