My life has been a series of many experiences that taught me, most of all, to listen to my inner voice. It's interesting how many years it took me to really understand that you know the answers all along, you just need to be still long enough to hear them.

I spent my youth being impulsive and reactive. I've tried hard to forgive myself for the thoughtless acts I've committed. One of the ways to do that is to strive always to be mindful of each current moment. I'm being present as much as possible, watching my actions to make sure that I am expressing love and kindness.

I've come to an age where I understand a little about wisdom and what it means. I'm more introspective now. I enjoy my private time immensely - something I never imagined could happen when I was young. I really have mellowed, which continues to surprise me.

I believe that everyone has value. Too many people are struggling to overcome difficult and challenging situations, without realizing that there is a lot they can do to help themselves.

I have three grown kids who live about 80 miles away. It's hard to connect, most of the time, because people in their 30s lead busy lives and often don't have time to visit. It does make me sad, sometimes, that we rarely get together.

Most of my adult life was spent being an employee for various companies; I spent the bulk of that time at various office positions in the healthcare industry, primarily mental health. It's always been a passion of mine. In 2003 I'd had enough of being an employee and broke away, creating a virtual assistance business called Healer's Helper. I am an off-site office for other small business owners.

In 1997, after losing a long-term job that I loved, I decided to become a hypnotherapist ( I had to do something to fill my time!). It was the ideal way for me to be able to learn more about how the mind works, and why it can do some of the things it does. I have an office nearby where I see clients, and it truly is a passion of mine.

In addition to virtual assistance and hypnotherapy, I am a comfort therapist for a local hospice. It started out by my volunteering for another local hospice, and shortly thereafter I learned about comfort therapies. I've been involved with hospice organizations since 2004. It has expanded my awareness in many ways. I never knew, before, how many ways there are to help people make that often difficult transition from "life" to "death".

With all the things that keep me so busy, I wonder, often, why in the heck I wasted so much of my time when I was young.

Other things I enjoy:

--reading
--gardening
--sewing
--being on or near water every chance I get
--taking long drives
--growing spiritually

Dislikes:
--mean-spiritedness
--being so self-centered that you can't see anyone else
--government involvement in EVERYTHING (my own perception)
--shallowness
--rules and laws that keep people from being all they can be