Riding the Winds of Change through Life Brings Unmitigated Joy!

If you missed Part I and II, you may want to go back and check it out at Part I: Embracing Change or Part II: The DarkYears

This is the Final stretch - Had I done the right thing? I knew in my heart that I had.

I was willing to accept whatever changes my decision would bring even if it meant I was back on the operating table the next week.

I would not give in to FEAR.

My instinct turned out to be right. That surgery was in 2007. I’m writing this in 2018.

I am still walking, even riding a horse. No wheelchair! NO SALMONELLA INFECTION!

And, I learned I have NOTHING to fear. By letting go of my fear of CHANGE, I had taken control again.

My life had been an absolute roller coaster from 2000 to 2010. The constant changes in my health and overall situation taught me that, without a doubt, the only thing you can count on in life is CHANGE.

CHANGE is a force for GOOD!

It's important to realize that while you can count on CHANGE, that doesn't necessarily mean it will be a CHANGE for the better.

I always knew when I was suffering some new assault on my body that it would CHANGE.

I took HOPE from that even though I knew that the CHANGE may be for the worse.

IT would at least be different.

CHANGE for the better.

CHANGE for the worse.

It didn't matter.

What mattered was CHANGE.

I took hope in the fact that whatever this horrible thing was, this particular iteration of IT would CHANGE and therefore STOP.

Embracing CHANGE took me from LOSING EVERYTHING, including my identity, to unbridled SUCCESS!

It took some time but once I finally stopped fighting the inevitable and embraced the truth of CHANGE, my life changed for the better forever!

Some of the specifics I learned from embracing CHANGE:

·      Embracing CHANGE keeps you from stagnating

·     Embracing  CHANGE fosters growth

·      Embracing CHANGE gives rise to the meaning of true freedom

·      Embracing CHANGE defeats the need for control

·      Embracing CHANGE gives rise to HOPE

·      Embracing CHANGE DEFEATS FEAR

Embracing change caused my inherent optimism to go to a whole new level!

I have always been a very optimistic person but after embracing CHANGE, I fine-tuned my ability to see the silver lining in absolutely EVERYTHING!

I got so good at this that many of my friends would say that I always see life through rose-colored glasses.

They may be right, but I refuse to take them off.

Why should I?

Life is easier this way and lots more fun!

All that said, those revelations took some time to become apparent to me.

Life as I knew it, as I had planned it, had come to a screeching halt July 11th, 2000.

A sudden onset illness had completely devastated my life.

July 11, 2000 - In the blink of an eye, everything I had worked for was gone - my career, my house, my horses, my retirement, my security, my independence, my identity, my health.

GONE.

By 2010, I had resigned myself to a life without professional or personal ambition. Instead, I learned to find peace in the simple daily tasks that were my life.

Then, the perfect storm occurred!

Completely unexpectedly, my husband, Jim, came into my life! This was a CHANGE that was a absolute gift from the universe!

In 2010, we were engaged!

We decided to take a 3 week, whirlwind European vacation, oxygen tanks, CPAP, meds and all!

Then, one night in Paris EVERYTHING CHANGED!

My body got a jump start on healing overnight!

It is impossible for me to describe the physical changes that occurred during that one night in Paris.

Suffice it to say that the physical changes were so great that, upon my return to the States, my doctors and physical therapists were speechless!

My lungs were healed, and I have not needed oxygen since that night! 

No more shortness of breath!

I could literally do jumping jacks whereas, at the beginning of this trip, I could not climb a flight of stairs nor carry the smallest of bags without the help of my husband.

I somehow lost over 30 lbs. despite eating everything in sight!

My taste was restored! I had not been able to taste food for almost a decade because of the chemo.

Everything was exquisite!

I was terrified that when I returned to the States, my problems would be there waiting for me.

However, they weren't.

In fact, when I got back to the States, the news just got better!

I learned that I was no longer anemic.

My sleep apnea subsided so I no longer needed the CPAP machine!

In fact, over the next four years, my health continued to improve.

Fast forward to 2014 - After 14 years of surgeries, chemo, oxygen tanks, losing my hair, disfigurement, pain, fatigue, wheelchairs, walkers, canes, physical therapy, infusions, and more...

I got a tip from a friend on how to save money on some needed legal advice.

She introduced me to a company called LegalShield. 

I wasn’t sure about getting legal advice through a subscription service.

As an attorney, it seemed a bit unorthodox, but I certainly didn’t have extra money to hire an attorney at the going rate!

Worst case scenario, I would be out $20. 

Best case scenario, I could afford to find out what I needed to know!

At her encouragement, I made the call to the LegalShield attorney.

