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The Guru and the English Rose: A Story of Authenticity, Courage and Miracles
The Guru and the English Rose: A Story of Authenticity, Courage and Miracles
The Guru and the English Rose: A Story of Authenticity, Courage and Miracles
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The Guru and the English Rose: A Story of Authenticity, Courage and Miracles

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“Sally is an angel, full of love, wisdom and clarity. She has a special magic. This book will certainly change your life forever.”
— Princess Harshad Purna Devi, Morbi, India

The Guru and the English Rose is a remarkable story of how one woman went on a quest to create a life of purpose and passion. Along the journey she was tested, challenged, disappointed, surprised, betrayed, loved, empowered, elevated and enlightened.

Her life took her from the west to the east, from the known to the unknown, from the modern to the ancient and from this journey emerged a life of authenticity, courage and miracles.

This book will;
• Fill you with wonder and give you hope.
• Show you the way to a new life.
• Inspire you to follow your heart and realize your dreams.
• Encourage and empower you to take the first step.
• Remove the fears of change.
• Guide you to discover the real, unique you.
• Lay out the blueprint to happiness and success.
• Reveal the way to create a loving relationship with your soulmate.

Full of wonderful wisdom lessons, Sally’s story is inspirational, impactful and contains all the elements of a Hollywood blockbuster. It will guide you to live an authentic life, create your own miracles and find true happiness.

This is a book you will not be able to put down.

LanguageEnglish
Release dateSep 9, 2021
ISBN9781543766585
The Guru and the English Rose: A Story of Authenticity, Courage and Miracles
Author

Sally Forrest

SALLY FORREST is a pharmacist, an MBA and a business leader with extensive international experience. She left her life in England, moved to Asia and courageously followed her heart. She opened an orphanage, authored best-selling books, mastered holistic disciplines and became a successful entrepreneur. A global TEDx speaker, she coaches clients around the world using timeless wisdom and proven techniques.

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    The Guru and the English Rose - Sally Forrest

    Copyright © 2021 by Sally Forrest.

    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.

    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.

    Author’s Note: Some names of characters have been changed to protect identity and maintain confidentiality.

    Medical Disclaimer: The author of this book does not dispense medical advice or prescribe the use of any technique as a treatment for physical, emotional, or medical problems without the advice of a physician, either directly or indirectly.

    www.partridgepublishing.com/singapore

    CONTENTS

    Praise for Sally and Her Work

    An Invitation

    Life is a Jigsaw

    Dedication

    The Promise

    Chapter 1 The Jigsaw Begins

    Chapter 2 The Unexpected

    Chapter 3 Change Creates Excitement

    Chapter 4 The Courage to Follow My Heart

    Chapter 5 Awakening to Asia

    Chapter 6 A New Life Begins

    Chapter 7 Finding Myself

    Chapter 8 Pains and Pleasures of Life

    Chapter 9 The Universe on Our Side

    Chapter 10 The Divine Jigsaw

    Your Next Piece

    Afterword

    A Reflection

    Introducing Sally Forrest

    Stay Connected with Sally

    Books Available from Sally and SoulCentre

    SoulCentre Asia’s Premier Centre for Personal Development

    the_Guru.jpg

    PRAISE FOR SALLY

    AND HER WORK

    S ally is a great inspiration to those who want to create a life of success and significance.

    From humble beginnings, Sally has shaped her life into a masterpiece that blends Eastern and Western wisdom. She walks the talk and is able to guide and inspire others to live a life that they truly deserve and desire.

    Sally shows a new path to the people taking the kernel of the ancient wisdom tradition mixed with her own realisation. She presents a blueprint that will help you discover your own life purpose and destiny path.

    You will find inspiration as you read this book, cover to cover, and then return for practical reminders of what you can do today, in this very moment, to bring more happiness, purpose, and meaning to your life.

    This book offers practical steps to help you navigate life’s many challenges. It is entertaining, enlightening, and filled with wisdom nuggets that will bring you closer to a life of compassion, love, and self-realisation.

    Dato Joey Yap

    Founder of the Mastery Academy of Chinese Metaphysics and bestselling author, Malaysia.

    Sally is an angel. She came at a time in my life when I needed direction and support.

    She is full of love, wisdom, and was able to guide me with certainty and clarity. I love her dearly especially her joy of life, energy, and passion.

    She has a special magic that will change your life forever.

