I’m a late bloomer and a baby boomer. My brother said I was born feet first and have been doing everything backward ever since.
It’s impossible to tell my story in a few short paragraphs, but let me say that I was a stressed-out over-achiever well before it was called burnout. I didn’t backpack around Europe after high school as many friends and family did in my generation. I was a military brat in a family of six with a mom who kept the home and our lives, together. We didn’t have money for any luxuries like travel. However, I found a passion for sales and fashion early on in life and turned both into successful and not-so-successful ventures. I lived a life of accomplishment and disappointments in business and in love.
When my burnout hit, it was epic.
I got divorced, left an excellent career in Canada and moved to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico to save my life. I still worked in sales, something I was good at; but there was something missing and my heart was not fulfilled.
All that stress will eventually catch up with you.
In 2007/8, after a series of minor heart attacks, that I self-diagnosed as ‘allergic reactions’ to sinus meds, I found myself back in Canada in front of a Cardiologist. I had a condition called Idiopathic Dilated Cardiomyopathy combined with High Blood Pressure. Several months later, with medical treatment, there was no improvement. The doctors said my heart was not responding to any medications and I was told to get my affairs in order, in other words: prepare for the worst.
The prognosis for this illness today is two years, and at the outset, five. You never think these things will happen to you–until they do.
All the stress and sadness had caught up with me. However, all good self-motivated, self-employed and self-taught entrepreneurs will tell you, we never give up! I took my healing into my own hands. I did Reiki, massage, worked with a healer in Canada, and did a series of things that didn’t seem to make an impact but gave me a clearer vision of what I wanted and needed in my life. The turning point for me was in the fall of 2008 when I went to Sedona Arizona to work with a Shaman. I have no idea what he did, but I can say with certainty, that he saved my heart. My heart improved drastically and I’ve been symptom-free since the winter of 2008!
I promised myself that if I could heal my heart, I would begin to follow my heart.
I would begin writing and painting and not hold back on the things that made my soul sing. I published my books of poetry, then I moved on to fiction, and finally, after I decided I was doing well, I wrote the story of the journey of my healing in LOVE The Beat Goes On. The purpose was to share and inspire, to motivate and encourage others to follow their dreams. Today I have fifteen books on Amazon and a busy career as an Indie Author.
But the story doesn’t stop here. Remember, my brother said I do everything backward? This year I turned 72! I sold everything I have and no longer have a home anywhere. I began a journey that has taken me from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to Dallas, Paris, New Delhi, Goa, Istanbul, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Bangkok, and Krabi, Thailand. I’ve decided to settle in Istanbul for a few months then who knows where I will go for the winter! I’m open to warm weather suggestions!
Yes, I’m a late bloomer, and a nomad, and living out of a suitcase. It’s the craziest most exciting and liberating thing I’ve ever allowed myself to do in my very responsible life. I’ve taken my friends and readers along on my journey through blogs, Instagram and Facebook.
It’s never too late to follow your dreams, or start a new life, or to allow your heart, mind and soul to thrive.