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11 things you don’t know about me.

December 3, 2012 by Sonia Marsh 23 Comments

This month I want to do something more personal. What would you like me to share with you? Something about travel? (I’m leaving for Paris WH Smith Event and London next week,) writing, marketing, my events, etc. Please leave your comment below. It will help me decide what interests you.

December is a great month to write your “My Gutsy Story.” I hope you consider submitting yours. We all need motivation, especially at the start of a New Year. I’ve attached the information at the bottom of this post.

My online friend, Doreen Cox, nominated me for The Liebster Award (Click her name to read Dody’s post.) You can also read Doreen’s “My Gutsy Story.”

The rules are:

1. When you receive the award nomination, post 11 random facts about yourself and answer the 11 questions asked by the person who nominated you.
2. Pass the award onto 11 other blogs (while making sure you notify the blogger that they have been nominated!)
3. Write up 11 NEW questions directed towards YOUR nominees.
4. Of course, do not nominate the blog of the one who nominated your blog!
5. Paste the award picture onto your blog. (You can Google the image; there are plenty of them!)

Here goes! 11 random things to know about me:

1. I hated reading as a child, and English language, English Literature and History, were my least favorite subjects. (Shocking! Considering all writers love to read, love literature and most love history.

2. I was born with a black mohawk.
3. I lived in Nigeria as a child, and my mom spoke Danish to me from birth.

4. I am an only child. My mother and I were very close. She died at 57, before I moved to the U.S. I wish she had known my husband and children. She was a Kindergarten teacher and excellent at connecting with children
5. I made an impromptu speech in front of my class, at the English School of Paris at age 13. My classmates snickered, and did not vote for me. That traumatic incident impacted me for life, and I decided to overcome my fear of public speaking.
6. I left home at 14 to attend boarding school in the U.K. It was my own decision as I wanted to take subjects in high school that weren’t offered at my school in Paris.

7. I always wanted to become a pilot, but my eyesight was terrible. I considered joining the RAF (Royal Air Force) as an air traffic controller, but did not fit in with the strict rules.

8. I studied “Computer Science” in college, but was hopeless at it, so I transferred to “Environmental Science.” After that, I started a Masters degree in “European Studies,” at Reading University in the U.K., but disliked the “history” part, as I was more interested in contemporary topics. I’m sorry to admit this, but it’s the truth, so I quit, and got a research job at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland for one year.

9. I rarely feel settled. My mind is always thinking of the next place I want to visit or live in, or country I want to see. I don’t know if I will change as I grow older, but I’ve always been this way.

10. I am married to a “quiet” man. This may explain why I like networking and meeting people, as I cannot keep my mouth shut for long periods of time.

11. I’m a Virgo, supposedly a “perfectionist,” however, I view myself as disorganized. I work better under deadlines.

Here are the answers to the questions asked of me by Dody:

1. What is the first book that you can remember reading?

The Noddy series by Enid Blyton.
2. Did you ever have a nickname?

SØS. No not SOS, by my mother.

Snookie by Duke, my husband.
3. What is the most favorite thing that you did when a kid?

Spending the day swimming with Lilian, my best Danish childhood friend. Eating Danish pastries after we swam in the morning.

4. What is your favorite thing to do in the summer?

Travel and swim and snorkel in Caribbean warm waters.

5. Do you have an unusual or interesting habit?

I really like boysenberry jam on sharp cheddar cheese, on a slice of whole grainy brown bread.
6. If you could have a chat with someone you do not know, who would this be?

Jane Goodall. I love “Gutsy” women who are older and wiser. I would like to ask her to be a part of the “My Gutsy Story” event I so want to put together in 2013.
7. Describe your ideal bookcase.

Memoirs and travel stories.
8. What is your favorite spot in which to read?

I can’t read for long periods at a time, so on the bike at the gym, or when I walk my dog.
9. What is the most interesting vacation you’ve ever had?

