Sonia Marsh - Gutsy Living

“My Gutsy Story®” Sharon Leaf

July 8, 2013 by Sonia Marsh 27 Comments

I Sailed the Seven Seas on a World War II Ship…

and lived to tell about it

~You cannot discover new oceans until you are willing to lose sight of the shore~

I inherited my love to travel from my father, and I had once dreamed of traveling the world for God, but now divorced, and a single mom, I shelved that dream … until I married my prince charming in my forty-second year.

After the fall of Soviet Union Communism in 1991, Rob and I were invited to assist in the new Christian schools in Estonia and Russia. My mind raced, Go to Russia? Are you crazy? Then a Voice asked, are you going to let fear rule you? Shoulders back, I took a deep breath of faith, blew out every ounce of fear, and in the dead of winter, I was on the way to my first international journey. From Tallinn to Tartu, from Leningrad to Moscow, for two weeks I was like a little girl in a candy store, soaking in new traditions, unfamiliar languages, delicious foods, but best of all, meeting warm and caring people.

After returning home, we felt God calling us to attend an international Bible college in Sweden, but I reasoned away the idea. We can’t leave our jobs, our ministry, and our family for a year. Then one night as I struggled for sleep, a challenging thought came. Don’t you want to live your dream? Faith swept over my tired body, and in the summer of ’91 two expats leased their home, sold their cars, bid their family and friends farewell, and boarded a jet plane for Sweden.

Our year was full of learning, from books to museums, but it was the people who taught us valuable lessons. I’m grateful to my Swedish neighbor who took me shopping at the centrum market and showed me that mayonnaise came in a tube instead of a jar. Later that evening after brushing his teeth, Rob informed me that Swedish toothpaste was yummy…tasted like mayonnaise. Oops.

After graduation, we toured Israel, and then joined a team in St. Petersburg to live for a month on the former Youth Communist propaganda train to distribute humanitarian aid throughout Siberia. There we were—twenty-five Russians, twenty-five Swedes, and the two Americans. Via interpreters, English was the main language spoken, but there were moments when I had to flee to our tiny cabin to escape the constant blending of Russian, Swedish, and Swenglish—a humorous combination of Swedish and English—to keep my head from spinning off. And heaven forbid if I left the train without my day’s supply of toilet tissue tucked in my pockets! (I learned the value of used newspapers, which most hospitals, orphanages, and homes supplied upon request).

The Russian’s kindness made every inconvenience fade and erased my doubts of traveling in the once-feared country, but I couldn’t wait to touch American soil. There would always be short trips, but to live abroad again? Never. Until …

Two years later a flyer crossed our path asking for volunteers to work on a WWII ship that was moored in Seattle, Washington, whose sole purpose would be to rescue Russian Jews from the Black Sea to Israel. Rob was ready to set sail. Not me. I didn’t want anything to upset my comfortable lifestyle, and I certainly had no desire to live on an old troop transporter ship the government had stored in mothballs after the war. She had only 93 running days, so there was no guarantee that her maiden voyage could even make the journey from Seattle to Stockholm, much less sail to the Black Sea and Israel.

But I wondered, Could this dangerous assignment mean an adventure of a lifetime? Hmm, I guess this is where faith must kick–again. So in spite of my fear of water and the unknown condition of the ship, the expats once again packed up, leased the house, quit jobs, sold cars, and bid farewell to family and their safe harbor. God had new oceans waiting.

As we sailed the seven seas, it didn’t take this lady long to fall in love with another lady, the MS Restoration. However, it was sometimes a stretch to love-thy-neighbor while living in such close quarters…a cabin large enough for a bed and four gym-size lockers, sharing dining experiences with a forty-plus crew in a small troop mess that often smelled like diesel oil. I often asked while cleaning stained toilets and hairy showers, God, what am I doing here?

Fourteen months on board the Restoration reminded me of life’s simple lessons: You don’t need a lot of stuff to be happy—four gym lockers will do. Instead of criticizing, (why do the Swedish cooks serve pancakes and—yuk—pea soup for lunch?), take time to understand their customs. Instead of judging (why does she have special privileges?), practice patience and find out. And no matter how small, boring, or unthankful the task, it is a very big, exciting, and thankful event in God’s eyes. Today, I remind myself of these lessons as I clean my own toilets and showers.

You’re probably wondering why I had to live on a WWII ship to learn these simple lessons. I asked myself that question often until one night while we were sailing across the Black Sea. As I gazed up at the stars, a familiar Voice spoke to my heart. I have chosen you to be a small part of my big plan to help bring my people home to Israel in these last days. From that moment, I felt honored to have been on this amazing journey.

