Sonia Marsh's Blog, page 12

How I Learned to Let Go of Security

 

“My Gutsy Story®” Connie Fenty

Even now, 30 years later, I can recall the sharpening of my senses and how I responded to the growing fear of what I was about to do that night.  Standing in the midst of the forest, my feet cushioned by winter softened leaves, I peered at the jungle gym of ropes in the branches of the trees far above me.  This was the famous challenge course of the West Virginia Outward Bound School.  Now it was my turn to climb up to the first of several obstacles requiring courage and agility.  I knew on a rational level that I would be safely attached at each of the challenges to an overhead rope clipped into the harness I wore wrapped around my waist and legs.  Even so, my body began to shake almost uncontrollably, fueled by the release of terror related adrenaline.

Each swinging bridge, cargo net, tight rope, and balance beam began at a firm supportive wooden platform.  From those perches, I could stop trembling long enough to take comfort from my surroundings: newly leafing branches, a sunset forming in the distance, the odor of cool damp earthy forest air, the sounds of birds flying to roost, and the encouraging shout from the instructor below, “Just let go, Connie. L-e-e-t g-o-oh.”  In spite of the empowering knowledge that I had successfully completed another aspect of the course, as I approached each new obstacle, debilitating fear returned. Repeatedly, I forced myself to leave my safe and secure base and step into the unknown.

On the last platform, I sat elated, exhausted, and feeling finished. “Just one more challenge, and I’ve got this,” so I thought.  The spotter seated beside me drew a long sturdy rope toward the two of us and attached me to it, explaining, “Hold the rope, scoot to the edge, and then you’ll drop about 20 feet.”  He promised that the rope would stop short of the ground and I would get to have the swing of my life as a reward.  That’s when I looked down and froze to the platform.

After a while I said to my patient guide, “I’ll close my eyes and you can just push me off.”  “No,” he replied, “it must be your decision to plunge.” Finally as night began to creep through the trees, I edged closer and closer to what felt like nothingness and eventually plummeted quickly down, down, down.  The rush of air as I picked up speed in my free fall was exhilarating.  My elongated scream pierced the darkening forest.  As the slack of the rope wound out, the rope and I moved to and fro in a wide arc. It was the best swinging I had ever experienced.  Slowing, I stepped onto ground level and unbuckled.     I felt a satisfying sense of pride like that of a child when she has accomplished a new feat.  I wanted to shout, “Look at what I did.”  I didn’t understand until later how strongly I had internalized what had happened that night.

My Outward Bound experience was like a boot camp for teaching me to conjure up courage when future happenings threw me off course.  To move forward from minor setbacks, like being transferred to a different teaching assignment than the one I had hoped for, I daringly leaped into the unknown.  When faced with moving from a happy home to live in a different town, my mind told me that change of my choosing should not elicit fear, but still my heart raced as I left. Through continued practice of the lessons I learned on the ropes course, it was easier to let go of the security and safety of the known enabling me to step away from my living “perch” and embrace the choice to dwell elsewhere.

Later on, I would need even fiercer courage during my process of recovery from a major setback. My husband and I back then were just adjusting to our lives with young children and a new house when he was diagnosed with cancer.  His battle was a short one. One month and he was gone. I found myself stuck on an ungrounded metaphorical “challenge course platform” named widowhood.  Below and in front of me there lay an abyss as far as I could imagine.  Calling me back from that ledge the “rope” that I held tightly was the knowledge that I had two young daughters who needed me.  Sometimes, I could swear that the ghost of the voice I heard all those years before in the West Virginia woods was urging me to “let go-o-o-oh” once more.  Instead, fear of what lay ahead kept me anchored to the past wishing someone would give me a push to catapult me forward.

