Inspirational Archives - Page 29 of 45 - Sonia Marsh

Vote for your favorite August “My Gutsy Story”

August 31, 2012 by Sonia Marsh

This month we have 4 wonderful stories to vote for.

Apologies for being one day late this month, but I had my book launch yesterday and you can view all photos here.

Heidi Morell: is a true inspiration to all of us, especially when we take our health for granted. Heidi has MSA and reminds us to “appreciate what we have right now,” and that, “it can always be worse.”

Sharon Melton Lippincott: paints a picture of her strong-willed Grandma Rene, and how she stood up for what you wanted, defying convention. During the process, she enabled Grandma Rene to show her softer side.

Barbara Ehrentreu: Shares a story of the power of love, and how her “gutsy” decision at twenty, was the right one.

Laura Dennis: Brings up some interesting questions about being both the adoptive mother, the adopted child and the birth mother. She asks the question, “When did your adoptive mom become a mother?”

Please check out their websites by clicking on their names above.

You each get ONE VOTE, and please share with your friends and bloggers so the winner can pick his/her prize from our list of sponsors.

The voting starts August 31st until September 12th and the winner will be announced on September 13th. Please go to the sidebar to VOTE and click on your favorite story of the month. Thanks, and please share with your favorite social media buttons below.

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

To submit your own, “My Gutsy Story” you can find all the information, and our sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here.

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“My Gutsy Story” by Barbara Ehrentreu

August 20, 2012 by Sonia Marsh

The Night I Changed My Life

During my senior year of college I spent half of it with my boyfriend. Then he left to go to New York City to take a job so he could make enough money to come back for the following year. Every night we talked on the phone for hours and though nothing had been said we were each so involved I knew this wasn’t any ordinary relationship. When at last I returned home for spring vacation, my parents had a long talk with me one night. They were concerned that I was wasting my chances with this young man who had just come back from serving in the military and hadn’t graduated from college. The year was 1965 and my parents wanted me to date other men. The argument went on for hours with me trying to explain why I was drawn to this extraordinary man and how he had affected me. They were worried that maybe he was going to dominate me and I wouldn’t reach my full potential. He had said some really dumb things in an attempt to be controversial as some young men who are rebelling within society will sometimes do. So my parents were worried and urged me with their angry voices to stop this nonsense and give him up. I wound up with tears streaming down my face staring my parents in the eyes and telling them I couldn’t stay there one second more.

In 1965 young girls did not wander around at night alone. I could barely see from the tears blinding me and I grabbed a few things and ran out the door screaming to them that I was leaving and going to my boyfriend who lived in an apartment hotel in Manhattan in a very seedy area. I lived in Kew Gardens, Queens and had to take two subway trains to get to him. I walked outside to a dark and empty street and hopped on a bus to the subway. I called him from a pay phone and said I was coming. We were very much in love so he was thrilled to have me come over to him. I didn’t care that it was past midnight and the subway was filled with the usual characters. There were homeless men who sat alone in the middle of a circle of empty seats. There were the entertainers who went from car to car trying to get people to give them money and of course there were the normal people who rode the subway with vacant eyes. I, not even 21, though a veteran subway rider during the day, had never been alone on the subway at night. I gritted my teeth and tried to be as invisible as possible as I rode the train to the hotel near 14th Street. When I got up the subway stairs to the bustling street I had a moment of panic. What was I doing? Would my parents ever talk to me again? I had no other place to live until I had to go back to school.

Approaching the apartment hotel, I felt a little awkward. Nice girls didn’t go into these places at night and especially to a man’s hotel room alone. I felt almost cheap and nearly left. However, I sucked in my breath and walked through the lobby to the desk clerk and asked him to notify the room. Riding in the elevator I still had second thoughts. But when I found the room and my boyfriend opened the door and saw me I walked into his arms. We spent the night together and the next day we went for a walk on a horse path near the hotel. He seemed nervous and unsettled. Finally, a little way down the path he stopped and got down on one knee with a ring box in one hand. He asked me to marry him and placed the ring, his grandmother’s pearl ring with diamonds on either side of the pearl, on my finger. I said yes and hugged him so hard we almost couldn’t stand. I knew then that my life had changed forever. I had made a decision to spend the rest of my life with this firebrand of a man and it went against all my parents had wanted for me.