On a safari in Kenya and Tanzania with my kids aged 6 and 9. The youngest was only 2, and stayed in the U.S.
10. Do you have a bucket list? Share one with us.

Take a Spanish immersion class and live with a host family in Panama.
Teach English in a totally foreign country where the locals are friendly and receptive to learning. Where should I go? Any ideas welcome?
Travel to Australia, and do a house swap or house-sit for 6 months.
Do 27 months of Peace Corps work.
Live in Naples, FL, for a while.
Start a Baby-Boomer movement of “Gutsy people.”
Always learn from other people.

11. Complete the sentence: “I wish... I knew how to fly a small Cessna. I wish I had nursing skills so I could work and volunteer in any country in the world. I wish I’d become an author and motivational speaker in my 30’s.

***

Because I am a curious person, I wanted to learn more about a few people whose blogs I enjoy: Belinda Nicoll, Miss Footloose, Annabel Candy, Barbara Hammond, Muriel Demarcus, Laura Dennis, Rebecca Hall, Stephanie Dagg, Kelli Norgaard, Lois Joy Hofmann, Jennifer Fink

Here are my questions to you.

1. What is your biggest accomplishment so far in your life?

2. Where did you first meet your spouse (if applicable)?

3. How do you see yourself at 80?

4. What do you hope to accomplish in the next 5 years.

5. What is your biggest fear in life and why?

6. Are you a Gutsy woman? In what way?

7. Where do you see yourself living when you retire?

8. Do you regret any decisions you’ve made in your life?

9. Is there a profession you would pick today if you could start over? Which one and why?

10. What are you looking forward to in 2013?

11. How do you stay motivated?

I do hope that your busy schedules can allow time for your acceptance of this award!

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

DECEMBER will be DIFFERENT.

I shall be leaving for Paris and London, and plan to share stories, photos, and other posts during this month on my blog.

I am collecting new “My Gutsy Story” submissions for 2013. NOW is the time to submit your own “My Gutsy Story” and get published in our Anthology. Please contact sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.

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.

Thanks and don’t forget to VOTE on the sidebar.

Vote for your favorite November “My Gutsy Story”

November 29, 2012 by Sonia Marsh 1 Comment

This month he have 4 amazing “My Gutsy Story” submissions.

Please vote for your favorite story. You have until December 12th to vote, and the winner will be announced on December 13th from Paris where I shall be doing a book signing at WH Smith.

SCROLL DOWN ON SIDEBAR TO VOTE. Only ONE vote each.

Jerry Waxler shared “My Search Led Me to Story,” and his global vision of sharing our stories and breaking down barriers through a Memoir Revolution.

Elaine Masters shared her story about “Answering the Call” where she got the strength and courage to leave your “unhappy” marriage and find a new life.

Susan Weidener: shared “Taking a Risk on Love,” a story of courage and re-inventing herself after the loss of the man she loved, and how she was able to start a new life.

Jerry Holl: An amazing “My Gutsy Story” about one man, one bike and one tent. Jerry quit his job at 57 to experience a life-changing adventure.

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

DECEMBER will be DIFFERENT.

I shall be leaving for Paris and London, and plan to share stories, photos, and other posts during this month on my blog.

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.

Thanks and don’t forget to VOTE on the sidebar.

“My Gutsy Story” Jerry Holl

November 26, 2012 by Sonia Marsh 20 Comments

One Man. One Bike. One Tent.

June 20, 2012 — August 9, 2012 — Alaska to Mexico — 3634 miles — 50 days

“Are you bringing a gun?”

“What in the world would compel you to do this?”

“Are you insane?”

“You’re going alone?”

“My husband and I have talked about this ….we think you’re too over-confident!”

“My buddies and I think you’re nuts …you have bigger ‘stones’ than any of us!”