And then, I am drawn into the present by graceful moments.  While running to maintain my sanity, the autumn wind rains bright yellow leaves upon my head.  A double rainbow appears in the sky one day while my daughters and I play together outside. We sniff the earth as we dug holes to plant daffodil bulbs so we can watch them appear in the spring.  I remember to open my senses and take in the world around me.  Consciously, I begin to connect to the calming powers of nature.  Fear dissipates and I scoot to the edge of a new beginning. Trust propels me forward.  After a while, I am welcomed to solid ground.

CONNIE FENTY has a Master’s degree in education and is a retired elementary school teacher living in Bucks County PA. She is the founder of Your Nature Connection Seminars, Common Ground Labyrinths, and co-founder of Sacred Steps Journeys.

Connie’s presentations feature themes of Healthy Living through Meditative Practices as well as Awakening Connection to Nature, Ancestors, and Spirituality.  Whether facilitating a labyrinth walk; teaching yoga; providing a retreat in nature; or leading tours to sacred sites in Europe, her programs are full of experiential activities and inspiring content.  She is in the process of writing a travel memoir. Check out her website: www.yournatureconnection.com

 SONIA MARSH SAYS: I admire the way you were able to use the courage and resilience you received from your your boot camp experience, and apply it to  tragedy in your life.

2015 “My Gutsy Story®” has started, with the 1st VOTING of Kenn Ashcraft, Suzanne Chun and Lola De Maci, stories, as well as the Monday, January 2015 “My Gutsy Story®” stories. So you will be able to VOTE for your favorite of 7 stories on January 29th-February 11th, 2015, with the WINNER announced on February 12th. 

 

NOW ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS
Get Published in our 3rd
“My Gutsy Story®”Anthology in 2015

 

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES HERE

 

Click on cover to go to Amazon

 2013 Benjamin Franklin Honoree Winner

2014 International Book Awards FINALIST

2014 WINNER of the PARIS BOOK FESTIVAL

 We just won our 4th Award for the Anthology. 

CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT ABOUT OUR AWARDS.

 

“My New Life” Chapter One

I am turning a new chapter in my life prompted by my divorce after a 28-year marriage.

Instead of feeling “sorry” for myself, I’ve opted to view this as an opportunity to explore new avenues and adventures. As I often say to others:

“There are always options in life. View setbacks as opportunities to do something new and don’t be afraid to take a risk.”

Baby boomer women are taking charge of their life and according to: New York Times “Divorce After 50″

“So much for “till death do us part.” For the first time, more Americans 50 and older are divorced than widowed, and the numbers are growing as baby boomers live longer. Sociologists call them gray divorcees.” 

 SONIA’s 2015 Gutsy Adventure:

I am taking the Cert-TESOL certificate in London for one-month. This is the “Teaching of English to Speakers of Other Languages,” course which is respected and recognized globally by language schools. I have always wanted a qualification I can use anywhere in the world, and thanks to  Rebecca Hall, who writes about “Life Beyond Borders” blog, I was guided to this specific course. Watch my interview with Beccy here. Another interview with her on January 24th, 9 a.m.
I signed up for the Peace Corps, and have followed numerous PC social gatherings during the past year.

Julia Caipizzi, Orange County Peace Corps Recruiter, Sonia and Theresa Elders (RPCV)

 

PEACE CORPS: I’m still waiting to hear back from the Peace Corps as to if/where/when,  I shall be assigned to a country in 2015. The good news is that the PC wants to recruit more people over 50, so if you’re looking for another adventure, here are some people over 50 serving.
MY TIME NOT SOCIAL MEDIA’S TIME: I’m going to do things according to “my time,” not according to social media expectations. So what if I don’t post exactly at the same time each week. Will I get punished by Google, SEO, Twitter, FB, etc.
“GUTSY” INTERVIEWS: I shall keep interviewing “Gutsy” people, and my first interview in 2015, is the talented, Rebecca Hall. Click here to join this live awesome interview on Saturday, January 24th, at 9 a.m. PST. Please tune in and listen to my friend who lives in Athens, Greece. We shall discuss:


