Introduction
This book is about women who are married to men of means. Like any description that is told in the general sense, it is more an archetype than a reality. Nevertheless, every facet of this account is drawn either from my own life or the lives of the women around me. If you are married to a man who has money and/or power, you will recognize aspects of your own life here.
This narrative is not told as an expose of privileged women. It is written as an acknowledgement of a life that is not the glamorous, trouble-free existence the world wants to believe you are living. It describes the struggle for self-worth that is often seen in the relationship that sometimes exists between a powerful, wealthy man and his wife.
This struggle can distort your life and develop attitudes and behaviors that are ultimately self-defeating. As you read about these behaviors, you may be surprised to find yourself in one of the descriptions of how they manifest in a woman’s life. I also offer an opinion as to why you may have chosen the man you married, and it’s a much different reason than what society generally believes.
But the story doesn’t stop there. Although the telling of it helps validate the difficulties of a so-called privileged life, I write the story as a premise, as a springboard for the possibility of a change that I believe will interest you.
As a woman whose current role may be limited to that of a supporting player or an accessory to someone else’s life, you will learn that it is possible to transform your life into a creative, self-directed existence that picks up where you may have left your dreams. This book will describe the premise of how to make that change happen, and will help you dissolve the limitations that may have you feeling trapped and disappointed.
Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of this new possibility is that a very dramatic transformation in your life can occur without changing your husband, or changing the community around you. Indeed, it hardly speaks to those relationships at all except to suggest that if you are dissatisfied with your life, making changes to other people and outside circumstances won’t fix things. Instead, I challenge you to reflect on the possibility that the limitations you experience now have very little to do with anyone but yourself.
I will introduce you to a philosophy that will show you how to create a wonderful life that you’d love to live, without running away from the life you have now, or changing any of the players. This transformation of direction will initiate a dramatic change in how you and those around you perceive your value as a person. In addition, we’ll look at the concerns you may have about how to gain the support of your husband and/or family in your quest to have a more meaningful life.
I created a life for myself that is self-directed, exciting and dynamic. It is a life that utilizes my personal interests and talents; aspects of my individuality that were once sitting on the sidelines watching someone else’s parade go by. It wasn’t an accident, and it wasn’t a miracle. You can also create this transformation. I invite you to join me in stepping out of a life of limitations and creating a life that will fulfill your innermost dreams.
It is my ardent wish that this book opens you up to the possibility of a potential that lives inside of you and waits to contribute your unique gifts to make a difference in the world while you are living a life you love.
