Step into Your Shoes: Your Journey Is Well Worth It

By Madeline Bell

Madeline shares her story and a few important nuggets that she has picked up along her journey that has helped her through many difficult points along her path.
Madeline has two wishes for you with this book:
To let you know that “someone does understand” how much noise there is in the world and
For you to “Step into your shoes” and seek the possibilities of your capabilities

• Language: English
• Publisher: Balboa Press
• Release date: Jan 24, 2020
• ISBN: 9781982241537

Madeline Bell

Madeline Bell is a giver at heart who always pushes herself to learn. Madeline enjoys mentoring and encouraging others to pursue their dreams. The first in her family to pursue a four-year degree, Madeline holds a BBA in Accounting from Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. Madeline has been victimized many times, first time while in the second grade. From high school dropout, teenage mom to college graduate, Madeline’s journey was not without many challenges. With an ultimate goal of seeking the possibilities of her capabilities, Madeline has battled homelessness, a move half way across the country, divorces, physical and emotional abuse. Though it all, Madeline finds blessings within her life challenges and continues stepping in her shoes to achieve her dreams. By stepping in her shoes, Madeline has been blessed with many, loving changes in her family, life, faith, and career.

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Copyright © 2020 Madeline Bell.

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 author except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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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 Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

ISBN: 978-1-9822-4152-0 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-9822-4154-4 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-9822-4153-7 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020901557

Balboa Press rev. date: 01/21/2020

To

my husband, John

There you are

Contents

Why I wrote this book

Introduction

Someone does understand

Statistics do not define you Statistics defines no one

Time. No, lack thereof, carve out time

Make Connections – even the smallest matter

Make Each Day Better They ALL matter

Explore Incorporating You Back in Your Life

Map out your plan

Seek the possibilities of your capabilities

Declutter and Organize Mind and Soul, & yes – your space as well

Step out of the abusive relationship you may have with yourself

Take 100% full responsibility

One Can Even Learn from a 5-Year-Old

Speak up and be Heard Your points not only matter, they are needed

Your journey is well worth it

Why I wrote this book

For a lifetime, I have lived with guards up. My guard was up because while growing up, when I would open up my true self, at times, I faced ridicule. My ideas mattered so long as I did as others wanted me to do, thought like others wanted me to think, pursued what others needed and expected me to pursue, which was not much as a Latin girl. I took the ridicules and walked, what felt alone, in my shoes. With decades behind me of walking in my shoes, I finally arrived at a place surrounded by love and acceptance, only to arrive and not recognize love and acceptance. I was lost in an unrecognizable foreign land.

In the beginning, I thought, I wrote this book only to share a story. I know now, it was more to realize that my shoes have brought me to a place full of much more love and acceptance that I could recognize and what I learned along the way is what I need to share. I had spent so much time fending off non-supporters that I had a difficult time recognizing the authentic supporters that I had rallied up around me. For some time, it was difficult for me to recognize my authentic supporters because they came to me from so many different perspectives and each are very much unique. As unique as each one of us is on this planet. When you are born and bred to simulate but cannot clam the cry of your inner voice, it is difficult to accept the uniqueness of the love that others have to offer you.

My shoes, the shoes that led me to this bliss, I had to remove. It is time to step into my new season shoes and begin walking in the love to which I have arrived. My journey is not over. I am now starting to learn to walk in the light which I have worked so hard to reach. Today, I am thankful for my new-found strength and for the ones that stood by me through this journey. Every bump, every wall, every tear, every moment, every step in my shoes. It has all been worth the love that surrounds me today that I now walk in my new season shoes ready to receive.

Sometimes I think I am ready for my life to be simple once again. In my shoes, to me, my life has not been difficult. For those around me, baring witness, it has been difficult for them.

Stay true to your shoes and all the right people and opportunities will enter your life. Some faces will be familiar, and some will be new. All will be great because all are presented to you for the reason that makes you, you. Being you is a great person to be. For if you are not you, then you cannot be. Step into your shoes with love. Walk your best self, every day, with pride and confidence. I hope this book helps you step in your journey and know that, someone does understand.

Introduction

Over twenty years ago the thought of writing a book entered my heart. I wanted to share some of what I have learned over