The advice I received saved me almost $15,000 in medical bills!

But more importantly, it would CHANGE my life forever because of the business opportunity that I didn't even know was possible!

Once I realized that this service was backed by top-rated law firms and could protect people in so many situations for less than $25/month, I knew I had to be involved.

This company, LegalShield, was CHANGING the way legal services were delivered in this country!

I immediately called Jillian – my friend who had told me about LegalShield.

I told her that I loved what her company was doing.

I said, I want to be involved somehow.

What could I do to be a part of this mission?

What could it mean for me?

My mind was racing!

Maybe I could . . .

·      be a VOLUNTEER again!

·      contribute to society again!

·      feel like somebody again!

·      feel alive again!

·      hope and dream again!

Little did I know that LegalShield compensated people, people with a desire to serve, to share this amazing service!

Not only did I now have attorneys in the palm of my hand, I now had a way to potentially earn a living again!

I had first been blessed (and impressed) by the LegalShield membership.

Then, I was blessed again by this business – the chance to be productive again! To help people again!

Sounds Great, Right? Right . . .

I WAS SCARED!

SCARED I WOULD FAIL!

o  I was scared about putting myself out there again

o  I was scared my memory would fail me

o  I was scared I wouldn't be able to find the words I needed when I was talking to someone

o  I was scared I would be suddenly struck with fatigue and literally be unable to keep my eyes open and my head up

o  Or worse, I was scared I would have a sudden-onset hospital-worthy pain attack

o  I was scared I simply wouldn't be able to do the work or enough of it to matter

o  I feared losing what little quality of life I had managed to patch together

TERRIFIED I WOULD SUCCEED!

o  I was scared about putting myself out there again

o  I had given it my all before to reach my goal of becoming a successful attorney and it was all taken away

o  Scared I wasn’t strong enough to suffer that again

o  Would I lose my health insurance? And When?

o  Would I succeed enough to lose those and then have a relapse with no safety net?

o  Would I lose my disability benefits? And when? 

If I let myself think about it, I would be paralyzed with this fear because it would seem I just couldn't win against all these obstacles in my path.

However, I couldn't see letting this opportunity pass me by

Where would I find another job where I could set my own schedule, be my own boss and be paid what I'm worth along with providing for retirement?

I knew that if I did not take a risk and make a CHANGE, I would die never knowing what my life could have been.

I had never been a quitter and I had not survived this long to give up.

However, my old friend and nemesis, FEAR, was chiming in - my own brain taunting me, whispering . . .

e you won't succeed

e you should be ashamed - this is network marketing no matter how you want to spin it

e your illness will take you down just when you are about to "make it" - just like before

e but not before you lose everything (i.e. Your benefits) just like before

e Same as IT ever was!

e Same as IT ever was!

e Same as IT ever was!

FEAR was coming on strong again!

Disease, fatigue, pain and FEAR had been my nemesis for 14 years, had held me down for too long! 

So, I stood at a crossroad…

Should I stay or should I go now?

Should I stay or should I go now?

If I go, there will be trouble

And if I stay it will be double!

                                                         -The Clash

I knew I couldn’t survive a relapse.  

My illness had snuck up on me catching me completely unawares at age 33.

(Remember - I was 33, healthy, happy, living the dream - personally, professionally, and financially!

Great career! Great Income! Great Family! Great Health! and HORSES!When my horses would come running to greet me every morning, I knew I was in Heaven)!

Having lost all of that so suddenly, I couldn’t allow myself to believe that I could get it back.

I couldn’t allow myself to feel those emotions.

I was facing this decision at 47 years old.

To stay meant to play it safe, just keep on keepin’ on – Same as IT ever was… Same as IT ever was.

To go meant to take that leap into to clear blue unknown!

I decided to risk everything again - because the risk of not doing so was simply too great!

 So, in March 2014, I embraced CHANGE and the unknown once again!

This decision CHANGED my life forever, again.

Finally, I knew I was in the right place when I was offered an opportunity to work with Premier Solutions International – the premier marketing arm for LegalShield and IDShield!

Founded by John & Darcy Hoffman, Premier Solutions International gave me the opportunity to be part of an elite team in this industry.

I could not have been more honored!

Their combined business acumen and focus on "mission marketing" as opposed to "commission marketing" taught me how to do good for others while also doing good for myself.

I never dreamed that I would be able to support myself again, to have a retirement or any type of savings OR

to be able to help people again!

And, in the legal field!

With their guidance, I went out into the marketplace and began to build relationships in the business world in my community.

I quickly realized that offering these plans as voluntary employee benefits was a perfect fit for me!

