Life Retold moved me to the core of my being ~ beautifully written and inspiring beyond words. Teri bared her soul, helping me to review my own life, to ask questions heretofore unasked, and to see into my own soul further than I've ever previously dared to look.  ~ M. Friedrich (Pioneer Valley, MA USA)

Humans are not made up of bone and sinew, but of parables and poetry. It is through story that one adult from a home of poverty creates a life of love, support and joy and another becomes a lonely criminal. It is through story that one girl-child who is sexually abused grows up to be an international star teaching the world forgiveness, gratitude and generosity while another once abused woman lives with constant excuses for why she is angry, a victim, a hard luck case. Blame is a story. Forgiveness is a story. Joy, prosperity, support, shame, loneliness, anger, lying, stealing – none of these exist without a story. You create your life through the story you tell. The outside world with all its opportunities and pit falls is simply fodder for the telling of your epic adventure we call life. Change your story and you change your past. Change your past and the foundation upon which you create your next moment is altered forever.

We are raised to believe the past cannot be changed - that it is, what it is and we are the sum total of our past experiences. “Hogwash”, as my gramma would say. We recreate our past constantly with the stories we tell of it.

When I was in my teens and early twenties I had one of the worst mothers in the world. My friends disliked her and agreed with me completely - I had been given a raw deal. Anything I would ever be was in spite of all she had done to shut me down. By the time I was in my late twenties I was given the most fantastic mother I could imagine. She was wise, kind, fun, honest, loyal and one of my dearest friends. Both moms were the same woman. She did not change – my translation of her did. The past I once had I no longer have. I do not deny my past, I simply realize it is viewed and told through my eyes and my interpretation. So I learned a new language. A language of love, forgiveness, happiness and prosperity and voila! My entire life has been and will always be amazing.

It is through legend and myth that we create poverty, war, loneliness and devastation upon our planet. We do not need billions of dollars, volumes of strategic plans or eons of activity to bring peace, prosperity and healing into reality. All we need are new stories – and the new stories we need - start with the individual- with you and I. Of course to change a tale we must first admit its existence. We will not reform our experience of life by trying to get others to alter their account. It is when we begin to retell our own personal narrative that the world around us begins to adjust. You think not? You think one person cannot change the world? You think to make a difference you need to be something you are not? Well, that’s a story to live by - or not.

It’s up to you, you’re the author will full ownership and rites to this adventure of living. You alone can change the sentences, paragraphs, volumes or conclusions to your life. You get to decide if it will be an adventure or a fairy tale, a drama or a comedy. You get the best parts and the choice of scenery. So pick up the pen of possibilities, tap that keyboard of eternity and become who you have always dreamed of being – in every limitless way you can imagine. You decide. You tell. You live.

This book is a life retold and edited many times. May you find within these pages the support to live a life of beauty and happiness garnished forever with love and kindness.

                                                    blessings  ~ Teri Hawkins