Her new site, “Life Beyond Borders” originally called Leaving Cairo, and why she changed it.
What Beccy does, her travel work (especially Rough Guides), why she started a blog, and what she hopes to achieve from her blog in 2015


MY GUTSY STORY® ANTHOLOGY: I submitted the “My Gutsy Story®” Anthology for another Award and plan to attend the IBPA (Independent Book Publishers Association) conference in Austin, TX, April 10-11th, 2015. Hopefully all 46 authors who contributed their story, will win this Award.
 WORK ABROAD: I plan to volunteer in Spain again in May-June 2015, with Vaughan Volunteers, speaking English to Spanish business people for one week. Last year I was in Torrecaballeros, (see my post here.) This time I shall be in a 13th Century village called, Pedraza.  I also hope to work either with the Peace Corps, or as a teacher of English, abroad in 2015.
PUBLISH 3rd MY GUTSY STORY® ANTHOLOGY IN 2015. Please submit your stories for our next Anthology. It’s FREE on GUTSY LIVING® site, and only $79, to be considered for publication in our 2015 Anthology.
CONTINUE HELPING AUTHORS PROMOTE THEIR BOOKS. See what I can do for you  HERE.

(WE NEED MORE STORIES, SO HERE’S YOUR CHANCE TO GET PUBLISHED IN THE AWARD-WINNING ANTHOLOGY.)

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR with fresh flowers from Amsterdam market where I was on December 30th, 2014

Submission guidelines here

Every Monday, we shall feature a short story on “Gutsy Living”  about something Gutsy you have done in your life that either:

Changed you.
Changed the way you think about something.
Made your life take a different direction.

You can check out all the details on the Join the “My Gutsy Story” contest page.

Each month, the winner gets to pick one prize.

Here is the link explaining what it’s about and what we do for you.

It’s FREE to have your story published on Gutsy Living® website and if you would like to be published in our 2015 (award-winning Anthology), there is a fee of only $79, to cover professional editing, cover design, and formatting.

 

Staying in the “Red Light” District of Amsterdam

Old Nickel Hotel, Red Light district, Amsterdam. Click on photo.

 

The youth hostel I booked for my 20-year-old son, Jordan, and myself, is located in the heart of the red light district of Amsterdam.

What an experience walking through the streets at midnight, and seeing beautiful young women in minuscule bikinis, standing behind glass windows offering their services.

As a mother, I couldn’t help but think:

How sad for young women to sell their bodies
How sad for the mothers of these young women
I hope they’re warm behind these windows. It’s freezing outside

It reeks of weed everywhere, especially in our hostel. The narrow, winding staircase, proved to be a major workout with my 50- pound suitcase, and a backpack. I asked for a quiet room, and was allocated one on the 3rd floor, with a shared toilet and shower.

It wasn’t quiet all night. I guess, I’m roughing it, as far as a middle-aged, western woman, however, I keep reminding myself how lucky I am to have a twin bed and central heating.

We checked in the “Old Nickel” youth hostel at 4 p.m., after our 3-hour train ride from Paris to Amsterdam, on the comfortable, Thalys train from, Gare du Nord, Paris.

Amsterdam is quite the booming city, and our ten-minute walk from Central Station to the hostel–with suitcases and backpacks–proved to be quite a “gutsy” adventure, especially timing the crossing of the streets, attempting to avoid trams, bicyclists, cars, and people.

I should have read the “Lonely Planet” description of the hostel, before booking it.

“Location, location: the Nickel will appeal to everyone looking for a simple place to crash after a red-light romp. Go up (and up and up) the steep stairs from the historic, well-stocked pub, and you’ll find clean no-nonsense rooms, all bathrooms shared. Rates include a big cooked breakfast and drop sharply during the week.”

Instead, I focused on the fact that the hostel is, supposedly, only a 3-minute walk from the Central Station of Amsterdam. I guess if you have no luggage, and know where you’re going, you can jog in 3-minutes.

One of the reasons I picked Amsterdam, was to meet my friend, Ubit. I have not seen Ubit since 1974 when we were at boarding school together in the UK.