These are some of the comments I was getting in the days leading up to me climbing on

my flight…

On Tuesday, June 19, 2012, the Delta Airlines morning flight was nonstop from Minneapolis, MN to Anchorage, AK. In the hold of the jet was my brand new bicycle ….a ‘Surly — Long Haul Trucker’ ….I liked the name because it described what I was about to do. I was fortunate to have a window seat and the weather was crystal clear …for the last 3 hours of the flight, I was looking down at heavily glaciated mountain wilderness. Do the math …3+ hours at 500+ mph is greater than 1500 miles just in this segment of the trip alone …and from 35,000 feet, there was no sign of civilization. I had a subtle laugh looking out into the remote distance as the visual became so real …’I have to ride through this …and it’s only a portion of the trip …what in the world am I thinking … what did I sign up for’? It was a strange, yet exhilarating feeling as I rode out of Anchorage …and into complete wilderness the next morning.

For the last several years, I would look out my office window ….and dream ….dream of being outside …dream of the natural world …dream of big, hairy, audacious adventures. My upbringing instilled in me a sense of wonder of what is over the horizon. So …I have always loved travel and adventure …and I would read the stories of others who escaped to pursue those dreams …they dared to do the unusual …and they had the guts to quit talking about it and just do it. I’d feel a great sense of jealousy.

Professionally, I felt completely stale as an institutional stockbroker …the office felt lifedraining …and I was determined to feel ALIVE again. Like a rocket needs critical thrust to break the bonds of gravity, I needed to escape this constraining environment and break the bonds of my professional career. I knew that I just didn’t need to change professions …I needed adventure. And, the adventure couldn’t just be a ‘week off’ type of vacation. I needed to do something so strikingly different, and a huge stretch …one that required constant perseverance even when I might not want to continue. I wanted the adventure to be remote, gruelingly physical, have breathtaking beauty, and I wanted to do it completely alone.

I have strong confidence in my abilities, but I wanted to know what the struggles against my limitations might be. Through this type of journey, I instinctively knew that I couldn’t help but grow, have great experiences, and I knew it would be life changing. If not now …when? At 57, I knew I wasn’t getting younger and my friends were starting to encounter medical problems. My family was completely supportive, so in May 2012, I resigned and determined this was the time for the test. I hadn’t contemplated or planned what my adventure might be …but I went into high gear and quickly decided that I would ride a bicycle from Alaska to Mexico …one man, one bike, one tent. I’ve never been a big cyclist. Prior to this trip, I hadn’t biked beyond 20 – 30 miles in a day …and had never ridden a bike loaded with gear until the very morning I peddled out of Anchorage. I didn’t train specifically for this type of adventure …but had always maintained decent conditioning. I just simply felt that if I wasn’t in shape for the trip …I would ride myself into shape along the way.

Adventures like these are rife with uncertainty. You better be comfortable with your decision making in the face of the unknown …each day I would wake up not knowing what the day might bring. You are totally living in the present. The numerous variables you constantly weigh throughout each day include; your physical condition, mental condition, wild animals (I encountered 19 bears, 2 moose), weather, headwinds / tailwinds, mountainous terrain, mechanical breakdowns, bike-shop locations, food and supply locations, campsites or lack of, traffic, road conditions (shoulders or not), and time of day …whether to proceed or stop. The decision points …and decision making was tremendously interesting. This journey greatly reinforced and furthered my desire to actively live life …to not just bumble along and let it randomly happen. The numerous lessons I experienced are now even more acutely clear …and on many levels. People along the way were nothing but great …they were conscious of my exposure, and would do anything to try to help …and they loved that I was actually doing what most people just preach or dream …their enthusiasm fueled my soul.

Jerry Holl grizzly bears — I passed this mama grizzly and cubs within 30 feet.

I returned to Alaska in early November, 2012 and went back to the F Street Station Bar and Grill. The bartender, Tiffany Pulver, was on duty the night of June 19, 2012 when she overheard my conversation at that time with locals explaining what I was about to do. On November 9, 2012, I returned to the bar and she looked at me and said “I remember you, I just didn’t believe you.”