Being a part of this elite service and consulting team was a dream come true.

I went on to obtain all possible certifications available - LegalShield commercial driver specialty plans, small business plans, employee benefits, and business consulting/marketing plans.

My dream of helping thousands of people was becoming my reality!

I did not know that making one simple phone call to an attorney would lead to great friends, great trips, personal and spiritual growth, AND to a successful and fulfilling new career!

You see, not only did that phone call give me the legal advice that I needed, it led me to take a deeper look at LegalShield.

When I did, I learned that this company was making a difference in the lives of average Americans on a massive scale!

When I had reached out to my friend about getting involved in what I considered to be one of the biggest SOCIAL MOVEMENTS to come along in my lifetime, you can imagine how excited I was to learn that there was a place for me with this company.

With so many opportunities within LegalShield, the potential for professional growth seemed limitless!

I am proud to be a full-service consultant to the individuals, companies, brokers, and agents with whom I have the privilege of working.

I make it my business to stay on top of industry trends, to be knowledgeable about the many industries I serve.

I love learning!

I love serving!

This business has blessed me in so many ways!

I look at my life today and can hardly believe how wonderful it is.

I refer to my sick years as "the dark years."

The thing about dark, though, is that there is always light.

I always saw the LIGHT during those 14 years.

I know this might sound weird, but I don't feel like I was sick for 14 years.

Some people would say I'm still sick today, but I disagree.

I do still get some treatments, but I am completely over "being sick".

I am not sick.

I wake up every morning joyful, looking forward to the day not knowing what it holds but knowing that it will be good if not great!

I have a husband who loves me like I didn't know was possible.

I have my family and I'm closer to them than I have ever been.

My circle of friends is growing exponentially!

I have a career that allows me to help more people than I ever dreamed possible!

Fear has no place in my life anymore.

The great thing about being sick like I was, is that you lose any fear you had because you realize deep in your soul that there is nothing to fear.

Embracing CHANGE was the catalyst to overcoming fear enabling me to take on a new way of helping, of being an advocate again.

Everything was happening so fast!

What I didn't expect so soon into this new business was the feedback I started receiving from the people I was helping with these programs.

I knew in my heart that these benefits would CHANGE people's lives.

When that was borne out by testimony after testimony, I knew I was in the right place!

I remember one woman in particular who was in tears at an employee enrollment because her ex-husband had lied about giving her full custody of their special needs child. She had given her ex-husband half of the attorney fees to draw up what was supposed to be an agreed custody order.

He had lied – the papers gave him full custody!

She didn't have any more money to pay another attorney to challenge him.

When she found out that she could speak with an attorney the very next morning, her tears began to slow down.

When I received an email from her the next week, my own tears began to flow as I learned that the lawyer was able to help her get the full custody that she had been promised for nothing more than her weekly benefit deduction of $4.38!

I knew what this meant to her and her son. This is just one of many examples of the ways that these benefits CHANGE lives.

Another thing that was happening at a fast pace, almost without my realizing it, was that I seemed to be getting stronger and healthier day by day.

Even though I still receive treatments and take medication, my quality of life has exceeded anything I could have ever imagined or hoped for during those dark years.

Like my health, my business has grown exponentially and has far exceeded anything I could have ever imagined or hope for!

The success I have had in my business has allowed me to achieve the status of “Broker Certified” with LegalShield. This has allowed me to work with Brokers and Agents across the country to bring these services to their clients and employees.

This achievement has meant that I can now help tens of thousands more people by working with Brokers and Agents across the country to bring these services to their clients and employees.

My life CHANGED because I just kept embracing the CHANGES as they came, not judging them as good or bad. 

It is 2018.

FINALLY, it seems I have succeeded in overcoming all the obstacles that wanted to keep me down, that stood in the way of reclaiming my life.

I can only help people to the degree of my success.

The more success I have, the more people I get to help.

I have always felt that part of my destiny was to impact masses, not just a few here and there.

I needed a PLATFORM large enough where my story of hope could help others find the courage and inspiration needed to carry you through life.

At the 2018 LegalShield International Convention, I had the opportunity to be on stage in front of 10,000 people!

This was absolute confirmation that LegalShield is my platform to be able to help people every day to transform their lives, to become empowered and to live life to the fullest!

I have always known that part of my personal mission is to share the miracle that is God. 

ALL of the credit for my success goes to God!

I used my few words on stage to give glory to the Lord and to recognize that…

I am nothing if I am not in service to others.

If I can be of service to you, please reach out to me. 

 

Message me here on LinkedIn or

Email: [email protected]

Direct: 865-335-4893