Sonia and Ubit in Amsterdam

Ubit hasn’t changed, and we reconnected instantly. She said a couple of things that made me happy, as I had forgotten what I was like in boarding school.

“Sonia, you were always the one who asked the teacher questions. None of us had the courage to ask the strict teachers what you asked.”

I took that as a compliment, and it reinforced the concept of being “gutsy,” even when I was seventeen.

Ubit took us to her friends who have a bike shop called, Starbikes rental. Dan from Australia, and his partner, Linda, from Holland, specialize in bike rentals, and even offer a way for people in wheelchairs to ride a bike.

We decided to take a bike rental tour of Amsterdam. I think this may be a fabulous way to see the city, as long as I follow the Dutch bike rules. At least we’re not in the U.K. where they ride on the left side of the street.

More news later….

“Joyeaux Noel” from France and “God Jul” from Copenhagen

Copenhagen Christmas Tree

“Joyeaux Noel,” or Merry Christmas to all my friends from Paris.

We arrived in Paris yesterday from Copenhagen. My son, Jordan, was surprised that he didn’t need to show his passport or stop for customs in Paris. We walked straight through and avoided those who guided us towards their taxi service. I wasn’t sure if they were legitimate taxi drivers, so we followed the arrow to “Taxis,” where several cars were waiting.

Everything is closed on Christmas Day, except for the bakers. We bought several loaves of fresh bread this morning for our French Christmas dinner tonight.

Dad and Jill offered champagne and canapes (small appetizers) to celebrate our arrival in Paris.

I’m getting used to youth hostels, however something strange happened in Copenhagen. I booked a double room with a shower. The bathroom had a baseball-cap sized sink, and I didn’t realize the shower was attached to the ceiling. You were supposed to turn on the faucet and pull on the pop-up drain stopper to make the water spray from the shower above us. This meant that the entire bathroom became the shower.

Copenhagen Youth hostel room

front part of the Copenhagen Youth Hostel

Our Copenhagen Downtown Youth Hostel was located in the perfect place to walk on Stroget, the famous pedestrian street in Copenhagen, Tivoli, and the little Mermaid.

I hope you have a lovely Christmas and holiday with your family and friends.

Christmas Time in London, Suffolk and Copenhagen

Santa and his elf at Heathrow Airport, London

After a couple of nights in our first youth hostel, close to Paddington Station in London, Jordan and I took the train from Liverpool Street station to Stowmarket in Suffolk.

The train was full of commuters heading back to the countryside after a days work in London. My friend, Sallyann, picked us up at the train station, and drove us to her charming, countryside farm house where they raise chickens and grow their own vegetables.

We visited the seaside resort of Southwold, on the Suffolk Heritage coast. Although quite cold in December, with one “gutsy” surfer trying to catch waves in the North Sea, Southwold is booming with tourists in the summer.

After catching up with Sallyann, and a fun evening at a local village pub, we caught the National Express bus from Ipswich to Heathrow airport. It took three hours on a comfortable bus, then we headed to Terminal 2 for our SAS flight to Copenhagen.

Heathrow airport has personality. It’s one of my favorite airports, and as soon as we passed security, we were welcomed by Santa and his elf. I could not resist a photo opportunity with Santa.

Families traveling to Copenhagen for the holidays, or ending their vacation in London, brought a festive atmosphere to the flight.

Jordan and I showed our American passports and received a warm and welcoming smile from the customs agent. The woman before us, dressed in a burka, was told to step aside; she did not have a visa to enter Denmark.

My Danish friend, Lilian, and her husband, met us at the airport and drove us to our second youth hostel in downtown Copenhagen called CPH Downtown.

Lilian and I are best friends. We met at age 4, and have stayed in touch since then.

 

Today is cold and gray, but we are off to do some sight-seeing. More from Tivoli and Copenhagen, on Thursday’s post.