Please join me on the ride and read my day to day stories, decisions faced, and people encounters at www.goingcommandoblog.wordpress.com

A two minute YouTube video of this story was put together by a University of Minnesota

journalism student named Andrew Christina …here’s the link:

Jerry Holl Bio:

Jerry Holl lives in Tonka Bay, Minnesota with his wife Suzanne. They have 3 grown children. He worked in the corporate world for 33 years for several companies in sales, marketing and executive management roles. He likes to travel and be active in the outdoor world and likes a variety of activities including; scuba, downhill and cross country skiing, has climbed Mt. Rainier, Mt Baker and several 14ers in Colorado, likes a variety of water sports, canoe trips, whitewater rafting, backpacking, has skydived, has hitchhiked across North America, has motorcycled much of America and Canada, has run with the bulls in Spain …and most recently has bicycled solo from Alaska to Mexico.
He went to the University of Minnesota and graduated in 1976 from the Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Geological Engineering and also received an MBA from the University of Minnesota’s Business School in 1978.

Jerry Holl is on Twitter @jerry_holl and you can e-mail him here: holljerry@gmail.com
Sonia Marsh Says: This is really a true example of a “My Gutsy Story,” Jerry. You did what so many men long to do: quit their corporate job, or “cubicle job” as my hero, Chris Guillebeau talks about to his tribe of non-conformists. Of course there are many women as well who seek adventure in their lives. I can’t wait to read your book when you’re ready, and hear about your future adventures.

Please leave your comments for Jerry below. He will be over to respond. Thank you to all who follow the series.

NEWS ABOUT DECEMBER

I shall be in Paris at a book signing on December 13th, 5-7 pm, at WH Smith (scroll down on their website) as well as visiting family and friends in Paris and London. (ANY SUGGESTIONS? WHAT ARE YOU INTERESTED IN? LET ME KNOW IN YOUR COMMENTS BELOW OR E-MAIL ME AT Sonia@soniamarsh.com)

Since we are all busy during the holidays, I shall post stories and photos from Europe during the month of December, and hope you take some time to write and submit your “My Gutsy Story.” Be the first one on January 7th 2013. Thank you.

***

We have started our November “My Gutsy Story” series with Jerry Waxler and Elaine Masters, Susan Weidener

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

NOW is the time to submit your “My Gutsy Story” and get published in our Anthology. Please contact sonia@soniamarsh.com for details.

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

Thanksgiving in Southern California

November 22, 2012 by Sonia Marsh 6 Comments

100_0430 — Sonia in the jacuzzi on November 21st 2012

I am grateful to all the people who make my life special.

To my family, to all the “My Gutsy Story” writers who have become my friends, to writers and readers and all the people I meet who make life interesting.

Thanks to all of you and have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.

The weather is beautiful in southern California, and sometimes it’s difficult to feel the Christmas Season approaching.

I look forward to my trip to Paris and London in December, where I know I shall get some winter weather.

Love and Happiness to all of you.

Sonia

“My Gutsy Story” by Susan Weidener

November 19, 2012 by Sonia Marsh 27 Comments

Taking a Risk On Love

As a reporter most of my working life, I interviewed countless people. I became quite good at standing back, observing and then writing about the pain and heartbreak, the triumphs and tragedies, the challenges and defeats of other people.

A big daily newspaper like The Philadelphia Inquirer provided a window into life’s diversity and no two days were alike. By its very nature, journalism requires you stay objective, put your prejudices aside, stand back and observe. In some ways, my personal life reflected my professional one. Since my husband’s death, I had stood back, observed my own life with a certain detachment.

