As a young child with no siblings or neighbors, I learned to entertain myself. When I wasn't wandering around my backyard searching for cow bones, I'd be in my tree house with a pile of books from ...ver maisAs a young child with no siblings or neighbors, I learned to entertain myself. When I wasn't wandering around my backyard searching for cow bones, I'd be in my tree house with a pile of books from the library, and my journal. Books became my obsession. They transported me to other worlds and quenched my thirsty imagination. I would also fill my journal with exciting make-believe life experiences as a young girl.This ignited my passion for writing.My dad had been my best friend. We'd painted side-by-side with our easels and he had introduced me to the avid beauty of the natural world. He took our family to all the city, state and national parks. I became awe-struck with being in nature and spent more time in my tree house than my actual home.When I was around 11 my dad became bi-polar (called manic-depressive back then). His condition was undiagnosed for many years. During this time he became full of rage and eventually violent. He directed much of this raw anger toward me. One day he said, "Suzan you're not allowed to speak in this house ever again. You have nothing worthy to say."When not at home I did anything I could to check out: a lot of drugs, alcohol, sex, and even experienced an eating disorder. This felt like the only thing I had control over in my life. But what would ultimately save me? My journal! When I didn't have a voice, the journal gave me one. She listened.She gave me valuable feedback. I would write until my hands were almost numb. Writing helped me realize my life had bottomed out and it was up to me to climb out of the large hole I had dug.With a lot of help-I did.My life is now a testimony that recovery is possible! I work part-time for NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) where I go out to the community and share my personal recovery journey. What I'm most passionate about is self-care. It is the link to self-mastery. My mission is to continue to help myself with the tools I've learned (as recovery is an ongoing process) and to share them with you. My hope is that through reading my book you will find ways to make your life healthier, happier, more joyful - filled with ease and flow.ver menos