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    Unlocking the Dream
    Unlocking the Dream
    Unlocking the Dream
    Ebook68 pages52 minutes

    Unlocking the Dream

    By Karen Baldwin

    ()

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    About this ebook

    Readers of "Ruby's World – My Journey with the Zulu" demanded answers!

    In "Unlocking the Dream", Karen Baldwin shares her intimate dream of a one-breasted heroine that drives her through an intense journey of healing and self-determination. Not satisfied to merely survive a heart attack and breast cancer, Karen demands that her dreams dictate a purpose and path for her life. In response, her nights explode with colorful images that lead her to travel alone to a Zulu village in South Africa. Once there, what begins as a joyous adventure becomes a crushing and inexplicable betrayal.

    Dreams nurture and guide our souls' contracts. Join Karen Baldwin's compelling adventure and decide for yourself: Has she unlocked the key elements of her dreams, or is she still on the journey?
    Wanda Burch – Author of She Who Dreams

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherJohn R. Mabry
    Release dateMar 22, 2016
    ISBN9781937002541
    Unlocking the Dream

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      Book preview

      Unlocking the Dream - Karen Baldwin

      UNLOCKING THE DREAM

      by

      KAREN BALDWIN

      Copyright 2012

      ALSO BY KAREN BALDWIN

      RUBY’S WORLD — MY JOURNEY WITH THE ZULU

      ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

      This book wouldn’t exist without the persistent urging of my agent and publicist at DM Productions, LLC. Thank you, Doug and Dianemarie.

      I’m grateful for the women and men who supported me while I battled breast cancer. Their ability to hold me through my grief was remarkable. And when I was ready to follow my dreams to Africa, they became enthusiastic cheerleaders. Without them, I’m convinced I wouldn’t be where I am today. Thank you Amy, Brando, Branwyn, Cameron, Carlyle, Deb, Diane, Elizabeth, Gina Rose, Haldis, Jane, Jeffrey, John, Judith, Judy, Jurgen, Karen and Craig, Kathy, Laura, Linda and Don, Lizzy and Lawson, Megan and Jim, Melissa and Elisabeth, Miriam, Nancy, Pandora, Patti, Paul, Pollyanna, Raymond, Ron, Ric, Scott R, Scott T, Sobonfu, Suzanne, Vicki Joy, and the folks at The Wellness Community.

      Deep gratitude goes to my former partner for accompanying me on this journey. Although it was painful and difficult for both of us at the time, in hindsight I see this shared experience as a divine setup for growth. She pushed me to claim my strength. I hope I gave her an equal gift.

      Taos is a wonderful place to write, providing both solitude and strong community. Each morning I wake up in the shadow of the mountain, feeling held and blessed. Thank you to my fellow Taseños — friends, writers, coffee shop mates, and the man who sells me my newspaper every Thursday.

      And a special thank you to the Rural Women’s Movement of South Africa which has recently appointed me as their American Ambassador. I am honored and humbled by their trust in me. They remind me that the dream continues to unfold in deep, magical ways.

      Dedicated to every woman who longs to know her own strength.

      Trust your dreams.

      AUTHOR’S NOTE

      Out of respect for the privacy of those who share my life, I have changed everyone’s names except my own.

      UNLOCKING THE DREAM

      Chapter One

      CHOICE

      Winter, 2002

      The EKG alarm screeches as my heart slams against my ribcage in irregular beats. The paramedic rushes to silence the alarm. He inflates the blood pressure cuff around my arm and wiggles a stethoscope between the EKG wires. The cold metal presses against my chest as we wait for the sound of a normal heartbeat to return to the monitor. Nothing.

      Houston, he says, we have a problem.

      The nurse pulls tubes and syringes from the overhead cabinets in the ambulance. The paddles have been lying on my legs the entire time.

      What’s happening? I ask.

      Your heart is being stubborn. We can’t wait long before we intervene.

      What will you do?

      We’ll give you an injection to stop your heart. Let it rest for a minute. Then we’ll give you another injection to jumpstart it. If that doesn’t work, we’ll use the paddles.

      Do I have another choice?

      No. Don’t worry, Karen. We have a perfect record. We won’t let you die on our watch.

      Why, at age forty-seven, does my heart refuse to go on? No mystery. I’ve lost my passion for life. My relationship is troubled. My only child left for college and I feel lost. I’ve been unhappy in my career for years. Engineering pays the bills, but it doesn’t satisfy my soul. Ministry has tugged at me forever. I’ve been a fool to think I could escape it.

      My attendants glance across me at each other. Their eyes say it all.

      Are you ready? the paramedic asks.

      Terror pierces me. Do me a favor?

      Name it.

      Keep your hand on me so I stay connected to life.

      That’s easy. He lays his hand on my leg. Here we go.

      The drug enters my vein like molten lava. Within seconds my bones are on fire. Immense weight flattens my chest. I can’t move. My entire body feels thick. Dense. I hear voices in the distance. The machine lights overhead fade from vibrant colors to shades of gray.

      I close my eyes. Tears burn my face. Life has been hard. I’ve made mistakes, but I’ve tried

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