Fear is not driving my life. I trust in the power of change

I know who I am and what matters to me—I live life in accordance with it.

I know that all the emotional and physical strength I’ll ever need is already inside me

I SURVIVED STAGE 1 LUNG CANCER...TWICE After having two daughters, I put myself through 4 years of college and graduated Summa Cum Laude. I went on to obtain two Master's Degrees in the next four years. I managed to do this in spite of having an alcoholic, emotionally abusive husband who tried to sabotage my efforts. I wanted my girls to have a positive, strong and dynamic role model for a mother. The driving force in my life became showing my girls that cute was not enough. I became empowered through my passion to raise strong, self-suffieient women who would be able to stand on their own two feet. Today,I teach in both a public school and a major NYC university in a Master's Degree program. I lift weights as well as spirits. I run miles every week, , but I know I can never run away from my past. Cancer has taught me to never look back and to keep moving forward in a positive, hopeful direction.

I eat from the banquet of life and choose what my heart desires

I had a father who believed in me and taught me how a woman should be treated by men.

Despite loss, grief, and near homelessness I never allowed my spirit to be broken.

embracing the art of travel through culture and style

strong is the new skinny.