Perhaps I was born to be a peacemaker. Born at the perfect time and place (the middle child) for helping others overcome problems with fear, frustration, anger, disappointment, grief, and despair. Peacemaking has certainly been associated with me by others as being "My Calling," for longer than my memory serves me. From my earliest recollections. the ups and downs of childhood were met with the same positivity and happy-go-lucky demeanor that made me the neighborhood's "Little Miss Sunshine." It was a natural inclination for me to continuously brighten the lives of others. Loving everyone! Loving adventure! Coming from a large family of meager means, the library became my avenue of travel ever since first grade. Reading served to take me to exotic places far beyond the confines of the brick and mortar of my small neighborhood. I also learned about how other people fared and failed when trying to handle every day situations. While taking the good with the bad was second nature to me, reading about the plights of others certainly helped hone my skills. It also enhanced my love of and gratitude for every single moment in life. My love of imagined travel as a youngster no doubt fueled my ever-growing sense of freedom, adventure, and the confidence to go and do whatever it was that intrigued me at the time. As an active, full-time live-aboard sailor of eleven years, one learns how to be self-sufficient and bond with a world beyond the terra firma beneath. Whether sand or grass, my bare feet are comfortable anywhere with anyone. Everyone is a brother or sister. I have danced with the poorest of the poor and the richest of the rich, and brought out happiness in them all--and via the same manner! We all are so much more alike than we may think. Mother of two incredible children: a brilliant, handsome, and loving son who (due to Juvenile [Type 1] Diabetes) transitioned to destinations unknown in 2005, and an incredible daughter who is a beautiful, intelligent, and a most devoted wife and mother. My children have rewarded me with the gift of grandchildren and personify how life indeed goes on even after great loss. Grief and acceptance of the things we cannot change allows the maintaining of gratitude for what we DO have. Positivity is my middle name. Through hardship and despair, it is in one's best interest to realize that things can always be worse than they are. We must be thankful for the problems and issues we don't have! It is in our own hands as to how we empower ourselves over the negative -- and learn to put a positive spin on everything in our lives. Happiness is within our grasp. It is always there. We simply have to realize that happiness doesn't choose us... we choose happiness! Married to the most wonderful man in the world for nearly forty-five years... simply said, he completes me. He always has. We are still best friends and lovers. LOVE heals everything. My knight in shining armor, and he remains to be such to this day. It has been my wish for a very long time that everyone should experience real LOVE. The world would be a much better place because of it. My books are intended to remind others that happiness exists. Happiness is not just a fairy tale. Happiness is real and it is real life. We just have to make it happen for ourselves. As you can tell, my life is one that has never had need of soap operas or much exterior stimulation: my life has always been stimulation personified! In love every day of my entire life and loving the gift of life itself! But there are always bumps on the pathways of every life... even those that seem the most wonderful. Those trials and tribulations are what test the peacemaker in us. I've successfully stood that test time and time again. Now, with SHWY, I share some of that with you. Please note that my "AUTHOR VIDEO" (located in the immediate right side column), is a poignant, moving, video introduction to just one segment of SHWY and what my book can do for you: "Change the way you think and you will change the way you feel." - Charmainism Thank you so much for stopping by. You can also reach me on Facebook and Goodreads as well. https://www.facebook.com/OfficialCharmaineSmithLadd https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8279091.Charmaine_Smith_Ladd/blog Peace, Love, and Happiness, Charmaine Smith Ladd