. Throughout my worldwide travels, every country was like a spiritual initiation—I learned about love in Hawaii, freedom in Mexico, and femininity in the Azores. Miami, where I happened to meet Tony Robbins, taught me about success and leadership, and Puerto Rico showed me that happiness is a choice. Sweden offered a lesson on the importance of childhood dreams, and an encounter with a shaman in Siberia put me back in contact with the value of roots and family. One of the most important lessons came from the city of Wuhan during my travels in China. Wuhan changed my life, and a year later, it changed the life of the whole planet.

This is a book about how a single person who is genuinely alive can change the course of history. Even their own history to begin with.

In terms of market appeal, I have personally met with Elizabeth Gilbert and Cheryl Strayed whose books address similar themes. They have both expressed interest in this memoir and have offered their blessings. Their novels Eat, Pray Love and Wild would be perfect comparisons for marketing purposes. Also, as a certified Forest Therapy Guide, my book offers a unique perspective on the importance of how returning to our inner ecology can heal outside ecology. Once published, each book sold will result in one tree planted. Trees as an important symbol of hope, both on a personal and global scale.

Millions of people are living through similarly oppressive experiences right now, not just in Russia and Ukraine – all immigrants and people in a period of serious transition in their life can relate to this story. I believe this book has the potential to become a raft that will help those trapped in life hurricanes keep swimming through this ocean of life.