Thirteen years ago, on February 11th, I found myself passed out in my favorite restaurant with “indigestion “so I thought. I woke up and was barely conscious when the EMT said “Mam, you are having a heart attack.” I had turned 50 years old 2 months prior.
“Wait! what! heart attack? Heart attacks are for old guys not me!” At that point I shut my eyes, I shut my ears, and went inside myself and let the doctors do what they do.
Why am I still here? What did I ever do to deserve another chance? Not only one chance at rebuilding and living a better life but multiple chances to cry, “Uncle”, and start again. I’m not sure how many times you can be at the bottom and still get back up, and sometimes it seems like I have made a career at finding out this very thing. I know I am not alone when I say that I have had my fair share of heartbreaks and disappointments. Hasn’t everybody? Who hasn’t cried over that boy, or a mean girl? Who hasn’t been disappointed when someone else was picked for the job or promotion?
In 2013 I attended the 10th year of the American Heart Association’s Go Red Auction. It was the ten-year anniversary of the Go Red Dress organization. While this celebration was exciting to many, it took on a personal meaning for me.
Thirteen years ago, on February 11th, I found myself passed out in my favorite restaurant with “indigestion “so I thought. I woke up and was barely conscious when the EMT said “Mam, you are having a heart attack.” I had turned 50 years old 2 months prior.
“Wait! what! heart attack? Heart attacks are for old guys not me!” At that point I shut my eyes, I shut my ears, and went inside myself and let the doctors do what they do.
Earlier that morning while reading,
“The 10 Secrets for Success and Inner Peace” by Dr. Wayne Dyer, the message was “Don’t die with your music still inside.” I didn’t think much about it, I closed the book and headed off to work.
After getting ready for an annual trade show, we took a break. While having lunch w/ a co-worker at my favorite Italian eatery, we talked about the event. The energy around the event was of a negative nature. I was uncomfortable about my part in the event, it just did not feel right. I did not feel right. I remember when the meatballs were served I took a bite and said,” boy, what I wouldn’t do to get out of tomorrow and that trade show.” Be careful for what you wish for, as they say.
Soon, I felt uneasy, and anxious, I broke out in a cold sweat, and became lightheaded. After the 2nd bit of my lunch, I was faint, dizzy and felt I was fading out- or being faded out. I felt a little uncomfortable, pressure, squeezing, fullness, with pressure in the center of my chest earlier but it went away. I thought I might be coming down with the flu.
The woman I was with immediately (spotted) and recognized the symptoms of a heart attack, having gone through it with her mother in law. She immediately called for an ambulance.
From that day on, I have had an extraordinary journey of long term recovery, a deep understanding of the heart and how it is connected to our emotions. I began rebuilding a life style that afforded me health, wholeness, and purpose.
I was let go from my job shortly after the myocardial infarction heart event, but finally started the business I have always wanted. I called it Bootstrap Publishing and I am living beyond my wildest dreams. Helping authors get their words in print.
With hundreds of titles from then until now, I have published stories of fiction, nonfiction, and legacy books. What I found in this was that stories inspire, cause interest, inform, instruct and invite comfort and support.
Having my own business, allows me to take the time, to rest when I am tired, to eat better, to exercise, meditate and other heart attack prevention strategies. I followed most of the suggestions one at a time, not perfectly but I found the strength to go beyond my previous efforts.
From then until now, this is My Music:
I quit smoking, did you know that just one year after you quit, you’ll cut your risk of coronary heart disease by 50 percent?
I quit hormones, went on bio-identical creams from a compounding pharmacy.
I quit working 48-50 hours to make money for another organization.
I met hundreds of authors writing books in Scottsdale AZ, now more in Rochester NY.
Taught over 300 book publishing classes.
Published over one thousand titles.
Set-Up writer’s conferences.
I wrote and published 3 books of my own.
I started walking daily.
I Joined CURVES and later a gym.
I changed the way I ate .
The joys I am experiencing.
I am watching my only son become a successful husband, father, speaker, and founder of Project Lean Nation with 4 stores in 5 years. His business is a way of living, a next generation food company, a community, a philosophy, a nutrition program and the next step in your pursuit of a happier, healthier life. And it works.
I was there to see my grandson Connor born and played with Legos with him, not all in one day, but I hope to be around for his graduations and other exciting successes he will one day accomplish. May-be to publish his first book on “Lego Engineering.”
I was there to watch my granddaughter Sydney take her first steps and taught her to sing and dance to “Madam Butter fly” I hope to be around to watch her go down the aisle, or graduate college. May-be to see her win an artist of the year award.
I married to my only true love at fifty-eight years’ young. And we are living “Happily Ever After.”
I am painting, gardening and creative writing myself.
I am not afraid to take reasonable risks as I was before, Beyond My Wildest Dreams.
I am thankful I have everything I need and somethings I always wanted.
“Don’t die with your music still inside you.”
Here’s what to watch out for: Unusual fatigue, you may take care of a family, run a household, work outside the home and care for aging parents. You are probably also tired a lot of the time. Most likely this is normal. But you should pay attention to fatigue if it is new or dramatic.
Pain in the lower or upper back often starts in the chest and spreads to these areas.
You aren’t exerting yourself, but have fatigue or a “heavy” chest. Simple activity like making the bed, walking to the bathroom or shopping makes you excessively tired.
Although you feel exceptionally tired, you also experience sleep disturbance.
Sweating and/or shortness of breath
Pain in the back or arms may signal a heart condition, especially if the origin is hard to pinpoint Also, if the discomfort begins or worsens when you are exerting yourself, and then stops when you quit exercising, you should get it checked out.
You may feel pain that is specific to the left, lower side of the jaw.
Breathlessness that continues to worsen over time after exertion Shortness of breath that worsens when lying down and improves when propping up
“Stress” sweat (cold, clammy feeling) when there is no real cause for stress
Mary Kathleen Dougherty
Boot Strap Publishing Seminars/Roc – City Book Publishing Services
585-342- 0795 For Class information or 45 Minute free consultations
