Pearl

By Cali Gilbert

Faced with the threat of homelessness and suffering from a severe back injury, Cali Gilbert set out to manifest the life of her dreams following the four step formula which led her to success once before. Pearl is the sequel to Cali's #1 International Bestselling book, It's Simply Serendipity. Learn the tools Cali used to not only reclaim her life, but live a truly authentic and purposeful life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Cali Gilbert
• Release date: Sep 16, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463866122

Cali Gilbert

Cali Gilbert is an International bestselling author, award winning filmmaker and photographer. She has travelled the globe as a former figure skater and magazine publisher, and has contributed to the Huffington Post. With an extensive background in event management, Cali assisted the Canadian Olympic Committee at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games, and most recently served as an Event Ambassador for the 34th America’s Cup sailing regatta in San Francisco.Cali is an accomplished photographer, whose work has been showcased in galleries across the United States. As the creator of the IT’S SIMPLY book series, Cali has published several bestselling books of her own and now serves other writers through her imprint, Serendipity Publishing House.As Founder & CEO of Tower 15 Productions, Cali supports other creatives through education and collaboration in the areas of publishing, photography and filmmaking. Cali splits her time between Los Angeles and San Diego, California where she enjoys serving her community, especially women in transition and youth programs. To learn more, visit www.CaliGilbert.com

Book preview

Pearl

A Guide to Living an Authentic & Purposeful Life

Copyright © 2015 by Cali Gilbert

No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval devices or systems, without prior written permission from the author.

Some of the names of those mentioned throughout my story have been changed to protect the individuals.

Paperback Version Info:

ISBN-13 978-1503031098

ISBN-10 1503031098

Library of Congress Control Number: 2015918325

First printing November, 2015

Serendipity Publishing House

Santa Monica, CA

Cover photograph courtesy of Tony Lee ~ fototaker.net

WWW.CALIGILBERT.COM

Praise for PEARL

Cali's beautiful story of transformation in PEARL is a perfect example of what happens when you shift between setting an intention in life, to living an inspired life filled with purpose.

─ DR. JOE VITALE, bestselling author, star of The Secret

PEARL is a beautiful story of transformation, one that inspires us all to live a life of joy, love and happiness.

─ STEVEN E. SCHMITT, founder of Law OF Positivity

Contents

Foreword

With Gratitude

Introduction

Part One

1. Life is Golden

2. Structure

3. Reflect & Move Forward

4. Spontaneity

5. New Love

6. Reunion

Part Two

7. Torn Heart

8. Love & Loss

9. Awakening

10. Metamorphosis

11. Blind Sighted

12. Dare to Dream

13. Too Close for Comfort

Part Three

14. Change of Scenery

15. Let Go & Let Flow

16. New Beginnings

17. Sausalito, Sailing & Serendipity

18. Closure

19. City of Angels

20. Blissful Dreams

Foreword

Would you recognize the face of homelessness? It doesn’t always look the way we expect it to look. The perception of a raggedy man or woman begging for money on the street is often a perception that doesn’t apply to those who find themselves without the comfort of a place to call home. You may know someone right now who is homeless and never suspect the suffering they feel in the core of their being. Living without a home leaves them unrooted and yearning for a place they can ground themselves.

It could be the girl in the cubicle next to you who looks put together but sleeps every night in her car. It could be the woman on the bus who appears to have it all but is couch surfing where she can, desperate for a real place to lay her head and wondering where she will sleep next. It could be the young man on his bicycle making his way on free meals and sleeping in cheap hostels. Those of us who have experienced homelessness have one thing in common, we know what it feels like to not belong anywhere, and that leaves an emptiness which yearns to be filled.

In Pearl, Cali Gilbert shares her story of struggling with homelessness when she loses her job and home and is forced into the streets, dependent only on the kindness of friends and surviving on what many people would see as pure luck. Prior to becoming homeless, she is struck with a back injury that physically debilitates her and leads to her losing her job while her romantic relationship crumbles. What keeps her moving forward is her understanding of four principles she laid out in her book It’s Simply Serendipity, and her faith that everything will work itself out in a way that is best for her.

Pearls begin with a grain of sand and are polished with years of hardship that become beautiful and symbolize the wisdom garnered as a result of life experience. Cali’s story is evidence that anyone can prevail from even the most difficult experiences to become who they were truly born to be.

─ VICTORIA REYNOLDS, Inspirational Author, Speaker & Mentor, Spiritual Freedom Guide

Introduction

Dreamers paint a pretty picture. Those who take action create a masterpiece.

– Cali Gilbert

Walking along 5th Street in Union Square, I pass a middle-aged man sitting on a bench. He asks me for some spare change. I smile slightly and apologize for not having any. I’m sorry but I don’t even have a home, I say. You’re homeless? But you’re so pretty, he replies. It was in that moment that I realized homelessness does not discriminate. I looked around at the vast expressions on the faces before me and wondered how many others were there, people just like me? Not the drug addicts or felons, those who are stereotyped when it comes to homelessness, but someone who had worked hard to build a good life, obtained a university degree, and just hoped to find some work.