    Princess Harshad Purna Devi

    Morbi, Gujarat, India

    This is a story of inspiration and impact from a woman of success and significance. Sally’s life story contains all the elements of a Hollywood blockbuster, spiced up with wisdom lessons that can change the way you live your life.

    I could not put it down, and I am sure you won’t either. I highly recommend it.

    Pin Lim

    CEO Pirtek Asia, Singapore

    Sally is a beautiful and strong person who writes from the heart with much wisdom and much compassion. Her challenges are relatable; her results are breathtaking.

    Having had the courage to follow her heart, she inspires us to look more deeply into ours. For there we unlock the capacity for greater happiness, meaning, and purpose in life.

    Yvonne Corpuz,

    Global executive, Sydney, Australia

    Sally’s guidance is enlightening. She brings clarity to complex matters and renders refreshingly new ideas on how to move forward.

    Always a delight to seek her guidance, she is extraordinary and exceptional.

    The Honourable Garech Domnagh Browne,

    The Guinness family

    Ireland

    Sally is an inspiration for so many people who want to live with authenticity and miracles. The Guru and the English Rose is inspirational as it is insightful. Full of lessons that can be applied in our own lives. I loved it.

    Ruth Chua

    Managing partner,

    Aphrozone Singapore Pte Ltd

    Sally is an exemplary, authentic woman who’s true to herself, her values, and her word. She is highly dependable and is always there to support the important people in their life. She has an admirable brand of selflessness and is a strong leader who walks the talk and who is a role model for others.

    Sally exhibits a high level of self-discipline in order to stay true to her values. Though she’s an incredibly successful businesswoman, coach, reiki teacher, and feng shui master, she never stops learning and is constantly striving to be better every day. Her humility keeps her grounded and is someone who does not let ego get in the way of her success and her approach with people.

    Sally is a kind, affable, and beautiful soul whom I’m so grateful to have met and learnt from.

    Grace Lim-Quek

    CEO’s office

    HSL Constructor Pte Ltd, Singapore

    Sally’s life truly is an inspiration for me. She lives what she teaches. She is on purpose. She makes her dreams come true. She enjoys life to the max.

    Sally positively impacts the lives of many people with her practical wisdom, compassion and care, humour, and professionalism. She understands life like an old, wise master and is full of energy, joy, and passion like a young, playful child.

    Every time I engage with Sally, I feel inspired, uplifted, empowered, and grateful. She is one of those rare individuals who has truly touched my life for the good.

    I am sure that her life story in The Guru and the English Rose will inspire every reader!

    Anton Broers

    CEO of Mind Ur Life, Netherlands

    Sally is one of the most authentic and charming people I have had the privilege of meeting in my life. She has a deep appreciation of ancient wisdom and is an expert in holistic healing. With these powerful foundations, she has helped optimize the lives and improved the health of thousands over the years.

    If you are looking for a way to live your life in alignment with nature that is filled with love and joy, do yourself a big favour: reach out to Sally now.

    Tony Tan

    Deputy CEO, Imperium Solutions Singapore

    An Enterprise 50 company

    A must-read. No matter how young or old you are, this book touches you with wise life lessons.

    The story of Sally Forrest could also be your story in search of the meaning of life.

    Yet there is a big difference. Sally shows you in The Guru and the English Rose how to take the steps to live your own happy life without fear.

    Maurice van der Kant

    Founder of Booking World Speakers, Belgium

    Sally is an inspirational leader who shows success is achieved through having the courage to follow your dreams and make them a reality. Her life journey is one everyone should take time to read as it shares the wisdom to finding true success and happiness. Whatever definition of success and happiness you want to be your reality, Sally’s story will help you achieve it.

    Martin Willis, Global Executive, UK

    Sally was the one that believed in me even before I did. She offered me the chance to become a SoulKids mentor and afterwards to help in all the SoulKids programs at SoulCentre.

    In 2018, when I went back to Romania, I took SoulKids with me and made it into a big success here, so big that Sally and Vikas came to Romania and trained fourteen more SoulKids coaches.

    I will be forever grateful for the great opportunity I had in meeting Sally.

    I recommend Sally’s book with all my heart as I know first-hand that this book can change your life.

    Dana Ilies

    Certified SoulKids mentor and coach

    Romania

    Sally Forrest is a true inspiration on how to lead a life of authenticity and purpose. Her deep conviction to listen to her inner knowing and her deep calling to refashion her life full of meaning are a great source of strength. Her journey, if serendipitous, is full of courage. Go on her journey and discover the power of living true to your convictions.

