Following Daisies – Introduction

Welcome!!

This is the first of a 17 part series launching my new book, Following Daisies – A True Story about One Woman’s Adventures Finding Happiness, Fulfilling Dreams and Becoming Herself. Each Sunday, I’ll be posting a new chapter for you to enjoy here on the Wild Daisy blog, up to Chapter 16. If you’d like to learn more about the book, pre-order your copy and find out how you can win some fun stuff, simply click here.

If you’re looking to pursue some of your own life dreams, longing to learn how to follow your heart or just wanting a funspirational, adventure-filled read, then this book is for you.

A few thanks are in order before moving on. First, I’d like to thank the many friends and colleagues who have agreed to be a part of this book. They have allowed me to use their real names and to share stories that help weave the fabric of this book. The many adventures of Following Daisies were made richer because of them.

Secondly, I owe a huge thank you to my editor, Sheila Ascroft, who went above and beyond in working with me to finish and edit the manuscript. Not only did she edit my work with exceptional diligence and skill, she was my Number One cheerleader and coach. Her efforts truly helped me make this book the best it could possibly be.

Thirdly, I’d like to thank my good friend, Lindsay Wickware, for her wonderfully beautiful cover design.

Finally, I’d like to thank you. For coming here and joining in on the adventure.

Now, let’s start Following Daisies!!!

Introduction

© Copyright by Heather Pardon, 2011. All rights reserved.

By 2008, I’d reached the point that many of us reach in life. I had a “normal” life that included a nice house in a nice neighbourhood in a nice city, a respectable work life, numerous possessions and a busy social life. But I wasn’t happy. I didn’t even like my life.

I had been very busy trying to find happiness and fulfilment in an existence that truly wasn’t my own design. This isn’t me, I thought, feeling like misfit in my own life. Somewhere in the midst of that seemingly comfortable existence, I was beginning to feel extremely uncomfortable.

“I’m reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho,” said my houseguest Roberto over breakfast one morning back in August 2008. “You should read it. I think you’d really enjoy it.”

Some latent instinct told me that this was no casual recommendation, but rather one of those moments in life that called for my full attention. Life was speaking to me and Roberto, the messenger, had just passed along the message. While I’d never heard of The Alchemist before I purchased the book the next day, I couldn’t put the book down until I’d finished reading it—from cover to cover late that same evening. A force from within its pages had pierced my heart and found my soul, and was tantalizing me with the tales of Santiago’s adventures.

The Alchemist is a fable about Santiago, a shepherd boy who leaves behind the life he knows in Spain to follow his heart and his dreams across the deserts of Egypt. I instinctively felt I’d found a soul mate in Santiago and his story. Heather, follow your heart. Have faith and don’t worry. Life always watches over us and rewards those who take risks.

Ten months later, I would set off on an unplanned journey much like Santiago’s, leaving my usual life behind to hit the road in my RV, Miss Daisy, heading west across Canada to see where my heart would lead me.

It seemed in the months following my meeting with Roberto that life was calling to me. Heather, you need a change. A big change.

What did I want? I wanted to follow my heart in every aspect of my life, just like Santiago did, and see what would happen. I’d ignored my heart many times in the past, to my own detriment, now I was ready and willing to listen to its voice and its wisdom.

In July 2009, after saying goodbye to my familiar life, I hit the road in Miss Daisy, on my own personal quest. What would I find on my journey of the heart? Would I find happiness? Would I connect with my reason for being on this Earth? Would I find Me? Would I fulfil some of my dreams? Would I finally be able to create a life that I love?

The message emblazoned on the side of Miss Daisy summed up my mantra for my pilgrimage: Follow Your Heart, Wherever It Takes You. My plan was simple. To leave town with no firm plan, no road map and no set itinerary. My only ‘goal’ was to keep following the wild daisies that seemed to have lined the roadside of my life the past few years, like signposts directing the way.

It is likely no small coincidence that wild daisies are my flower. They’re a vibrant, happy wanderer, a flower with a simple life purpose—to be a wild daisy and to help nurture the growth of other wild daisies.

Reactions from my friends and family to my wandering plans were unanimous. “You’re crazy,” or “I would love to do that…,” as their thoughts ventured off into dreams of their own. Moments later, more often than not, this was followed by the words,” but I can’t.”

“Why not?” I would ask and a long list of reasons generally followed. We can be our own dreams worst enemies, killing them before they get to take even their first breath!

Life had beckoned me for whatever reason. While many things were uncertain, of these three things I was very sure. I needed to listen to the call of my heart. I needed to trust the wisdom of the wild daisies in my life. And I needed to share my story about what happens when you follow your heart wherever it takes you.

See you next Sunday for Chapter One: The Weird, Wacky and Wonderful Way in Which Our Dreams Come True

In the meantime, Be Wild. Be a Daisy.

Heather

 

If you’d like to pre-order your copy of Following Daisies AND find out how you can enter the “Great Nanaimo Bar Giveaway” AND get a free copy of my ebook I Like My Eggs SunnySide Up – One Dozen Tips for Cooking Up Positivity in the Frying Pan of Life, click here now!

To receive an email notification of new posts, simply enter your email address in the “Join our mailing list” tab on the right hand sidebar.