Christmas Holiday Season is Magical in London

Christmas lights Oxford Street

I am spending the Christmas holidays in Europe with my 20-year-old son, Jordan.

In order to make this trip more youth friendly for Jordan, I decided to book youth hostels for our stay. This was my first experience in a youth hostel, and although the bed was comfortable, I felt like I had to “obey the house rules,” like breakfast ends at 10 a.m. I showed up at 9:59 for a cup of coffee, and was told, “It’s too late. Sorry.”

Little did I know how cramped the rooms would be, despite being “upgraded” to a larger room.

Private room at the youth hostel called Equity House.

 

Our desk.

I had forgotten how “magical” the Christmas season can be in Europe. California has beautiful weather, but I am bombarded with the commercial side of Christmas in the U.S.

What I miss is the Christmas spirit I feel in London. For example the warm, cosy pubs, where friends gather to chat and have a drink. The tasteful Christmas decorations on Oxford Street and Picadilly Circus. The shops, and the Christmas carolers and live music on the streets.

Christmas Bagpiper

 

Jordan in London

Next stop is Stowmarket, Suffolk where I’m staying with Sallyann, my friend from boarding school days.

What Mom Taught Me About Life

 

 

“Simple Splendor”

“My Gutsy Story®”- Lola  Di Giulio  De Maci

 

I could always tell it was pie-baking day when I came home from school. The container of cinnamon was sitting on the kitchen counter alongside the sugar bowl. Mom was getting ready to make apple pie. That meant cinnamon rolls made from leftover pie dough. The sweet smell of cinnamon tickled my nose. I could hardly wait.

The recipe called for flour, shortening, salt, plus five spoonfuls of cold water. “You have to use cold water,” Mom would insist. “That’s the secret to making the best crust.” She took out her cookbook.

“Here’s the recipe,” she said, her eyes twinkling. “Cinnamon Pinwheels.” She handed me the cookbook as if she were presenting me with the secret as to what makes the Golden Gate Bridge golden. I accepted the gift, opening the book with reverential awe.

But it wasn’t a “real” recipe at all – just a pinch of this and a handful of that.

“Was this your mother’s recipe?” I asked Mom. The pages were worn with splotches of sugar and flour.

“Yes,” Mom nodded. “And my mother got it from her mother. Your grandmother, Ruth, baked just about every day: pies, cakes, cookies. But mostly bread. There was always a fresh loaf of bread on the table. ‘The staff of life,’ she would say.”

At that moment I knew I wanted to be just like my mom and grandma. When I grew up, I wanted to feed my family “the staff of life.” I was determined to learn that magic formula that my mother, grandmother and great-grandmother had perfected.

With the rolls piping hot from the oven, Mom would pour herself a cup of coffee, and I would get myself a glass of milk. Sitting side by side on the sofa, we celebrated the swirly treat. Just my mom and me. This was our special time. Bite by bite, I would make my way through the cinnamon roll to the “luscious lump” of dough, sugar, and cinnamon in the center – my favorite part.

“Can you make these pinwheels again tomorrow?” I would ask Mom. I couldn’t wait for the next pie-baking day.

And then one day Mom couldn’t remember some of the ingredients that went into making the rolls. I didn’t know a lot about Alzheimer’s, but I did know that I wanted to help her remember – anything. Mom was now living in a retirement home, and I would visit her for hours. Sometimes we talked. Sometimes we didn’t. It wasn’t easy watching my mother disappear into another world. And yet, it was an honor to sit with her…and dream.

Store-bought cinnamon rolls sat silently on the kitchen counter in her new home, waiting to be opened. I would take out two pretty plates from the cupboard and place a cinnamon roll on each. Then I would grab her big, caramel-colored mug with the word “Mom” etched on it in bold, curvy letters, fill it with coffee, and hand it to her. The mug with the brightly-colored Christmas tree painted on it was for me. No matter what time of the year it was, I loved the feeling of Christmas in my hands. It seemed to offer so much promise.