    Sally’s smile and personality light up every room that she walks into and touches the heart immediately. The strength that she exudes and her non-judgement immediately place one in a zone of deep comfort and support. Her ability to take a 360-degree look at your life and being and to support one to become centred and heal is immense. She continues to transform each life she encounters.

    Sally and Vikas and SoulCentre’s work encourages one to develop a solid anchor within that supports one to grow and to face all the challenges life throws with calm and courage. From meditation, healing practices, learning of ancient texts, and wisdom, they continue to fashion the world around them. I have grown with them, through them, and am grateful for the work they continue to do with deep conviction.

    Deepa Malhi

    GM/MD leading consumer brand, Asia

    Sally is an internationally renowned speaker, teacher, author and entrepreneur. Having helped countless people achieve their best lives, she now shares her life story to inspire us all to realise our greatest dreams.

    When one feels unsatisfied with life, taking a leap of faith and making changes may seem challenging. Following the status quo may seem safer despite a lack of meaning and satisfaction.

    In The Guru and the English Rose, Sally shares the wisdom that gave her the courage to follow her heart and be successful whilst following her dream.

    By sharing her story and teachings, Sally gives us the inspiration and the means to achieve happiness and fulfilment. Sally guides us beautifully through the steps of wisdom necessary for us to live up to our full potential.

    Mary Jo Pokorski, Holistic Practitioner, USA

    Sally and Princess Purna had an amazing relationship. They were great friends and confidantes.

    Sally was a pillar of strength to the princess. They shared an amazing journey together, and I cannot wait to read the narrative that Sally, with her punctilious eloquence, will deliver.

    Dr Omie Rangabashyam

    Singapore

    AN INVITATION

    T his book is more than a story; it is an invitation.

    An invitation to look at life in a new way and to see the connections and the meaning behind pivotal moments of life.

    Life often throws us a curveball, something we did not expect and something we did not want to experience. It could be the death of a loved one, the loss of a business, a divorce, an accident, an experience of being cheated, an arrest, failure in some aspect of life, or a feeling of struggle or lack.

    At some stage in life, we have all experienced something that totally threw us off-track.

    At that moment, maybe we felt as if life was unfair. We felt we could not go on, or maybe we felt that life as we knew it was over.

    We began to question life.

    Is this what life is about?

    How has my life become like this?

    Is there more to my life?

    How can I even think of moving forwards when I feel lost and stuck?

    Is life worth living?

    What if that unexpected experience, that painful challenge, became an essential piece of what I call ‘your jigsaw of life’?

    What if that unwanted experience eventually allowed you to move forwards in a new direction and enabled you to take a courageous step and to appreciate a new reality?

    What if, after some time had passed, you were able to look back on life, join the dots, see the pieces of the jigsaw, and start to see the connections?

    With this new awareness, you would begin to see and appreciate the challenges of life and to frame them with new meanings. You would begin to see how these experiences, these pieces, connect and to begin to appreciate the picture that started to form. This would result in more clarity and an understanding of the purpose of your life and ultimately your destiny.

    You would have the realization that curveballs affect everyone and that change is inevitable. That life was nudging you, guiding you forwards, and not punishing you or wanting you to stop and give up.

    No matter what has happened in your life up until this moment, I now invite you to step forwards with courage and to discover your authentic self.

    Once you do this, life rewards you with beauty and miracles that you would never before imagine possible.

    How do I know this?

    Because it happened to me, and I see it happening with thousands of my clients all over the world.

    This book will give you hope.

    This book will encourage you to take the first step.

    This book will remove any fears you have of change.

    This book will help you realize your dream.

    This book will help you see the real you.

    This book will lead you to happiness.

    LIFE IS A JIGSAW

    I magine that life is like a jigsaw, made up of random pieces (our life experiences) that on their own do not seem important or significant.

    Each piece of the jigsaw is not fully understood or appreciated until it connects to another piece. If the connection is not made, then the piece remains on its own, alone and abandoned. It remains as it is, unable to connect and form a larger, more interesting piece.

    Once a connection is made, one piece is added to another, and then to another, and slowly a picture starts to becomes visible. Each piece becomes more meaningful and more significant once connected, and the larger image becomes easier to identify.

    An image starts to form from these random experiences of our life journey, and the picture of our destiny, our life purpose, is revealed.

    It takes time and courage to fit the pieces together, but once we do, the picture starts to become clear. From the random pieces, a beautiful visual emerges, and when we see it for the first time, we are in awe of it.

