Like everyone else, I would like to start off with thanking Rhonda and all the other wonderful teachers who participated in sharing The Secret. My story is about how I overcame religious, social, and cultural beliefs that were limiting me from getting that which I desired.

A common phrase that I came across as a child was about how I couldn’t do or have something because it wasn’t in my culture or religion or someone in our family would look down and differently on me. It would always upset me. I just couldn’t understand it, especially when I would see other people within my family and social group getting whatever they wanted and not me. At times I thought it wasn’t written in the stars, or God didn’t want me to have something, yet I always had this other feeling that I am worthy of whatever I choose and that there is no difference between me and someone else.

Well, my greatest desire had always been to find the love of my life. At 20 I found someone, but it didn’t work out and for five years I was heart broken until I met my new love. This guy is of a different religion, culture, and country to me, and at moments I had doubts of how it would work out, but I really loved him and I could still see my future with him.

Well, one day he broke up with me and I was so upset and I prayed and stayed positive that things would work out for us. Two weeks later the guy returned and we were back together until about eight months later he broke up with me again because he had found someone else. This was much more devastating as before I knew he could come back since he was not seeing anyone else, but this time I felt like it was a lost cause; there was another girl and obviously he loved her enough to choose her over me. What made it a bit more devastating is I had asked a family priest/astrologist if we were a good match after the first time we broke up. He had said that we were not and that had upset me, and when I had shared my relationship with my mother she was pessimistic about him being from a different background, rather than supporting me.

At this point, my fear of arranged marriages came up as I was already in my mid 20s and expected to be wedded around this time. However something inside of me knew that I loved this guy and he loved me and I knew we were a match because of the things we had discussed when we were thinking of getting married. Anyway, I saw his relationship with this other woman who was many years younger than him, as a man who got bored of his life and got tempted away. And I knew in my heart he would realise that he made a mistake and I really believed with all my heart.

Four months later, the very thing happened. He returned to me saying the very thing I had thought. He apologised for breaking his promise to me and said he was scared of being with me because of our background, but realised that even with being someone of his own background, he just didn’t feel as loved and as happy as when he was with me. You wouldn’t believe how happy I was to hear this and at that moment we had both decided, whether or not our family would support us, we would be together.

And now here I am after five months of being married to the man I chose, so happy and at peace and getting along well with a guy who is not originally of my religion, culture, and society. As a matter of fact, we have made our own. One that is based on love, support, and kindness, and I am much happier than I have ever been.

So, my story is about how religion, culture, and society make up rules to stop you from living the life you want. No matter what people say, do not accept it for yourself. Their words are a reflection of their mind’s inability to see and dream big. So anyone out there who is in love with someone and people are telling you it’s not going to work, I hope you can get inspiration from my story and know that it is possible. And even in cases where the person you love leaves you for someone else, know that it is possible to restore that relationship if you wish to.

Once again thank you Rhonda and everyone else for breaking my religious, cultural, and social shackles.