Writing a book about spiritual development: "Beyond Belief: Stories of Good People Who Left Their Church Behind."

WWW.EXPLORING-SPIRITUAL-DEVELOPMENT.COM

Also, part-time optometrist, wife, mother of two grown men, former French teacher. 

How did you get to where you are now?

Well, I am embarking on my third career so far.  I got here by allowing myself to change over time and by remaining open to the voice of intuition for clues about how I should change.

I have loved all three careers but each one so far has brought me to increasing levels of responsibility and individuality.  Right out of college I was a high school French teacher.  At some point I realized I wanted to do something more concretely necessary (what would happen if suddenly everyone stopped teaching French?  It would be sad, but not critical) 

So I went back to school and became an Optometrist.  (What would happen if everyone suddenly stopped examining eyes?)  Surely this was more concretely necessary than teaching French.  I joyously ran my own Optometric practice for twenty years and then sold it to a large company.  When all sorts of other eye doctors started parading into my practice on my off days, it suddenly became clear to me that there were plenty of other people who could do my job as an eye doctor. 

But there was something else I wanted to do that NO ONE else could do - and that was to write a book on the topic that seemingly had chosen me as its author! 

So here I sit, still practicing Optometry part-time so that I can complete my book.  At this point it is mostly written and I am hoping my agent will find me a publisher in the next few months. 

 

How do you see yourself differently now than you did 10 years ago?

Ten years ago, I was a busy mom, a business owner and a dedicated health practitioner.  Now my kids are grown, I have sold my professional practice and I only see patients part-time in someone else's office.

I am getting used to not having to account for every minute, to not being the local eye doctor in town, to a much more humble optometric existence, but a much more crucial one in terms of the message I want to impart through my book.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

I see myself as the author of at least three very successful books, retired as an Optometrist, and possibly a grandmother.  I see myself as someone who took the time and put in the work to stay healthy, fit and fun as I approach my seventies. 

I would like to be surrounded by close family and a few really good friends, and appreciated by a large number of people for the good effects my books have brought to the world. 

You were right to always follow your intuition, even when the facts seemed to contradict your choices.