In the words of Linda Ronstadt and The Stone Poneys, “You and I travel to the beat of a different drum…”

Growing up as a privileged daughter of two married parents, I was raised as a princess. I wanted for nothing, yet appreciated everything; fore, I saw my parents working very hard and earning their accomplishments, yet they wanted to spare me from having to do the same for myself. From that, however, I learned the ethic of hard work, the value of money, but also, the presentation of pamperedness. The thought for my life’s plan seemed to be that I would grow up, graduate from college, marry well, have children, stop working, and enjoy all the niceties of living the young yuppie American dream. However, that was never my dream, especially when realizing what a nightmare that could possibly be. You see, I had a different dream, the dream of being my own woman; by myself, for myself, and with myself.

But, ahhh…the illusion of “Happily Ever After”…Isn’t that what every little girl dreams of, and ultimately wants?! For me, only if it wasn’t an illusion, but my authentic self marrying a sincere man who loved the me that I loved most; and only as long as “no person, place, or thing would try to pull the reins in on me” also in the words of Linda Ronstadt.

But I digress…By traveling to the beat of a different drum, I had the opportunity to explore what I was curious about, interested in, drawn to, driven by, and most passionate about in life. Along the way, I also discovered how self-sufficient, capable, independent, strong-willed, smart, and successful of a woman that I could be and would become. All part of the wonder of my path chosen years ago. Several beats of the drum later, I continue to travel—by, for, and with myself—but now, I am now searching for someone to share that beat with; just as a harmony and a melody are both paralleled, and yet intertwined. With that being said, “this song” seems to be nearing the end, as I’ve accomplished, and will continue to accomplish, so much more than I dreamed of years ago, and perhaps now, it’s time to find a new beat to travel to.

Stay tuned…