Nothing was ever the same again and at that moment I said goodbye to the girl I had been and became the woman I was to be. The future was an open book and I was very happy to open it and begin my new life.

My life has had its ups and downs since that day and I have been at the side of this man as my husband since the day we married. We have navigated a very unusual life that has not been quiet or uneventful and he has never stopped being the same opinionated and argumentative man. My parents are long gone, but after that night they eventually learned to love him too.

Barbara Ehrentreu Bio:

Barbara, a retired teacher with a Masters degree in Reading and Writing K-12 and seventeen years of teaching experience lives with her family in Stamford, Connecticut. She has been editing for 4RVPublishing for several years. When she received her Masters degree she began writing seriously. If I Could Be Like Jennifer Taylor is Barbara’s first YA novel published by MuseItUp Publishing.

In addition she has a story in the anthology: Lavender Dreams and three poems in Prompted: An International Collection of Poems.

Barbara was a NY Literature Examiner for Examiner.com with several articles for them. Her blog, Barbara’s Meanderings, is networked on both Facebook and Blog Catalog. She hosts Red River Writers Live Tales from the Pages on Blog Talk Radio every 4th Thursday. In addition, her children’s story, “The Trouble with Follow the Leader” and an adult story, “Out on a Ledge” are published online She has written book reviews for Authorlink.com. and several of her reviews have been on Acewriters and Celebrity Café. She is a member of SCBWI. Writing is her life! You can find her on Twitter and on Facebook, and LinkedIn

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Sonia Marsh Says: What a lovely story of the power of love, and how your “gutsy” decision at twenty, was the right one for you. As a mom, I understand what your parents were thinking and feeling, but you proved them wrong by having a long lasting marriage.

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Please leave your comments for Barbara below and share with your fellow readers. Thanks.

Barbara Ehrentreu’s story is the third one this month. We also have Heidi Morrell’s, and Sharon Melton Lippincott’s. The vote for your favorite August “My Gutsy Story” will start on August 30th, until September 12th. The winner will be announced on September 13th.

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

To submit your own, “My Gutsy Story” you can find all the information, and our sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here.

Winner of the July “My Gutsy Story”

August 16, 2012 by Sonia Marsh

We’ve had an unprecedented TIE!! Due to an unfortunate glitch with the poll, it did not close at midnight as programmed, and votes were still coming in this morning. But according to the poll logs at 12:00 AM, we have two winners, who each scored 59 votes.

Congratulations to Juanima Hiatt for her incredible story which will help others and give hope to those who face PTSD. Juanima’s goal is, “to shatter the stigma of PTSD and abuse, and inspire others to break the silence.” She has a memoir out which I am reading and recommend called: The Invisible Storm.

Congratulations also go to Belinda, an expat from South Africa who moved to the U.S., in 2001. She shows us how change can also present us with opportunities in life. Please check out her book, Out of Sync, I am enjoying reading about Belinda’s life in the U.S after moving over from South Africa.

My Gutsy Story 2nd placew — My Gutsy Story 2nd place

Mary Herslet has an uplifting story about her life, and her words of wisdom can help all of us. “Take advantage of your opportunities, follow your passions, and never stop learning.“ We are all encouraging her to finish her memoir.

3rd place goes to Sherrey Meyer. Sherrey’s story showed us how she overcame the cruel threats of her mother’s psychological games and threats of suicide.

4th place goes to Bob Lowry who inspired us with his remarkable story of how perseverance and staying “Gutsy” paid off as far as leaving the corporate world and finding his own job.

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We already have two wonderful new stories for August with Heidi Morrell and Sharon Melton Lippincott.

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

To submit your own, “My Gutsy Story” you can find all the information, and our sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here.