“Mom, I want you to make cinnamon pinwheels for me,” I would say kiddingly, taking her hand. “Just the way you used to make them. I loved them more than anything in the world.” And she would laugh. And I would laugh. I knew this was an impossible request – and maybe she did too – but that wasn’t the point. Maybe I wanted to remember for the both of us.

Mom’s been gone for eight Septembers now. She lived to be ninety-three years old. I think about Mom’s final days and how her illness stole her away from us. There were times I cried because I wanted my mother back. And then I would quickly replace those unimaginable thoughts with the many good times we had together. Shared memories. Mom could take something as ordinary and unpretentious as a cinnamon roll and celebrate it.

Thanks to my mom I have learned to see and celebrate the simple, unbridled joys of everyday living. A noisy squawk jay on my patio. A card from a friend in my mailbox. A cinnamon roll on a pretty plate. I have come to know and appreciate the beauty and splendor the world has to offer me.

And I am grateful. Very grateful.

 

Lola Di Giulio De Maci is a retired teacher whose stories appear in several editions of Chicken Soup for the Soul, Ultimate Series, Tending Your Inner Garden, Reminisce, various newspapers including the Los Angeles Times, and children’s books and magazines. She enjoys crossword puzzles, journaling, handwritten notes/letters, her children, and new beginnings. Lola earned a Master of Arts in education and English and continues writing from her loft overlooking the San Bernardino Mountains. Contact her at: LDeMaci@aol.com.

SONIA MARSH SAYS: Lola, what a beautiful story of love and gratitude for the small things in life that bring us pleasure. Something to remember during this busy holiday season.

 

I am leaving for London, Copenhagen, Paris and Amsterdam for the holidays. I shall post photos and news about my trip, so I hope you enjoy following me on my trip.

In the meantime, please submit your own  “My Gutsy Story®” for publication in the 2015 Anthology.

  Click HERE for GUIDELINES

WomanSage Helps Women in Life Transitions Become Gutsy

The WowanSage “Women in Life Transitions” Program

I am a woman going through a life transition. My story is about divorce, and re-inventing a new “Gutsy” life for myself at age 57.

Starting next year, my blog shall take on a fresh focus. Watch out for the upcoming news in January 2015.

I  have been lucky to attend a group called “Women in Life Transitions” which started on September 18th, sponsored by WomanSage.

All 15 of us are going through various stages in life from:

Grief (death of a spouse or child)
Divorce
Struggling with a spouse suffering from depression or alcoholism
Loss of a job and lack of financial support 
Stay-at-home mom who feels stuck
Relationship problems, mental abuse
Issues with money and clinical depression
Nervous breakdowns

During a 3.5 month period we received a jumpstart in the following areas of our life:

1) Personal issues through our life coach, Donna Friess (3 sessions)

2). Career Coaching through the wonderful WHW (Women Helping Women) non-profit which offers monthly classes on:

Resume building
LinkedIn seminars
Job offers
Skilled volunteers to help with dressing professionally, and offering free outfits
Mock Interviews
Excel and computer classes.

3). Financial coaching with certified financial planners.

WHW (Women Helping Women) helped us with our wardrobes and professional clothing as well as make-up lessons fro the WomanSage team and finally professional photography through Julie Debolt Price. I can’t wait to share my photo, which I might use as my new author photo.

Julie is truly gifted at giving direction so you feel confident that your professional photo for LinkedIn or whatever you use it for will look great.

Christine Steele, who was in charge of organizing the program, Sonia, and Donna Friess, our wonderful coach.

This program helped me in every respect:

Getting financial, business and life coaching help
Boosting my confidence
Inspiring other women to become “gutsy.’
Making new friends

If you live in Orange County and need help because you’re going through a major life transition, consider contacting the WomanSage Life Transition Program for help.

This was a FREE program and I am so grateful for all the help I received and the new friends I made over this 3 month period.

