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A   U N I V E R S A L   S T O R Y
"This book tells the tale of the alternating feistiness and surrender of a spirit, and shamelessly exposes the nooks and crannies of an odd – though oddly familiar – mind. As she amuses us with her peculiar meanderings and nudges at our sense of self with her insightfulness, the author brandishes her journey as a revealing and compassionate mirror in which her unconventionality reflects the universality of the human experience."  [BACK COVER]
“Maybe I am slightly marginal and something of an oddball; maybe I am part of the eccentric fringe of the human mind. (…) On the other hand, if you are recognizing yourself in my ramblings, then the margin may be wider than commonly presumed and there’s a major party going on.” [A SPLENDID MESS]
“Did I mention the ebb and flow, the crests and troughs, the highs and lows and ups and downs of being on this quest? Did I mention the freakin’ roller coaster ride? Well the turns are giving me whiplash and the drops still take me by surprise and make my stomach churn.”
[A SPLENDID MESS]
This book could have been titled:
"What a Quest for Purpose Looks Like for Most of Us"
(who are not spiritual masters!)


The spirit of the book

Author’s Cruise: “Welcome to the Happy Ending!”
Most inspiring life stories are written after the fact, once the dust has settled and the authors have regained their composure. Through the lens of hindsight, these stories are inevitably sanitized and rearranged, and are usually written while sailing aboard the Happy Ending. The untidiness of juggling with fears, doubts and uncertainty is normally kept behind closed doors. Better to say “What I went through wasn’t pretty” then “Look here! I’m a splendid mess!”

A Story From the Middle
But my story was penned while things were not sorted out, in fact, while smack in the murky middle of them. I chose this course of uncensored, of-the-moment disclosure because I intuited that other life seekers wanted to read about a journey that looked like theirs: a roughly stitched patchwork of hope, fear, righteousness and flaws, leaps forward and frequent backtracking, imperfect faith and shiny sequins of ridicule. 

Brothers in arms

The Cavalry Wasn't Coming!
This book was written from the trenches, before victory was claimed and revised history. It was written while there was not a cavalry’s trumpet to be heard but in my wishful summoning.

In the Financial Ditch
Reading about how I found higher ground while gasping for air, managed to stay the course and even enjoy the ride may prove to be just the kind of inspiration and comfort my brothers in arms are seeking.

Inspirational books about the laws of abundance abound but hearing about those laws from teachers who are alien to the day-to-day struggles of not knowing how to pay your bills can be… challenging. Sometimes, it takes one of your own for hope to be sowed. 

The purpose of the book

People need to know they are not alone in a spiritual pursuit that so often feels like a solitary journey. They also need to know that a couple voices in one’s head doesn’t crazy make! (or is this just my compassionate self-diagnosis?) Telling my story with brazen honesty will hopefully grant you, my esteemed readers, permission to embrace the fullness of your own journey and validate that what you hear within yourself is your truth. Hopefully, it will serve to debunk any guilt you may harbor for the thoughts wreaking havoc in you heads and awaken the courage to listen and act.

This book is like...

... A Road Trip
It is about the scenic routes, bumpy roads, dangerous curves, steep hills and carefree highways that map life. It is about being loving when you take a wrong turn and finding beauty while on or off course. It’s about congratulating yourself for pushing on through floods, droughts and storms and reveling in the breathtaking scenery that will grace the journey.

“On your way to Peru, whatever is your “Peru”, remember to take-in every view and experience the fullness of every moment. You may never pass that way again.” [A SPLENDID MESS]

 A literary reality show

The Tru(wo)man Show
Yes, I willingly volunteered to live under the dome allowing my inner ramblings to be heard and outer fumbles to be seen. This will no doubt be cause for cheers and gasps but ultimately, hopefully, find resonance with an audience longing to connect with their own inner hero.

My story is like a new kind of literary reality show.  While the circus that has become the arena of reality shows mostly features mindlessness as the main attraction, this book puts adventures in mindfulness on full display – and it might just offer similar entertainment value!