“My Gutsy Story” by Heidi Morrell

August 6, 2012 by Sonia Marsh

First indication –

When my twins were but two and a half, I was pursuing a further acting career in voice over because Hollywood doesn’t like women over forty in front of the camera. While in a one on one coaching session, I noticed my mouth involuntarily moving too slowly once or twice. My teacher and I agreed it was probably because I was tired. But it kept happening as the weeks went by. I managed to record a good demo CD, but that career was not to be.

My father is a retired surgeon and my mother was a nurse, so I knew intrinsically that something was not right. I went to a Ear Nose and Throat MD when my mouth began to slur almost daily. After finding no organic structural flaws she gently suggested I consult with a neurologist. In the parking lot after that, my stomach made a fist and my breath came in more shallow as I hung my head. I’m married to a rare patient man in the music business and he comforted me upon returning home that evening.

The neurologist was gracious and kind, as I literally burst into tears when he entered the exam room. All the response tests he gave were fine, even the EEG. But he did want to rule out Multiple Sclerosis (MS) or a brain tumor/lesion, so he scheduled a MRI (magneticresonance imaging) for me. It came up negative for any lesions or tumors! I was joyous, my father and sister were joyous. My life returned to it’s busy normal self as we had two toddlers to raise and contend with. I had a nagging feeling however, and a garbled mouth, aka: disarthria.

Second indication –

Walking along down my residential street heading to the local village area, my left thigh hesitated ever so slightly when it was supposed to return, in it’s stride, up to the forward position. The moving body, in it’s stride is an amazing thing. Heck, any mammal’s body is sheer wonder if we would only stop for a moment and consider it! Seems only during the Olympics or during marathons do we stop to think, to marvel at the human body, the wonderful creation that it is.

But that hesitant thigh/knee was the dire confirmation clinching my dread, my awful suspicion that something was happening to me, my body. About this time, my husband’s music company requested he transfer to NYC, offering a quasi promotion and moving expenses. So we headed there amid speculation on my status, since my neurologist could find nothing on retesting and a second MRI. He only contended that something must be going on, and eventually something would show up on the MRI. How long before I would find myself in a wheelchair, I asked him? Maybe five years or so… I was by this time, an emotional wreck and that neurologist steered me to a psychiatrist for my unstable depression.

Before we moved to NYC area, I had my father arrange a referral for me to a good neurologist. Turned out he found one of the best at a leading hospital, Columbia Presbyterian in upper Manhattan near the Bronx. I went there to try and find a diagnosis. The neurologist specialized in movement disorders and we, my father and I, presumed it was something about that -since my leg was getting stiffer by the day. In fact, after foolishly rushing in the parking lot after a movie, I tripped and fell, breaking my ankle against the hard wood heel of my slip ons. My not so graceful butt came down hard against my ankle, impacting wood. Ouch! Of course I had to have surgery for a plate installation since it was a fragmented break. I felt a little like an automobile in for repairs.

My kids were to enter kindergarten that September, so we found a house in Scarsdale and moved in. My sister visited and she and I went to have the PET scan the new doctor ordered for diagnosis. I had planned the scan appointment around her visit. My husband was working nonstop, but he did accompany me to many of the doctor appointments.

Insult to injury, the PET scan cost $4,200! which my insurance refused to pay. I was still walking at that time, and I remember taking time to amble up a lovely tree lined path with my sister to the scan facility. She and I gazing at each other and rubbing shoulders over and over as if to recognize it was all true. And it was true.. I had MSA, a rare Atypical-Parkinsonian disease. (One can Google the condition to learn about it).
I’ve survived a lot longer than the seven to ten years typical of this, wahoo! and I have a great movement neurologist at UCLA that’s caring for me now that we’ve moved back to SoCalif.

-One doesn’t know what’s next on the journey, so have tolerance for those who are struggling. I’ve changed tremendously since 2000, but change is inevitable. You learn from it and gain humility. Being disabled provides a landscape of perspective where once, there was none.

