Come one, come all! Take sometime to read about “The Greatest Show on Earth”. It begins as a story about a little girl smothering underneath a dysfunctional family. Growing up in an alcoholic home, littered with mental illness and chaos. The scariest, craziest, most beautiful acts of my life are within. My first night under the Big Top began in a small town in 1974. I grew up in a quaint home, where within the four walls the unexpected lurked. Some say our souls choose the time and place we arrive. We are here at this time for a specific purpose, although most of my life has been spent questioning my soul’s sanity. I was born in to a world I didn’t belong. A spinning place where nothing was ever certain and some nights, the shelter of our family car was my only hope. Some of my earliest memories are the sounds of my mother’s body being thrown into the walls or the smell of beer on my dad’s breath. Many nights I lay awake in my bed, dreaming of another world, another life. But each day, I awoke to the same nightmare. The same recurring dream of hunger, sadness, fear and abandonment. I have played many roles in this lifetime; however, I don’t recall auditioning for this one. To be able to see the blessings amongst the pain has been the greatest lesson of my life. As I grew and was exposed to more healthy situations, I began to see a light at the end of the tunnel….perhaps a way out of the insanity I was born into. I began to envision a better future filled with peace and joy. Throughout my journey, I mirrored success and balance, for as a child, that was what I yearned for. After years of inner work, I have created that life for myself. I believe one can rise out of the ashes and my hope is that my personal story will offer others the encouragement to do the same. I have walked the tightrope, felt like a bearded lady, and labeled my young self as a freak for many years. One day, I woke up and realized my journey was for a purpose greater than I realized. Stroll with me through years of healing and growth. Forgiveness and freedom. This is a story of how I overcame a childhood of chaos, confusion, and abuse and grew to become a thriving adult. Think of this book as a shortcut to how one can survive challenging experiences and create a new beginning. An empowering recollection of the power of faith, hope, and love of community. A book filled with lessons and tools on how to regain your belief in a higher power, the good of humanity, and most importantly, yourself. We often think we have reached the end of the road, when in fact, it is just the beginning. Shine brightly, dream big, and be the Freak you were born to be! If you feel like you don’t fit in, in this world, it is because you are here to help create a new one. ~There is so much power in belief