 

 

WIN 10 FREE COPIES 
TO GIVE AWAY AS HOLIDAY GIFTS
CONTEST RULES
Send us a 500 word max. story by December 13th (e-mail: Sonia@soniaMarsh.com)
1). Have You Inspired Someone to Take a Risk and be Gutsy?
2). Has Someone Inspired You to Take a Risk and be Gutsy?
 Win 10 FREE copies of the My Gutsy Story® 

 

 

 Anthology to give as Christmas Gifts and motivate others to Become Gutsy in 2015

Do you have a story to share about changing one person? Making them go for their dreams, encouraging them?

Take the risk contest today.
 

 

You Have to Take a Leap, and Another, and Another, until you get it right.

 

 One Gutsy Summer

“My Gutsy Story®” by Suzanne Chun

I’ve made several gutsy moves in my life. Twice, I moved to different parts of the country, not knowing a soul, and I moved to California, where I only knew three family members. But, my first gutsy move taught me the most. I learned that sometimes you have to take a leap, and another, and another, until you get it right.

During the summer of 1983, I didn’t feel gutsy. I just did what my instincts told me to do. Now, when I look back at my 19-year-old self, I am impressed with the things I did and the lesson that I learned.

I was miserable at the women’s college that I had been attending for the past two years. Heated discussions about the Equal Rights Amendment and an angry attitude towards men were prevalent on campus. In general, I found the atmosphere more spiteful than sisterly.

As my spirits plummeted, I sought comfort in candy bars and crème-filled doughnuts between hearty cafeteria meals. My waistline expanded and my once clear complexion was covered with acne. I returned to my mom’s apartment for summer vacation and languished around, too depressed to make any plans.

“Why don’t you get a job at the beach and live there for the summer?” my mom asked me.

I didn’t have any friends who were doing that, so I would be on my own. Reluctantly, I agreed to give it a try. The next day, she and I made the four hour drive to Ocean City, Maryland to look for a room that I could rent. Most college students had gotten there in May, and now it was early June. Every ad we answered for a room or an apartment had already been filled.

To cheer me up, my mom took me out to lunch at a nice restaurant overlooking the bay. Our waiter was tall and tan with dark hair, dark eyes and a broad smile. My mom asked him about himself.  He said he was a college student, and he worked at the beach every summer.

“You should spend a summer working here,” he said to me. “It’s really fun.”

Suddenly, I was re-energized and eager to find a place to live. After searching all afternoon, I finally found a room for rent. It was a 30-minute drive from Ocean City, but I took it anyhow.

My mom and I went home, and I drove back the next day in my pale yellow 1968 Volkswagen bug convertible. My belongings filled the back seat. After getting settled in my new room, I got a newspaper to look for a job. I needed income immediately, so I decided to take the first job I could get, and continue to look for something better.

My first job was a part-time position at a souvenir shop. I wore a Ms. Pacman costume and stood on the boardwalk with a sign, directing customers to the store.  People laughed at my costume, but I didn’t care. I was content to hide inside that giant yellow disc.

About a week later, I found a full-time job at a fine jewelry store. I told the owner of the souvenir shop that I really needed the full-time work. He said he understood, so I started working at the jewelry store the next day.

The girls at the jewelry store all dressed fashionably, so I spruced up my wardrobe. I bought jersey knit dresses that made me look slimmer, and wore strappy feminine sandals. Being near the ocean and making new friends made me feel happier, so I no longer felt the need to overeat. I started to shed the extra pounds.

In July, two good things happened. I found a room to rent that was 15 minutes closer to the beach, and a new girl, Dana, started working at the jewelry store. Dana and I became good friends. When she wasn’t working at the jewelry store, she was a lifeguard. I hung out at her pool every chance I got.

One day, I told Dana that I was bored at the jewelry store. I wanted to be a waitress, so I could make more money and have fun doing it.

Dana called me that night. She said she talked to her brother, Dennis, who was a chef at a restaurant on the boardwalk. The restaurant where Dennis worked needed waitresses. No experience necessary. Also, Dennis and his wife needed a roommate, and they lived only a few blocks from the boardwalk.