The Titanic was called the ship of dreams, but the MS Restoration was our ship of miracles. Food, ship parts, bedding for the crew and Russian Jews, donations for fuel–the list goes on–showed up expectantly. But the greatest miracle was our changed hearts. Living on the Restoration truly restored everyone’s faith in God, in human kindness, in relationships, and in faith for forgotten dreams. And the dreams continue.

Read Lady and the Sea for my complete story. I wish you smooth sailing and oceans of blessings … and enjoy your journey! www.sharonleaf.com

SHARON LEAF: Born in South Carolina and raised in California, since turning forty, Sharon Leaf has traveled to sixteen countries, lived in Sweden to attend an international Bible college, traveled on the Trans-Siberian Railway, and sailed 26,000 miles on the WWII ship, MS Restoration, to transport Russian Jews from Russia to Israel. She received a degree in theology at sixty, proving that it’s never too late to fulfill another dream. Lady and the Sea is Sharon’s debut novel. She lives in South Carolina with her husband and keeps busy swimming, zumba-ing, and writing short stories (author Linda Kozar’s Moving Tales). www.sharonleaf.com

SONIA MARSH SAYS: What fascinating life experiences you’ve had, and there are two phrases that stuck in my head. 1). Are you going to let fear rule you? Shoulders back, I took a deep breath of faith, blew out every ounce of fear. 2). You don’t need a lot of stuff to be happy—four gym lockers will do. So true Sharon.

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ANTHOLOGY PRESS RELEASE

VOTE NOW for your favorite June “My Gutsy Story®”

You have until July 10th, midnight PST to vote. Only ONE vote each. Please vote on Sidebar (right above the Freeways to Flip-Flops Book Cover) to Vote. Read all 4 stories here.

Winner of the Flip-Flops & Painted toenails contest

July 4, 2013 by Sonia Marsh 4 Comments

So on this special 4th July celebration, I’d like to pick two winners from our special flip-flop painted toenail contest. All the flip-flops were great, but we only received a few photos. I’ve decided on Darlene Goodrich with her Belizean blue morpho butterfly tattoo and Lois Joy Hofmann.

Bonnie Kassel has picked Sharon Leaf and Darlene Goodrich as her two winners.

Congratulations to you and please e-mail us your addresses and we shall send you our prizes. Here is the original contest with e-mail links for Bonnie and myself.

ANTHOLOGY LAUNCH UPDATE

Click here for latest news

ANTHOLOGY PRESS RELEASE

VOTE NOW for your favorite June “My Gutsy Story®”

You have until July 10th, midnight PST to vote. Only ONE vote each. Please vote on Sidebar (right above the Freeways to Flip-Flops Book Cover) to Vote. Read all 4 stories here.

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Monday July 8th: Sharon Leaf’s “My Gutsy Story®”

“My Gutsy Story®” Liz Burgess

July 1, 2013 by Sonia Marsh 25 Comments

Time To Let Go

I had a five-hour drive to let reality sink in. I just left great friends and a job that I loved, a house full of memories and the feel of warm hugs from my kids at a moment’s notice. After 17 years, I was moving to a new city to be with my husband in a new home, and all I had with me was the dog and my clothes. Oh, and I was six months into a 12-Step program for food addiction. What the hell was I thinking? I was thinking that I didn’t bring enough tissues!

Ten years ago, my husband was offered a job in Boston and I refused to leave. I told him, “I’m not pulling the kids out of school and away from their friends.” I also didn’t want to leave my friends, especially since I had already done that once before. The kids don’t really remember that move. I, however, do remember it and how desperately I missed my friends and family. It took me two years to finally feel “at home” in that new house. I now had to go through finding that feeling of being at home all over again.

My new home is a one-bedroom apartment (a far cry from my four-bedroom house with a basement and huge backyard). The new place sits on a busy street, with all of busy sound effects that traffic can bring. I had forgotten the lack of privacy one has with common-wall neighbors. If I can hear them cough or sneeze, they surely can hear my conversations with the dog, on the phone, or with my husband. It’s amazing what I’ve learned about them without any exchange of conversation.

I chose to make this move because of my prior refusal, and the fact that the timing seemed good for everyone involved. The kids were almost all out (or wanting to be) on their own, I was going to have three months of down time (I worked at a public school) and it seemed like a good time to start the “empty nest” phase of my life. By making the move, I would not be able to fall back into old habits of enabling either my children or myself. It was time for me to grow up. I needed this fresh start, even if I didn’t want it!

Finding a job was difficult. Filing for unemployment was out of the question as I had never worked in the new state; and I couldn’t collect from the old state since I no longer lived there. I was fortunate to get hired for holiday help in retail and they allowed me to stay on after the season was finished. It’s not my dream job, but it IS a job. I feel very fortunate to have one!

