Author

For most of my life, I was a self-described "good girl”, a methodical perfectionist who lived within "carefully contained safe boundaries" where rules were followed and risk was discouraged. I was a passenger in my own life, eventually following my husband John’s retirement dream to sail across the Pacific, believing I was simply "along for the ride".

My memoir, Taking the Helm: From Kitchen to Captain, chronicles our seven-year, 25,000-mile journey, but it is primarily a story of a profound inner voyage. The core thesis of my book is that we do not have to remain passengers to our circumstances; we can choose to become the captains of our own destinies.

This transformation was sparked by an uninvited "intrusion"—John’s diagnosis of autoimmune Type 1 diabetes. This "diabetes dragon" forced me to shed my "thin-skinned" nature and step into the roles of caregiver, "Protein Police," and eventually, a confident helmsperson. I had to learn to handle 38 feet of sailboat in 45-knot winds and ten-foot seas, discovering that I could hold "fear in one hand and determination in the other".

The message I want to share is illustrated by the metaphor of the pearl: much like an oyster takes an unwelcome irritant and smooths it into a gem, we can embrace life's toughest challenges and transform them into opportunities for self-empowerment and beauty.

I wrote this book for the seekers, the caregivers, and every woman who has ever doubted her own "enoughness". My hope is that my journey inspires you to stop waiting for permission, trust your inner compass, and take the helm of your own extraordinary life.