"I'm taking what I learned and expanding my horizons"

Directionless.
 Depressed.
 Hopeless.

These are just a few of the many words that could be used to describe my state of being before this program.
 You see, I haven't been well.

I have a condition called Carotid Fibromuscular Dysplasia, which, in a nutshell, weakens the arterial walls. A few years ago, at the age of 46, I suffered an aortic dissection. Typically, when this happens, a tear occurs in the interior wall of the aorta that acts as a flap that prevents blood from being delivered past that point. In my case, the tear spiraled up the length of the artery, causing a much more dire condition. The doctors said it was like onion skin. The hospital that specialized in heart surgeries refused to treat me because they determined my chances of survival were practically non-existent. However, the surgeon at the hospital I was currently admitted to opted to try anyway. Despite suggesting I say goodbye to my loved ones, she gave me the benefit of the doubt. The simple fact that I was still alive at that point showed my determination to live, and she seemed to respect that.

You can surely guess how that turned out, as I am still here to share my story. But it doesn't end there.
 After waking up from surgery, I felt an elation that never before existed in all my years. I went into surgery the night before and I knew in my heart that I was going to make it. Not a doubt existed in my mind. I truly believe that True Source was listening to me and allowed me a second chance to get things right. Because when you are not on your rightful path, life will get very uncomfortable until you figure that out, and this was a whopper of a warning. For the first time in my life, I knew which direction to take and how to be of service to others. True Source wasn't going to let me die when I just discovered my true purpose.

Healing, however, is a marathon - not a sprint.

Almost 4 years later, I still have pain and I still get alarmed when I feel certain sensations in my body that were similar to how it felt during my heart attack.
 I developed PTSD and had to be prescribed medications to deal with it. I am still learning to cope with it. The surgeon told me that I would likely end up going through this all again, but couldn't give a general timeline. "It could be a couple weeks, it could be 5 years", was her only comment. She couldn't generalize based on other people's experiences because I wasn't like them. In fact, she said outright that there was nothing normal about me. I'm a medical anomaly. I have been feeling like I am living on death row, just waiting for that fated day when the prison guard comes to take me away.
 I also have restrictions on doing certain activities, and it has been difficult for me to lose weight and be active so I can feel better physically.
 I've been trying so hard to stay on my path, but I am a master of excuses: I don't have the energy, I'm scared, I'm too old, Why would anyone listen to someone as broken as I am?

I recognize the excuses, and they feel extremely valid, but the trick is in making me see the truth - they are actually all lies.

I want to do better. To be better. I want to take from my experience and help someone else overcome their own excuses, because that's why we have these experiences, right? To learn from them. And knowledge is useless if you don't give it away.
 But I've been stuck. I know what I want to do, but I didn't know how.

Now, thanks to this program, I have a direction. I can clearly see what I'm up against and what I need to do to achieve my goals. I don't expect results overnight, but I already gained something that has been missing in my life for the past few years: optimism.

I'm taking what I learned and expanding my horizons. I don't know how how long I'm going to be on this Earth, but I'm going to spend it like I have an eternity. 
 I am now:
 Limitless
 Unyielding
 Fearless

And, most of all, I am grateful. 
 I thank you, with all of my heart.