I’ve been in my new home for about a year now, and still feel as though it is temporary. I’ve kept my old driver’s license, car registration, and have yet to begin moving any of my stuff from the old house “just in case.” Letting go is not one of my strong points, but I am learning. Working the Steps of my program of recovery has helped me let go of many things I thought I would have with me forever. Every now and then I catch a glimpse of the light ahead and am able to shed one more layer of something unnecessary in my life, including some bad habits, some weight and some really nasty feelings.

Anyone who is working a program of recovery knows the range of feelings that one can experience. Some days are filled with agony, white-knuckling and despair. On the other hand, the good days are filled with joy, hope and sense of well being that makes life full of adventure and new possibilities. My program, and the people I’ve come to know through it, has been my saving grace.

When I start to feel a little sorry for myself, I look for another glimpse of light and remember how far I’ve come, and how the difficulty of letting go has eased. I thank God for texting and facebook, as they both give me the feeling of connection. I now rely a little more on the Big Guy in the Sky and try to have more faith and patience. The answers will come when I’m supposed to know them. The dream job will appear when I’m ready for it. The people who mean the most to me will not be far, even if it is a bit of a drive. It’s all going to be okay.

LIZ BURGESS: Born and raised in Southern California, Liz can still conjure up the smells of the beach in a heartbeat. While raising four children, she began documenting their antics and in the process realized that writing was just as enjoyable as eating chocolate. Liz has been writing all of her life, but only recently began taking herself seriously. Her blog, “No Excuses-Musings of a Procrastinator” began as a self-improvement commitment, and has been a terrific platform for improving her writing, networking with other writers, and stepping outside of her comfort zone, all of which have been very rewarding. http://noexcuses318.blogspot.com.

You can connect with Liz Burgess on Facebook, or via e-mail: missliz318@charter.net

SONIA MARSH SAYS: I think your statement, “When I start to feel a little sorry for myself, I look for another glimpse of light and remember how far I’ve come, and how the difficulty of letting go has eased,” will resonate with many readers. Learning to be patient and to accept change is not easy, and we need to be reminded about this.

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ANTHOLOGY LAUNCH UPDATE

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Mark your calendar for September 26th, 6-9 p.m. You are invited to our GREAT LAUNCH PARTY for our first “My Gutsy Story®” Anthology at the South Coast Village Regency Movie Theater, Costa Mesa, CA.

VOTE NOW for your favorite June “My Gutsy Story®”

You have until July 10th, midnight PST to vote. Only ONE vote each. Please vote on Sidebar (right above the Freeways to Flip-Flops Book Cover) to Vote. Read all 4 stories here.

Vote For Your Favorite June 2013 “My Gutsy Story®”

June 27, 2013 by Sonia Marsh 1 Comment

The voting starts right now for your favorite June 2013 “My Gutsy Story®.” You have 2 weeks to vote. The winner will be announced on July 11th and gets to select a prize from our sponsors.

These are the first 4 stories to be included in our 2nd Anthology. You are invited to our GREAT LAUNCH PARTY for our first “My Gutsy Story®” Anthology at the South Coast Village Regency Movie Theater, Costa Mesa, CA, on September 26th, from 6-9 pm. Keep checking “Gutsy Living” blog for updates on sponsors, etc.

Scroll Down on Sidebar (right above the Freeways to Flip-Flops Book Cover) to Vote. Only ONE vote each.

Our first moving story of the month was from Mary Hamer.

Mary shared her “My Gutsy Story®” of how she escaped her career and followed her passion.

Our second story this month is by Dixie Diamanti.

Dixie’s story is courageous in that she shares how she broke the “secret” of incest within her family.

Our third story is by Penelope James.

Pennie wrote such an inspiring “My Gutsy Story®” about how she overcame job loss, financial struggles, health problems and moved on.

Our last story of the month is by Jennifer Richardson.

1-Jennifer Richardson Face — Jennifer Richardson

Jennifer shares her honest account of not giving into the pressures of becoming a mother.

Do you have a “My Gutsy Story®” you’d like to share?

Would you like to submit your “My Gutsy Story®” and get published in our 2nd anthology?

Please see guidelines below and contact Sonia Marsh at: sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.

You can find all the information, and our new sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story®” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here

Visit us on Monday July 1st. Liz Burgess will be sharing her “My Gutsy Story®.”

“My Gutsy Story®” Jennifer Richardson

June 24, 2013 by Sonia Marsh 11 Comments

The case of the missing biological clock

In 2005, I quit my job in Los Angeles and moved to London with my British husband. You might think moving to a new country is the heart of my gutsy story, but it’s really just a backdrop. My real gutsy story is about how, while living in England, I finally made the decision not to have kids.