My stories at the newspaper ran the gamut. The young couple whose four-year-old son was dying of Tay Sachs, but refused to give up hope and channeled their energies into fundraising to help find a cure. A married couple who wanted to keep a flock of bantam chickens on their property, but was ordered by the local zoning board to remove the birds. I remember the headline: “We Refuse to Chicken Out.” A group of citizens who asked if I would write about their grassroots movement to preserve from development a Revolutionary War site where 53 American soldiers were buried. . . . a story that spanned five years and ended up garnering the attention of Congress.

****

But as life would have it, events and circumstances collided. I always believe and still do – life can change in a heartbeat. First, there was the loss of my career at the newspaper; then finding myself alone, a woman whose children were grown and gone; and finally the death of my mother.

I stood at the precipice of change wondering . . . where to go from here? The lack of direction terrified and excited me. I thought to myself: Now is your time, Susan. You can do what you want. You don’t need to prove anything to anyone . . . no one that is, but John.

He had always been there . . . my touchstone to honor and chivalry. I remembered when we first met under white dogwood trees; the way he looked at me with deepset dark eyes almost as if he knew me better than I knew myself. Although he had been gone over 13 years, he had never really left my side. Now that I was off the treadmill of work and raising children, I found myself drawn into reliving our love, our 16-year marriage, his heartbreaking and courageous battle with cancer that lasted – almost unbelievably – seven long years through the birth of our second son and ending just after our son’s 7^th birthday.

Susan Weidener Wedding — John and I toast each other on our wedding day.

I began searching for answers. Why hadn’t I been a better wife to John at the end? Why had I screamed at him as he was dying, “I wish I’d never met you!” I believe he knew before I did that losing him was almost more than I could bear. He never asked for an apology. It was myself I needed to forgive. So I began writing.

This was harder than any story I had ever covered or reported. I felt my throat choke up, the tears well in my eyes. Why was I putting myself through this? Some days I would get up from the desk, take long walks . . . but even then I couldn’t escape our story, his and mine. How best to express the emotions I needed to convey, which scene, which memory, which conversation?

I began to realize that if what I wrote helped other families cope with chronic illness and learn to forgive themselves for not living up to their own personal set of standards, then I was writing the most important story of my life. My days as a journalist had served me well. I knew how to craft a well-paced story, yet also keep some distance and find the compelling narrative. For me, it was about the loss of youth and dreams, the naïve expectation of a happily-ever-after, and then blaming my husband, not the cancer for my shattered life.

After Again in a Heartbeat was finished, I felt a weight lift. It had been the depth of my love for him that made me act the way I had. If I had loved him any less, perhaps, I could have been kinder.

Again in a Heartbeat, a memoir of love, loss and dating again and its sequel, Morning at Wellington Square, about my life as a writer and single woman on a quest to find new meaning, have opened doors to teaching writing workshops, editing books, and helping others find their “voice” through the Women’s Writing Circle. This is a group I started here in suburban Philadelphia three years ago to bring together a community of writers and offer a support system, as well as a creative lifeline in a world that is often isolating.

In many ways, I feel energized by this new “career” . . . pursuing my passion, which is writing and teaching and encouraging others to tell their stories. None of it would have happened if I had not made the decision to take a risk . . . to dive off that cliff and hope – beyond any measure of logic or reason – that somehow if I looked hard into my own heart I might not only survive, but come up renewed

***

Susan G. Weidener’s Bio: An author, editor and former journalist, Susan leads writing workshops and started the Women’s Writing Circle, a support and critique group for writers in suburban Philadelphia. Susan has an undergraduate degree in literature from American University in Washington, DC and a master’s degree in education from the University of Pennsylvania. She is particularly interested in how women can find their voice through writing and storytelling. For more information about the Women’s Writing Circle and how to order Susan’s memoirs, go www.susanweidener.com. You can also connect with Susan on Twitter@ Sweideheart, Facebook
Facebook: , and her Link to my Amazon Author’s page

Sonia Marsh Says: What a story of courage and re-inventing yourself after the loss of the man you loved, and the start of a new life. I am sure your memoir can help us feel “energized” and motivated to follow our passion, just as you did.