Meet Dawn Blasingame

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dawn Blasingame. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Dawn, we’re so excited for our community to get to know you and learn from your journey and the wisdom you’ve acquired over time. Let’s kick things off with a discussion on self-confidence and self-esteem. How did you develop yours?

As a child I was always self-conscious. I was the youngest in my graduating class in high school, and I was a severe introvert, very shy. I loved to read.
My father always encouraged compassion for others, and to do your best no matter what. I learned young to have compassion for the elderly, through my father’s work. I followed his lead in working with people.
As I grew up, I decided to work in the public sector. But I was still self-conscious about everything.
After getting married everything changed. It had to.
When my husband became ill, I had to learn to use my voice, be heard and noticed. I had to literally speak up and ask questions. Not wanting to sound stupid, I did research before asking questions. I gained respect from people by asking intelligent questions and listening carefully for answers. I had learned effective communication skills but had never really developed them until thrown in the fire.
My confidence grew, so did my voice. And with that self-worth also developed on a grander scale. I finally saw in myself what others saw in me as well.
My faith made it possible to move mountains out of my way.
I remember a pivotal moment that made me realize I was becoming more confident.
I was discussing surgery for the placement of a dialysis access in my husband. There are a few options, so I asked the doctor the pro’s and con’s of each option, along with my concern about my husband’s health. I had a very positive conversation with the doctor, and my feelings and opinions were truly heard.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I am an author. But more than that really. I was a caregiver for 7 years and now I coach others not just on caregiving but also life. I have a true passion for helping people and want them to find the best in themselves.

I do “blog” on Instagram and am getting my coaching website up and running. Caregiversupport.club is almost live. So be on the lookout. There folks will have a chance to sign up and get a free sample of the coaching I do not just for caregivers but for anything in life. Look, life is hard. And we don’t all have someone in our lives that can help us sort out the details without making it personal. But really, it is personal for the one needing the help. I have a lot of experience after spending 7 years “winging it”. I learned to navigate many obstacles. So I’ve been there.

I am also working on a second book. My first book, A Caregiver’s Guide Through the Complex World Of Healthcare And Letting Go is out there on Amazon. already.
That’s my base story. A memoir of faith, resilience, humor and fact.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

The most important skill to develop is listening. Listening to not only other people but your inner self. This will give you the confidence to take those bold steps and be an advocate for yourself and others. Make sure when you are listening you are doing so from a place of calm or peace. Angry or frustrated people don’t hear well. Really. The reality of it is, you have to open your mind, clear your head in order to take in new ideas or information. Don’t waste yours or anyone else’s time if you are not ready to listen.

Maintain your sense of humor. Nothing in life is unbearable if you see the humor in your situation. I know that sounds crazy. It is! But it also works. My husband was always talking to people, sharing his story and looking at the “bright side” of life. Imagine being athletic and one day you no longer have a leg. Then the other one goes. Now you are confined to a wheelchair. Nothing stopped him. Nothing! He joked all the time that I pushed him around and talked behind his back. He was in a wheelchair. Hahaha. Everyone pushed him around!!!
Being able to laugh with your situation makes it easier to cope and makes other people at ease around you.

But the most important thing is to maintain your faith. Faith in what you believe, what you are doing and in your mission. Because if you don’t have faith in yourself no one else will either.

Do you think it’s better to go all in on our strengths or to try to be more well-rounded by investing effort on improving areas you aren’t as strong in?

I am definitely a B.T. (before technology) person. I grew up with phones attached to the wall, TV without remotes, microwaves that took up half a countertop. Things like that. I was married with a child before I owned a cell phone. Seriously!
So, for me, I think it’s important to be well rounded in our skill sets and learn new things. Step out of your comfort zone if you want to reach people.
You have to invest in yourself. Learn to build that website, advertise what you’re offering. Be willing to go in person, mail out those letters, whatever it takes for you to grow.
People won’t fall in your lap. You have to let them know who and where you are. What you offer, why and when.
Make sure you invest more in you than others do. No one should invest more in your efforts than you. Learn, learn, learn.
I am learning to market my book, my skills, and my story. I want to change lives.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://cargiversupport.club
• Instagram: dawn_pace_blasingame
• Linkedin: Dawn Pace Blasingame