This is a decision that may not seem gutsy to all. Accusations of selfishness abound for the childless by choice. And as if societal pressures weren’t enough, my own self-judgment was also a factor. Did my lack of desire to be a mother make me less of a woman? What was wrong with me? And where the hell was my biological clock and why had it failed to start ticking?

In fairness, there had been indications earlier in my life that I wasn’t destined for motherhood. Take, for example, how as a teenager I used to stand in front of the microwave when it was on and proclaim I was radiating my uterus to prevent impregnation. (In retrospect, I’m pretty sure I did that because I enjoyed shocking my mother.) Then later, as my friends started to have babies, I was not blind to my uncanny ability to make infants cry instantly upon contact.

But still some part of me held out for the possibility that I would change my mind. This was what was supposed to happen, right? After all, I had grown up in the eighties when well-meaning feminists were still pushing the belief that women could and should do it all: husband, kids, and a glass-ceiling-breaking career where you got to wear jewel-colored power suits with linebacker-worthy shoulder pads. Convinced I, too, could and should want to do it all, in my late-twenties I even went as far as to threaten to break off my engagement to my anti-children fiancé if he wasn’t willing to leave open the possibility that one day we may have kids. He caved, and I was a married woman at twenty-nine.

Then, in what seemed like the blink of an eye, thirty-five arrived and there was still no sign of my biological clock. This state of affairs made me uneasy. I knew beyond that age I was entering into high-risk territory for a pregnancy, my parents were highly vocal about their desperation for grandchildren, and my husband—eager to know once and for all if his life was going to involve children or not—was becoming as vocal as my parents in expressing his desire for me to just make a decision already. This is where my story takes a not-so-gutsy turn: I caved to the pressure and, that Christmas, my husband and I announced to my parents that we were going to “try” for a baby in the next year.

But even this game of chicken I had played with myself and my poor, unsuspecting family was not enough to kick start my biological clock. This became clear as the next year wore on and each month I somehow ended up at the pharmacy to pick up a refill of birth control. Despite the fact that I was still uneasy, I was finally starting to admit to myself that I didn’t really want to have kids.

Later that year I ended up in a neurologist’s office with what turned out to be symptoms of multiple sclerosis. It was a development that left my husband and parents as shocked as I was, and temporarily took the focus off the fact that I still hadn’t tried to get pregnant. As I grappled with the nature of that disease, which is unsettlingly mysterious in its cause, treatments, and prognosis, I tried desperately to get my neurologist to articulate something I could do that would lessen my chances of developing the full-blown ailment. After evading my previous attempts to pin him down, he finally caved at a follow-up appointment, half-heartedly mentioning a study that had shown some evidence pregnancy would reduce my risk. I couldn’t have been more shocked if he had said voodoo might help.

And that’s the moment when I realized I didn’t want to have kids. This was as good a reason as I was ever going to get to have a child, and yet my gut instantly said no. (Not to mention that as a strategy for lessening my chances of developing a chronic disease, pregnancy seemed at best risky and at worst unethical.) It’s been four years since that day, and, although I have since been diagnosed with MS—which in my case just means I have had a second bout of temporary and relatively benign symptoms—I can honestly say I have no regrets about my decision, other than the fact that I didn’t have the confidence to make it sooner.

JENNIFER RICHARDSON is the author of Americashire: A Field Guide to a Marriage, the 2013 Indie Reader Discovery Award winner for travel writing. The memoir chronicles her decision to give up city life for the bucolic pleasures of the British countryside whilst debating the merits of motherhood. Americashire is out now from She Writes Press, and you can find Jennifer online at:

SONIA MARSH SAYS: Throughout your story, I sensed your “gutsy” side to be left alone and not influenced by what others may say or think. Interesting how your MS diagnosis strengthened your decision to not have a baby despite what the doctor said.

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MARK YOUR CALENDAR FOR THE SPECIAL EVENT TO LAUNCH OF OUR FIRST “My Gutsy Story®” ANTHOLOGY, ON SEPTEMBER 26TH, 2013, IN ORANGE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA. Click here for your invitation.

Do you have a “My Gutsy Story®” you’d like to share?

NOW is the time to submit your “My Gutsy Story®,” to be considered for our 2nd Anthology. Please see guidelines below and contact Sonia Marsh at: sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.

You can find all the information, and our new sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story®” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here

The Voting for your favorite June 2013 “My Gutsy Story®” starts on Thursday June 27th, and ends at midnight on July 10th PST. The winner will be announced on Thursday, July 11th.

You can read all 4 stories for the month of June 2013 start of Anthology #2