There is a great misconception when it comes to the face of homelessness in our country and in particular, the state of California. In San Francisco alone, the homeless population reached over 6,500 in 2010, so little did I know when I graduated at the end of that year with my master’s degree from the University of San Francisco, that I would become part of those statistics just one year later. Walking the downtown core of San Francisco in the area known as Union Square, tourists gravitate to the many shops, theatres and restaurants. Yet just a few blocks west is an area known as the Tenderloin where a large portion of the homeless community congregates. I had heard about this area as one to avoid, yet would find myself seeking shelter there.

The unemployment rate in San Francisco in 2010 was 8.5%, and I soon learned my graduate degree would become more a detriment than a benefit as I was looked upon as being overqualified. My dreams of creating a successful and happy life for myself soon became a harsh lesson in reality. What I also didn’t realize when I graduated was that I was pregnant. Over the course of the next 12 months, instead of beginning a new promising career, I ended up losing the child and falling into a deep depression. Soon began a downward spiral of loss that culminated with the loss of my home at the end of 2011.

I was lucky though. I had an amazing support system and I was surrounded by love. In four months’ time, I was able to turn my life around and began again. I had learned a lot during that year of loss and created a four-step formula to manifesting my greatest desires. At that time I only had three wishes. I wanted to find a new home of my own, a part-time job that paid the bills yet allowed me the flexibility to do what I love, and to wake up each day and follow my passions for writing and photography. I created all of it in less than three months after setting my intentions. Despite living my dream in 2012, I still had lessons to learn and more growing to do, and the months that lie ahead would reveal a side of myself I had yet to discover.

There is another misconception that when we finally create the life of our dreams, fears and limiting beliefs all of a sudden disappear, and we live happily ever after. It’s a nice thought, but if that were the case, we wouldn’t be human, and we wouldn’t continue to evolve and grow. Every day we wake is a new opportunity for us to develop, to learn, to dream new dreams, and to connect with the true essence of who we are at the core of our being. Life is constant transformation, and it is through that transformation that we begin to peel away the layers of programming we’ve grown so accustomed to follow, in order to reveal our true authentic selves and ultimately live purposeful lives.

The story I share in the following pages is a recollection of an 18-month period in my life from April, 2012 to October, 2013. During this time I share how I implemented my four-step formula for manifesting bliss into my everyday life, and how I published three more books in the process. I also share how I fought to stay true to my authentic self when fear and limiting beliefs would rear their ugly heads. It’s constant transformation for me as well and every day I learn something new about myself. I continue to peel away the layers and I continue to grow, as we all do.

When I left you last in my personal story of transformation, it was the spring of 2012 and I was taking part in my first book signing at the prestigious Cavallo Point Lodge in Sausalito, California. I had published two books, It’s Simply Sausalito and It’s Simply Golden, and now I had the opportunity to share my work with those in my community. It was also a wonderful way to begin a new chapter in my life as I had just accepted a new position as a caretaker for a property management company and was moving into my new home, a beautiful loft in my beloved Sausalito. After the massive amount of loss I experienced in 2011, I was feeling very grateful to have survived and excited about what the future would hold.

PART ONE

1

Life is Golden

The week following my book signing was filled with excitement as my creative juices were flowing. My new apartment was a beautiful blank canvas and a vast amount of space from which to create my own personal sanctuary. I entered to 1200 square feet of space with 14 windows that welcomed in the morning light. I felt I had found heaven. As an artist I envisioned vibrant colors filling each room, reds and golds, greens and blues. For the first time I would have a designated space to utilize as my studio, a place to write and create. I was so excited.

The first day of painting I declared as ‘Red Day’ as I was painting several accent walls a deep burgundy red. I have always loved this color but was always told it was too dark. I figured with all the light flowing in from the many windows, it would be perfect. The walls I would paint were in the dining room, one wall in the studio and the great 20 foot wall in the main living area. I decided to take before and after photographs to document the transformation. I was so pleased with my creation.

The next color on the palette was a mustard yellow and this would cover one wall in my bedroom, one wall in the studio, an accent wall in the main living area, and the hallway leading to the back entrance. The final color added to the studio was a light moss green which really brought the room to life. I loved the idea of a designated room to work. The room included a separate entrance and a door dividing the space and the main living area. It was part of my home, yet separate at the same time. The room included a small desk and chair, bookshelves and a daybed to start out. I was eager to really make it my own writing sanctuary.

The rest of the week was spent organizing furniture and adding my personal touch to the décor. I loved how my new space was beginning to resemble a home. By the end of the week my body was craving attention and I headed to a yoga class with Matthew. As I walked the path to the studio, the fog had rolled in and was hovering over the Golden Gate Bridge. I was able to capture a magnificent photograph. It felt good to be out in nature again, and I had grown to love the early morning sounds and smells during my walks.

My new job was going well. I worked Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm in the office. It was a customer service position and I enjoyed the interaction with clients. I also enjoyed the flexible schedule which allowed me to focus on my passions the rest of the week, those of writing and photography. I loved being able to do what I love while also having the security of a home and steady income. I would try to put in extra hours of work whenever possible to save some money.

As I continued to get settled into my new job and home, my life began to take on some structure once again which I