A Journey of My Choosing: Traveling the Creative Path of Life [Paperback]

Phyllis Carrera (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 29, 2003

In a woman's evocative solo journey around the world, readers are guided along a path of creative life-change and gifted with souvenirs of self-discovery --mementos of personal growth that free them from habitual, unfulfilling lives. Weaving together an exquisite tapestry of dramatic foreign landscapes, mysterious coincidences, romantic interludes, and formidable undertakings, readers are encouraged to risk the unknown, break free from confinement, and stop settling for less than they truly deserve.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Living proof of our ability to re-create our own lives, Phyllis Carrera has built expertise as a certified coach, inspirational speaker and author through 25 years in education and business, graduate studies in counseling psychology, and most importantly, through an unfailing commitment to transcend an abusive past. She is the founder of HumanArts, a human development practice dedicated to guiding people through daring change so they can live their dreams.

Product Details

• Paperback: 204 pages
• Publisher: HumanArts Publications (August 29, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 096757711X
• ISBN-13: 978-0967577111
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.1 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,240,007 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Read it slowly - and over and over!, December 11, 2003

By 

Phred Huber (Atlanta, GA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Journey of My Choosing: Traveling the Creative Path of Life (Paperback)

Part travelogue, part self-help guide, A Journey of My Choosing successfully bridges the two genres. Ms. Carrera's gentle, introspective tone welcomes the reader as a fellow sojourner on the "creative path of life." Her insights drawn from her solo world travel adventures invite the reader to gain perspective on his or her own life's journey. Not one to consume the latest self-help fad, I was thrilled to find A Journey of My Choosing to be neither prescriptive nor didactic, but rather an open invitation to explore my own creative path through vicarious enlightenment. Like a souvenir, this book is one I will keep close to my heart and to which I will surely return time and again.

Ms. Carrera employs an interesting literary technique. At the end of each chapter, she summarizes the lessons learned from each adventure with a "souvenir," a treasure she takes with her from each locale. Rather than load her backpack with tchotchke from each destination, she chooses to carry with her the far more valuable and enduring spiritual mementos. Her souvenirs, carefully selected and hard won, are presented to the reader as if they are the recipients of these delightful and inspiring gifts.

I tried to read this book slowly, savoring each adventure and allowing the insights to steep like a delicious brew. I so wanted to share my adventure as a reader and devotee that I immediately ordered ten copies for friends and family.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really, More Than a Journey, October 20, 2003

By 

Joe Michael Smith "Gulf Shore Writer" (Smyrna, GA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Journey of My Choosing: Traveling the Creative Path of Life (Paperback)

"A Journey..." is a book about traveling with body, mind and
soul. That's not in the metaphysical sense but one of
exploration and discovery of all those realms with meanings
often unexpected, but that's the nature of exploration, isn't
it? The stories are about courage and its revealing of itself
to the author as she pushed herself out of her structured and
orderly worlds into quite scary and unknown ones. The places
she left behind were no longer acceptable ones in which to
linger as her soul was being destroyed. The only path to the
new places involved jumping from a high cliff not knowing what
lay below. Frightening? To say the least.

Her struggles and growth are sometimes tense but always
interesting as the reader wonders what's next. The places
visited appear to be the main theme but the show is stolen by
lessons learned from each major segment of her journey. Often
brave and sometimes bordering on foolish, she searches for the
line between that makes sense for her. That is where her true
bravery emerges more than dealing with the environment itself.
She has a taste of love that may have required more bravery
than any other experience in the book. She says it is a
woman's book. Men can certainly find some insights here as
well.

Carrera is a person with great heart and she shares that with
us in this writing. She exposes a piece of her soul and that
always makes a good read for me. That is real courage.
Thanks, Phyllis.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Music to our ears, October 21, 2003

By 

Kathy Marth (Black Mountain, NC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Journey of My Choosing: Traveling the Creative Path of Life (Paperback)

There are many ways to sing our true heart's song, and not many brave enough to sing it. This tale of one woman's journey to new landscapes within and without strikes all the right chords to inspire readers to honor their own authentic voice.