I couldn’t believe it. I would finally be living in Ocean City. Dana told me to stop by the restaurant the next afternoon to talk to the owner. I got the job.

Ocean City, Maryland 2

I loved waitressing. It was really fast-paced and the tips were great. My co-workers, all students, were fun, energetic, and they talked excitedly about their colleges. They were all having a positive college experience. That’s what I wanted.

That summer, I persevered until I was happy. I had three different jobs and lived in three different places, each one better than the last. I was trim and tan, with a glowing complexion. My self-esteem had been restored, and I came home with a generous amount of savings.

At the end of the summer, I didn’t return to my mother’s apartment. I drove to the first house she had ever bought by herself. It was a gutsy summer for her, too. Her house, built in the 1920’s, was on a tree-lined street and it had a porch swing. It felt like home.

As I soaked in my mom’s old-fashioned, clawfoot bathtub, I realized that my perspective on life had changed. I couldn’t be complacent. I had to take action to make things better, so I transferred to a large university that felt right to me. I was happy there, and three years later, I graduated.

Towson State University

 

 SONIA MARSH SAYS: What a transformation during your summer, and how you became “gutsy” and transformed yourself.

Please follow Suzanne on Twiiter: @SuzanneChun

 Facebook link: www.facebook.com/SuzanneWinfreyChun

WIN 10 FREE COPIES 
TO GIVE AWAY AS HOLIDAY GIFTS
CONTEST RULES
Send us a 500 word max. story by December 13th (e-mail: Sonia@soniaMarsh.com)
1). Have You Inspired Someone to Take a Risk and be Gutsy?
2). Has Someone Inspired You to Take a Risk and be Gutsy?
 Win 10 FREE copies of the My Gutsy Story® 

 

 

 Anthology to give as Christmas Gifts and motivate others to Become Gutsy in 2015

Do you have a story to share about changing one person? Making them go for their dreams, encouraging them?

Take the risk contest today.
 

 

Attention Boomers! Join the Ultimate Guide Podcast with Kalynn Amadio

Kalynn Amadio

Kalynn Amadio, host of  Boomer’s Ultimate Guide podcast, interviews baby boomers about what they do, and their challenges. She started the show 2 months ago, and already has 90,000 downloads.

I shall be on her show today, however, my interview will  not air until January, 2015. I shall send a link when it’s up on the schedule.

As a baby boomer, I look forward to answering her questions below on “The Boomer’s Ultimate Guide Podcast.”

It won’t be a live broadcast, however you will be able to listen to it on Kalynn’s website.

The interviews are done via Skype and here is the link to view them.  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjsRberY5XLAMnLzyz7IoDA

The questions we shall cover are:

Who I am, and what I do?
How is working with Boomers different?
What are my top three tips for baby boomers regarding your topic?
What are the biggest challenges/concerns I see Boomers experience regarding my topic?
What would I tell a Boomer to do right now, today, to get started making changes?
What is the best way for listeners to connect with me?
I shall share an inspirational quote or very brief story to leave you with.

I hope you listen when I have the link, and in the meantime, you may want to contact Kalynn or her production manager, Kelly St. Clair.

I look forward to my interview. Here are the links for Kalynn on Facebook.

WIN 10 FREE COPIES 
TO GIVE AWAY AS HOLIDAY GIFTS
CONTEST RULES
Send us a 500 word max. story by December 13th (e-mail: Sonia@soniaMarsh.com)
1). Have You Inspired Someone to Take a Risk and be Gutsy?
2). Has Someone Inspired You to Take a Risk and be Gutsy?
 Win 10 FREE copies of the My Gutsy Story® 

 

 

 Anthology to give as Christmas Gifts and motivate others to Become Gutsy in 2015

Do you have a story to share about changing one person? Making them go for their dreams, encouraging them?

Take the risk contest today.