Body, Mind, and Solo: Seven Keys to Conquering the World Alone
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About this ebook
- Christine Comaford,
NY Times Bestselling Author
of Rules For Renegades
Where Eat, Pray, Love stops; Body, Mind, and Solo continues and expands with valuable advice on how to create your own exciting adventures.
- Sophie Azouaou,
Examiner Columnist & Media Personality
With her bestselling travel guide, Fly Solo: The 50 Best Places on Earth for a Girl to Travel Alone, now available in four languages, author Teresa Rodriguez sets out to inspire others who want to take the leap of doing things alone in Body, Mind, and Solo.
In this clever book, Teresa uses travel as the metaphor for change and courage. She gives simple steps to build the confidence you need to do things on your ownbe it travel the world, leave a bad relationship, or start your own business. Discover the hope and inspiration you need to follow your dreams.
Body, Mind, and Solo gives you the tools to become the powerful person you were meant to be. By following these seven easy steps, you can find strength and knowledge to conquer your fears. Step out into the world with enthusiasm and joy.
Teresa Rodriguez
Teresa Rodríguez is an Emmy Award–winning journalist, anchor of Univision's news show Aquí y Ahora, and bestselling author of The Daughters of Juárez.
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Body, Mind, and Solo - Teresa Rodriguez
Copyright © 2012 Teresa Rodriguez
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
ISBN: 978-1-4525-5070-1 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-4525-5068-8 (hc)
ISBN: 978-1-4525-5069-5 (e)
Balboa Press books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:
Balboa Press
A Division of Hay House
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Bloomington, IN 47403
www.balboapress.com
1-(877) 407-4847
Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.
The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a form of treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly. The intent of the author is only to offer information of a general nature to help you in your quest for emotional and spiritual well-being. In the event you use any of the information in this book for yourself, which is your constitutional right, the author and the publisher assume no responsibility for your actions.
Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.
Library of Congress Control Number: 2012907228
Balboa Press rev. date: 11/27/2012
Contents
CHAPTER 1 Be Brave
CHAPTER 2 Be Faithful
CHAPTER 3 Be Wise
CHAPTER 4 Be Light
CHAPTER 5 Be Beautiful
CHAPTER 6 Be Generous
CHAPTER 7 Be Soulful
For my mom
No matter where I am
I look up and see
the moon
which reminds me
of your love
Preface
My story
It was stupid to think that at 19 years of age I had any business getting married. But I did, in a courthouse near San Francisco. He was a tall, gorgeous blonde from Australia and his blue eyes sparkled with hope of a beautiful life Down Under.
Marriage was a part of the Dream that I was sold as a young girl. You are no one without a husband.
So, I dutifully took my place in the realm of the wed and moved to Oz. My goal was to return to California for a Big White Wedding. So, a year after being married and moving to Australia, I returned home to plan the Big Event. Much to my surprise, I received a 6-page letter from him just days after my arrival home. This was in 1989–before cell phones, email, and the Internet. The letter was blunt and painful. Don’t bother coming back to Australia. You’re not wanted here. I don’t love you. I’ve moved and disconnected the phone.
With the turning of each page I fell deeper into the darkness. The sheets of paper cutting deep into my heart and tearing up any shred of hope I had for my future. Yes, I was young, but I was in love, passionate, and I moved across the planet for a man. My world crumbled. All that I owned, including all my money, was in Australia. Stuck, alone, and lost I fell into a deep depression.
For weeks I visited a psychiatrist every other weekday; each visit ending with the gifting of two valiums–one for that night and one for the following night. After a month of care, I did not improve. I was suicidal, lost over 15 pounds, and the doctor feared that I would harm myself. She handed me a stack of papers after one of our sessions and told me that she was recommending that I spend some time in in-patient care. There is a lovely facility in the rolling hills of Martinez, California.
Fill out this paperwork and bring it with you to our appointment next week. I knew that I was heartbroken, but I did not realize how far into the darkness I let this breakup take me. Shocked, I left the hospital with the stack of papers that weighed down my heart and soul. This can’t be happening to me.
I whispered to myself. I looked up with my tear-filled eyes, there a flock of blackbirds danced above me in perfect synchronicity. They swooped down, shining like black confetti, and twirled up to the heavens. I took a deep, cleansing breath and remembered the poem from Ken Kesey’s One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. One flew east. One flew west. And one flew over the cuckoo’s nest.
This was it. I had a choice to accept this lunatic’s fate, or I could rewrite the ending. Yes, I was heartbroken. Yes, I was abandoned. Yes, I was broken. But I was still able to choose my fate, and I chose courage. That night I went to a student travel agent and found a trip to Europe. I took the money that I saved for my wedding and bought a ticket to Heathrow. It was my first step to healing and it was through travel that I was able to mend my broken heart and bruised soul.
On my trip I learned that I can rely on myself and that I can trust my intuition. I met wonderful people who helped me recover and taught me how to laugh again. Crazy, I had to travel the world to find myself. But I did. So, if you are a bit lost, broken hearted, or needing some inspiration to move to the next place in your life, I hope that this book brings you the courage you need to move forward with joy and hope.
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
- Lao-tzu
May this be your first step.
Teresa
Introduction
Your Journey and This Book
"Throw your dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back,
a new life, a new friend, a new love, a new country."
- Anaïs Nin
Today, the average life span for those of us living in the wonderful, western world is about 25,550 glorious days. Now, of course, there’s a ton of things that can affect how long we live, but more importantly it’s not how long we live but how much we live. For example, do you go through your day sentenced to the same drab, monochromatic routine, or are you out there painting your world with neon colors and filling your days with outrageous acts? Good news, even if you tend to wilt towards the more drab existence, my