    Sadly, many of us simply give up on the jigsaw once a tricky piece is in our hands.

    These tricky pieces of life can come in many forms: losing a job, betrayal, divorce, death of a loved one, being cheated, disagreements, failure of a business, and more.

    We find it too difficult, too overwhelming, too frustrating, and we simply quit.

    We do not try to piece it to anything. Instead we see it as a wrong piece, and we allow this piece to be the reason we quit.

    We put the jigsaw away, partly finished, and we think we will start it again at a later date.

    But the later date often never happens. The jigsaw remains in its box, and we continue being busy with life.

    Our jigsaw never gets finished, and we never truly see our life purpose.

    We make excuses, and we live out a life half-finished. We lose interest, we get distracted by the mundane and routine matters of life, and we do not progress.

    We delay our dreams and get lost in the minutia.

    The good news is that the true beauty of the jigsaw remains inside us; it does not go away. We simply need to have the courage and the energy to pick it up again and to continue with it.

    This book will inspire you to reconnect to all that is inside of you. You will see the pieces of your own jigsaw, both the good ones and the tricky ones that you never understood before.

    This book will empower you to step forwards and to fulfil your inborn promise.

    This book will help you to clearly see your own life purpose.

    All you need to do is to have the courage to listen to your intuition, recognize the signs, and follow your heart.

    This is the secret to living a life of authenticity and experiencing a divinely guided life. Once you begin to follow your heart, the magic happens.

    DEDICATION

    4-piece%20(1).jpg

    A jigsaw needs four corners from which its beauty is created.

    These corners define it and give it great strength.

    They are the anchors from which the rest of the jigsaw is built.

    I have been blessed to have experienced four strong

    anchors in my life and am eternally grateful to them.

    Nanny (Edith Ann Butler) for her unconditional love and strength.

    Mum (Margaret Roberta Forrest) for her

    kindness, love, and joy for life.

    Dad (James Gerald Forrest) for his guidance,

    support, encouragement, and love.

    While all three are all no longer with me physically,

    I know their energies live on in spirit.

    I love you beyond what words can say, and I

    am so happy you are a part of my life.

    Vikas Malkani, my soulmate, for bringing

    miracles into my life on a daily basis.

    You are a gift from the divine, and I treasure you each day.

    The yin and the yang are complete when we are together.

    Hand in hand, we walk the path of

    authenticity, courage, and miracles.

    Our love will light the flame for many.

    Thank you for being in my life.

    THE PROMISE

    Everyone is born with a promise.

    It is a promise of pure potential.

    It is a promise that says, ‘Who I can be is up to me.’

    Yet why is it that so few find their promise?

    Why is it that so many people feel disconnected from life?

    Why is it that so many people feel dissatisfied and empty with the life they have created?

    Why is it that we let fear hold us back?

    Why is it that we are afraid to take the risk to be who we truly are?

    Why is it that we stay in relationships where we are not celebrated?

    Why is it that we settle for mundane lives?

    Why is it that we say, ‘One day, tomorrow or later’, and we put things off and never live the life we deserve and desire?

    Why is it that we do not follow our heart?

    The answers lie in this book.

    The answers came from a life of following my heart and saying yes to life.

    A life of ups and downs, of successes and failures.

    A life of highs and lows and of great happiness and extreme sadness.

    A life of opposites, of duality, of contrasts, of the yin and yang.

    And most importantly, a life of awareness that has shown me the relevance of each step.

    In summary, a life of authenticity, courage, and miracles.

    CHAPTER 1

    The Jigsaw Begins

    What life sends us is not our choice; how

    we respond to it is our choice.

    I t was close to midnight in a small village in Northern England in the depth of winter.

    The year was 1964, and modern-day technological conveniences of life were not yet created. There was no internet, no mobile phones, and no computers in homes.

    A woman went into labour in her humble bedroom, and the local doctor was called.

    He responded as fast as he could, grabbing his shoes and leaving home in a hurry, still wearing his pyjamas.

    He walked the direct route to the house, across a field, and on the way realized he had forgotten to put in his false teeth. But there was no time to turn back.

    He was accompanied by a nurse who also grabbed the first footwear she could find and arrived in thigh-length leather boots.

    An unusual sight for sure; both were simply focused on getting to the woman and supporting with the birth of the child. They had little awareness or care of ‘norms and expectations’.

