I will start my story in 2006 when I was a very physically fit 40 year old doing my job. Training horses and riding them was part of my job, a big part that I loved. Leading up to the day of my accident, I was feeling overwhelmed and working way too much, to the point of exhaustion. It got to the point that I was feeling scared to ride and I had had a few minor scares all in one week. My stirrup broke in half and I recall saying to a fellow trainer, “Someone is trying to tell me to stop riding.”

Then on June 6, 2006, my life changed. I had a life threatening accident. I had a horse fall on top of me while I was riding it, crushing me. I was rushed to the hospital. They brought in 2 top surgeons to do surgery on my crushed pelvis. I have 2 plates and a lot of screws holding me together to this day. I can remember going into the operating room and the surgeon telling my boyfriend that my pelvis was crushed but I was extremely lucky that I had no organ damage. I also suffered broken ribs, chipped vertebrae, a broken tail bone, and a broken pubic bone. I stayed in the ICU for a while and had a mild heart attack while I was there. I was eventually moved to the trauma ward where I stayed over the next 3 months.

Moving forward was a great struggle. I did not know how to even “sit up”. Really, I could not even sit for more than 30 seconds without passing out as I had lost all my strength. From there I had to learn how to stand up.

Prior to learning to sit and stand during the 3 months of lying in bed, my life had been flashing through my mind. I became aware of things I had not been aware of before because I was always working. I realized that my boyfriend was not the man for me. I found out he was cheating on me and abusing financial accounts. These things I did not see before.

After the trauma ward, I was sent to another hospital closer to home where I would rehabilitate for a few months. I had to learn how to “pee” again as I had a catheter in for over 4 months. It was one of the hardest struggles to learn how to do that. I was in a wheelchair for months.

Eventually, I was sent home to our beautiful farm that my boyfriend and I owned together at the time. That was when I found out that my boyfriend was a very bad drinker. I did not know before because he stayed in the city all week and I only saw him on weekends until he lost his job. His drinking would cause a “flipped switch”. He would turn very mean and loud, to the point where he had me scared for my life. One day he flipped on me, chasing me around the house while I was hobbling away on crutches. It finally hit me. I did not want to live like this anymore!! I threw my crutches on the floor and leaned on the counter for support and said, ”Go ahead, do what you have to do, I am done.” In that instant, I was done trying to make the relationship work. All I could see in my mind was the newspaper headlines, “110 lb girl with broken pelvis gets beat up by 250 pound boyfriend!”

And he stopped!! Just like that. I left him 2 months later, still on crutches. Financially he left me $700,000 in debt. Now I really hit rock bottom. I was struggling to heal my broken body and my broken heart. I had no money but owed an unimaginable amount. I did not know how to deal with him bullying me still over money and I did not know how to deal with the debt. In my mind, my only option was to leave the country.

So I left and moved to the US. I brought a small part of my business with me, a few horses which were a liability. But they gave me some hope since this was always how I made my living. Months went by. I rented a one bedroom apartment and I worked as best as I could while still having to use my crutches.

One year later, after crying and not understanding what I did to deserve what happened, my sister gave me a book to read. It was The Secret.

I honestly could not wrap my head around it at that time. My mind was overwhelmed as I had creditors chasing me for money and so many other things to deal with. I went to see a financial advisor who recommended bankruptcy. That was not an option in my mind as I wanted to pay everybody that I could.

I tried several times to find the book but I had packed away and I could not find it. Then one day I was going through Netflix titles and I saw “The Secret”. Finally, I watched The Secret. It was still very hard for me to understand. I had to watch it over and over again but every time I watched it I saw something new and learned something new.

I persevered and as time went by I was focusing a lot on what I wanted. Before I knew it I was making a lot of money and new doors opened for me. I paid off all of my debt and I claimed bankruptcy on all of his debts. I had a clean, fresh start. I even got to the point where I was able to loan money to a few of my friends. That made me feel good that I could help someone else who had reached rock bottom and felt they had no way of recovering. It felt like an honor that I was able to help.

Here I am now, many years later after I learning about The Secret. I now own 2 very successful businesses. Just last year I bought my own house. I completely renovated it to look as I always imagined my house would look. Hot tub and all!! I am now looking forward to focusing on my next goal, my soul mate.

I still to this day, watch “The Secret”. I have probably watched it well over 100 times. I still see something new every time. I find it inspirational and educational. I truly believe this has helped me to be in the right mindset to change my life.
When I get a low moment or I start thinking about the past, I stop and reboot my brain to focus on only what I want.

Thank you so much, Rhonda! Your movie is extraordinary! It helped me to change my life and continues to help me stay focused. I also practice daily gratitude and it is wonderful how it really works!! I am looking forward to reading your new book and to watching your next movie!!

Thank you!