The Take Aways:

-Appreciate what you have right now.
-Respect your body, what it can do.
-Everyone has some mess in their lives.
-Family is the best support you have.
-It can always be worse.
-Go out into nature for the refreshment of your soul.
-Always hold on to hope.

Heidi Morrell Bio:Heidi Morrell is a former T.V. actress, short film maker and college graduate in English. After having been diagnosed with an atypical movement disorder, MSA, she had to retire from acting and deal with her condition; however, she still and always has written fiction, poetry and essays. Heidi writes a column on disability and other topics, for examiner.com as: ‘LA disability’ examiner, please subscribe: http://www.examiner.com/user-hbmorrell.

Heidi is married, has boy and girl twins age twelve and lives in the Los Angeles area. Her disease has caused her to lose her basic walking ability (walker only), her sense of balance and speaking clarity. “Comedy is the key to facing reality,” she says. Being disabled provides a landscape of perspective where once, there was none. Please check out Heidi’s website You can also reach her on LinkedIn or Facebook

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Sonia Marsh Says: You are a true inspiration to all of us, especially when we take our health for granted. I am grateful to you for reminding us that we have to “appreciate what we have right now,” and that, “it can always be worse.” Your take-aways are a wonderful reminder, and I appreciate what you are doing for all of us, by opening our eyes to what life is all about. Thank you Heidi. Please leave your comments for Heidi below and share with your favorite social media online.

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Don’t forget to vote for your favorite July “My Gutsy Story.” You each get ONE VOTE, and please share with your friends and bloggers so the winner can pick his/her prize from our list of sponsors.

The voting starts August 2nd, until August 15th, and the winner will be announced on August 16th. Please go to the sidebar to VOTE and click on your favorite story of the month. Thanks, and please share with your favorite social media buttons below.

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

To submit your own, “My Gutsy Story” you can find all the information, and our sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here.

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Time to Vote for your favorite July, “My Gutsy Story”

August 2, 2012 by Sonia Marsh

This month we have 5 FANTASTIC people who have submitted their inspiring stories and it’s time for us to vote for our favorite.

BOB LOWRY: inspired us with his remarkable story of how perseverance and staying “Gutsy” paid off as far as leaving the corporate world and finding his own job.

SHERREY MEYER: Sherrey’s story showed us how she overcame the cruel threats of her mother’s psychological games and threats of suicide .

BELINDA NICOLL: Belinda, an expat from South Africa who moved to the U.S., in 2001, shows us how change can also presents us with opportunities in life.

MARY HERTSLET: Mary has an uplifting story about her life and her words of wisdom can help all of us. “Take advantage of your opportunities, follow your passions, and never stop learning.“

JUANIMA HIATT: Juanima, shares her incredible story which will help others and give hope to those who face PTSD. Juanima’s goal is, “to shatter the stigma of PTSD and abuse, and inspire others to break the silence.”

All five of these writers have either published books or are in the process of writing one. Please check out their websites by clicking on their names above.

You each get ONE VOTE, and please share with your friends and bloggers so the winner can pick his/her prize from our list of sponsors.

The voting starts August 2nd, until August 15th, and the winner will be announced on August 16th. Please go to the sidebar to VOTE and click on your favorite story of the month. Thanks, and please share with your favorite social media buttons below.

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

To submit your own, “My Gutsy Story” you can find all the information, and our sponsors on the “My Gutsy Story” contest page. (VIDEO) Submission guidelines here.

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Stay tuned for the release date of my book. Good news coming very soon.

A BONUS for those of you who write or want to write a MEMOIR. Jason Matthews invited a panel of memoir writers to his INDIE AUTHORS, Monday night show on HangoutNetworks.com. Watch the video.

You can learn about memoir writing from our panel:

Jason Matthews ( our host), Melvin Little, our producer.

Cheryl Stahle, Kathleen Pooler, Sharon Lippincott, Madeline Sharples, and me (Sonia Marsh)
You can click here to see panelists info.