    The labour was intense, and thirty minutes after midnight, the baby arrived, wrinkled, blue in colour, and strangled with the umbilical cord still around its neck.

    ‘The baby is dead,’ said the doctor and continued to focus on the exhausted woman who had just given birth.

    He cut the umbilical cord and put the baby on one side of the room.

    The father, a local policeman, was downstairs in the living room during the birthing process. He was anxiously awaiting news of the arrival of his third child.

    Something stirred in him and compelled him to run up the stairs and enter the bedroom.

    The doctor looked at him, shook his head sideways, and indicated the baby was dead.

    The father saw the blue lifeless baby, discarded at the side of the room, and observed the doctor and nurse tending to the mother.

    Something within him took over; it was like a guiding force.

    He walked forwards, and without thinking, he picked up the baby, held it upside down by its blue wrinkled legs, and started to stroke its back and to gently shake it. Nothing happened, so he continued to shake the baby, this time a little harder.

    Some mysterious force within was driving him.

    Some would call it intuition, divine guidance, or synchronicity; he was being guided to do something that he had not done before and something the logical mind would not understand.

    He was being guided by a larger force, something unseen that ‘knew’ what needed to be done. The father was open, receptive, and followed his intuition; he simply flowed with life without questioning.

    He continued to shake the baby, even though the doctor looked across at him and said there was no hope.

    The father did not give up and kept his focus on the baby.

    And then the miracle happened. The baby began to cry!

    Possibilities always exist; however, sometimes we don’t see them.

    Yet when we can trust and take action, those possibilities can become realities.

    The doctor was stunned when he heard the baby cry because he did not believe it was possible.

    His concern now shifted to the fact the baby had been deprived of oxygen for such a long period that its health might have been affected.

    He told the father that ‘she will have brain issues’ as she had been deprived of oxygen for far too long.

    That was my welcome into the world.

    This was the start of my life, and it was the first piece of my jigsaw.

    Piece-MyBirth%20(2).jpg

    The logical mind cannot understand or appreciate miraculous happenings.

    The mind has to justify things, and the only way it does this is by referring back to past events and past memories which it can hold on to. These memories hold meaning and are then projected on to the present moment in time and used as a reference on which to base decisions.

    ‘She will have brain issues’ was the diagnosis for the newly born Sally.

    Even though my parents heard this message from the doctor, they always treated me like any other newborn baby. They did not go looking for problems or subject me to a series of tests.

    They believed all was normal and lived accordingly, and so it was.

    Their belief in me and their courage to go with the flow of life and move on to the next moment added to the miracle of my birth.

    In today’s world, many parents, on hearing such news, would be encouraged to undergo a series of tests. If born in a hospital, the baby would immediately be subjected to scans and invasive testing, which most certainly would find some issue.

    Today as I write this book, I have come to realize that if you look for problems, you will surely find them. If you focus on miracles, you find those as well.

    Life is persistent and aligned with growth.

    To get the best out of life, all we need to do is focus on the positive outcomes we want and take action in that direction. Life then begins to support us.

    The story of my birth has always intrigued me.

    There is something ‘out there’ that is bigger than we can imagine, bigger than we can fathom with our limited mind and experience, something that brings the right people together, at the right moment in time, for a purpose which is not yet realized.

    There is some kind of energy or awareness that once we tap into it, we are guided forwards.

    A divine and larger plan seems to be at work.

    My birth taught me to trust in this universe, that all is as it should be in any moment of time, even if we can’t see it, and that if something is meant to be, it will happen.

    It also taught me that special people will be around to help and support us on this journey of life, people who are able to connect on an energetic level and somehow make a decision or take an action that is needed.

    It taught me that miracles do happen in life and to expect them.

    I believe there are two ways to live our lives.

    One is as though nothing is a miracle; the other is as though everything is a miracle.

    I chose to live my life as if everything is a miracle, and as a result of my belief, to me, miracles are everywhere.

    My father was not a medical doctor.

    He was a humble police officer who had chosen to live in a remote village location for the purpose of bringing up his children.

    He was intelligent, excelled in his role, and had been offered many promotions and exciting career opportunities. However, he declined them as it meant moving the family to live in the large inner cities.

    He was clear in his heart that he wanted a simple village environment in which to raise his children and to create a safe and secure life for them.

    He wanted a life where he was present and at home to support his family whenever needed. To fulfil this, he chose his family over his career.

    The decisions we make should arise from an internally authentic motivation rather than an externally conditioned mindset.

