Third in my weekly series... ~ ~ ~ SUNNI: Searing pain hit the center of my chest. I can’t breathe! Is this my heart? Is this a heart attack 40 feet underwater? “Stay calm, breathe calm,” I told myself. I tried to take a breath and the pain struck again. My eyes searched for the dive master. I must go up. I grabbed for Steve my dive partner. I pointed to the center of my chest and motioned that I was in trouble and had to go up. I trusted that Steve would regulate my ascent

Enjoy this excerpt (Chapter 2: "From the Midwest to Manhattan") from my book, Mirror, Mirror. ~ ~ ~ It took twelve months to heal my physical body. It also took that year to recognize my fears and overcome them one by one. It was time for me to look myself in the eyes and reflect on who I was, what I really wanted out of my new life. One morning, I just sat still—something rare for me—and took a deep look into the mirror of my soul. I was told that this journey would be abo

Do you ever feel like you are in a box? Did you ever evaluate the box you have created for your safety and security? What does your box feel like? Does it feel safe and predictable and comforting? Some people like the safety of a very identifiable box. People like accountants, bankers, police, wardens, perfectionists, military, and organizers. The creative kinds usually always live outside of the box, the artists, musicians, dancers, actors, theater people, and the true innov

Enjoy this excerpt (Chapter 1: Begin the Beguine) from my book, Mirror, Mirror. ~ ~ ~ I had everything I ever thought I could want. But on a cold, snowy night in Milwaukee, the Universe showed me how wrong I was…and knocked me right out of my comfort zone. It was two o’clock in the morning and snow stuck to the street signs, blocking the lettering. I peered through the blustering snow as I searched for the entrance ramp to the Expressway. I was driving slowly along the windin

Listen to Sunni's 30-minute interview on "I Am Xena" radio. I Am Xena is a grassroots movement with the goal of growing grow a community of like-minded women who work to empower, equip, and protect women and children in homes, schools, and courts. Guests on the radio show include inspiring and triumphant stories from women whom overcome to self defense experts and lawmakers. Sunni discusses everything from her book Diary of a Turkish Wedding, cross-cultural understanding and

This is an amazing place on planet earth. I have been here and after seeing the photos on line I have decided to return. It's on my bucket list that I have to go hot air ballooning over Capadocia, Turkey. People actually live in these towers and have created caves in what look like termite mounds.....huge. Read about more adventures in Turkey and the continuing saga of an American in fundamentalist Islamic villages in Turkey in my book Diary of a Turkish Wedding. #Turkey #D