    Only then can they bring us lasting fulfilment.

    I now realize that this one decision, this selfless decision, meant that I lived.

    My father was home at the time of my birth, fully present and able to support.

    Something compelled him to go up the stairs at the moment of birth.

    Something compelled him to trust his intuition.

    Something compelled him to lift up the blue lifeless baby.

    Something compelled him to take action even though he had been told it was no use.

    Something compelled him to never give up.

    And for the gift of life, I am eternally grateful.

    Early Life

    At the age of three, sitting on the shoulders of my father on a family walk through the fields to the local river, I suddenly developed breathlessness.

    I started to gasp for air and struggled to breathe.

    The doctors soon diagnosed asthma, and the medications began.

    For the remainder of my childhood years, I was known as the one with asthma, ‘the wheezle’. This became my family nickname as the shortness of breath gave me a wheezing sound.

    The illness, my asthma, became a part of my identity and was featured in all conversations connected to me.

    If I ever left home without my medicine, a Ventolin bronchodilator inhaler, which was used to open up the airways of the lungs to help during an attack, then it was almost certain I would get an asthma attack.

    It was a psychological trigger. If I had the inhaler with me, I was okay. If I did not, then I would have an asthma episode.

    Even at school, every time I had asthma, I was immediately sent home. My mother would often buy me a jigsaw puzzle to keep me occupied, and I would get lots of attention due to my illness.

    Asthma became a great excuse to get out of cross-country runs and anything unpleasant that crossed my path. It was as if my body developed asthma symptoms whenever my mind did not want to do something.

    Being part of a large family with five daughters, it also meant that I received more attention as I was home more often alone with my parents and slept with Mum and Dad most nights when I woke up wheezing.

    Children seek attention and care from their parents and those around them. An illness is a very efficient way to get what we seek.

    An illness can often become a part of our identity, without us realising it, because it gets us what we want.

    Naturally, all this additional attention did not go down too well with some of my siblings.

    My younger sister developed a habit of taking a piece of the jigsaw I was completing and hiding it until the very end. Only when the jigsaw was almost complete would she bring it out, fix it in place, and declare to the world that ‘she’ was the one who had completed the jigsaw.

    It was an early lesson in life about those who want glory but are not prepared to put in the hard work.

    This period of my life is probably the reason why I have such an affinity with the ‘Jigsaw of Life’ analogy. I have even created a unique ‘Jigsaw of Life’ framework to support clients gain clarity on their own life journey and have included this as a gift to you at the end of this book.

    This asthma chapter of my life became a vital piece in my own life jigsaw as I was to realize later.

    Piece-Asthma%20(2).jpg

    Shaping the Future

    As I matured, I found village life rather limiting, and I began to consider my future options.

    At that time, there was a gentleman in the village who was very successful; he was a pharmacist and manager for a well-known UK company called Boots the Chemists.

    Inspired by him, I realized my escape from this simple village life was through education and choosing the right career.

    I was bright, naturally intelligent, and good with numbers. I enjoyed leadership and so set my eyes on mirroring this successful village man and on becoming a manager for the same company.

    I passed all my exams, and at the age of eighteen, I left home to live in Leicester and to study pharmacy with an intention to eventually work as a manager for the Boots company.

    On reflection, the people you are surrounded by and exposed to play a crucial role in your life. People who are positive and whom you aspire to be like are crucial if you are to step out and truly follow your heart.

    This gentleman’s example became another key piece of the jigsaw as I began to study pharmacy and Western medicines.

    Without intending to, we are influenced and affected by the people and environment that surround us.

    This is why it’s crucial to place ourselves in the midst of an environment and with people who encourage us to expand and grow.

    At university, the asthma bouts continued, and I found myself missing some key lessons in class.

    I befriended a kind soul, a fellow student who was always present on the front row of class and took notes, to brief and update me for the classes I missed.

    I thought that university life was an education in itself, living with so much freedom and in a city with so many options. It certainly helped to grow and define my personality more.

    Naturally outgoing and sociable, I was popular and had many friends. However, the endless parties and events became too much of a distraction and started to affect my attendance negatively. My focus was more on enjoying the many external opportunities of life that university presented, and I was less focused on the study.

    I was quite the party girl and loved to wear tight-fitting brightly coloured jeans along with stiletto heels wherever I went. It became obvious that I was not a ‘normal’ pharmacy undergraduate as one day in class, my lecturer advised me to ‘wear more

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