I am Michel M. living in Victoria, Canada. I am now retired and living a life filled with love and contentment.

I had no idea that receiving the book, The Secret, as a gift in 2006 would have such an impact on my life. The best gift that I have ever received!!!

Of course after reading The Secret the first time I began using it in my life situations. And yes, I learned that I can change negative things to positive things.

My husband I were now at the stage in life where we could retire. And after having vacationed in Puerto Vallarta twice, my husband thought it would be a great place to retire to. So without my knowing about it, he researched everything about moving there from the cost of rent, the cost of food and electricity and even the process to getting our residency cards. He then convinced me it was the thing to do.

So, we sold or gave away everything we owned, except save for a few household items and off we went. Each with a suitcase, a set of golf clubs and a carry-on item. We were now minimalists.

We arrived in Puerto Vallarta October 1st, 2020. We had finally settled into a nice condo in January, 2021. Our first place was too big! It was a big complex in Marina Vallarta where most people came for the winter months. It was great. We met lots of people, saw the sights, and ate great food. By the end of April most everyone returned home. Very few people lived at the Marina year round.

Then came summer and that included the humidity and the rains, and being sticky all the time. I suffered and was always uncomfortable even with air conditioning and taking up to 5 showers a day. I just could not get use to it. Even the pool and ocean were too warm. We could not return to Canada for a break because of the Covid pandemic at that time, but somehow we did manage to make it through the summer. Then it was time for everyone to return for the winter.

Early in the new year I was beginning to feel like the ‘honeymoon’ was over. I was really just living in a resort doing the same things every day and I was getting bored. So how do I discuss this with my husband. Not easy to do. Remembering things I read from the book, The Secret, I began to only think of going back home to Canada. I was visualizing being with my grandchildren, hugging them, and hearing them laugh. I also was imaging visiting old friends. I was also trying to figure out how to talk with my husband about it.

Then one morning when I was checking my email I received my ‘last free article of the month’ from Mexico News Daily. The headline was something like ‘everyone, from citizens to temporary residents have to get a tax number by July 1st and will eventually be required to file taxes on income, including world income. Now, that became a game changer. I showed my husband the article and right away he did some research, crunched some numbers and even met with an accountant. The conclusion was that this would greatly affect our income. We could not stay in Mexico over 183 days or we would be taxed and we would also become non-residents of Canada, losing Canadian tax credits. Wow! It was time to move back to Canada!!!!

However, at the time my sister was having some serious family issues, so my husband thought that maybe we should move to Calgary to help her out and provide support. Not bad a bad idea, it is a great city, and we had lived there before. I could easily fly or drive to visit the grandkids, so off we went.

By Christmas my sister’s situation was under control and again I was bored (and cold) and missed the grandkids. Again, all I could think about was returning to Victoria. I started looking at apartments for rent and jobs in case my husband wouldn’t come with me. I knew in my heart I was going, husband or not. Again I tried to figure out when to talk to my husband. I thought it best when we got our lease renewal on April 1st. So I just waited and kept looking for an apartment and thinking about being with the grandkids once again.

Then one day, before we got our rent increase notice, out of the blue my husband said to me “What do you say we pack up everything and go back to Victoria?” I was absolutely shocked!! I had tears in my eyes!!! I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.

We started looking for an apartment on line that day. My husband found one and flew out to Victoria to sign the lease. I couldn’t fly yet because of recent cataract surgery. We packed up our belongings, said goodbye to our family and friends and off we went.

So I am now happily living back in Victoria in a fabulous apartment, near the grandkids and yes, with my husband. It’s been six months and I can’t believe how amazing my life is. And my husband and our relationship is stronger than ever! And yes, we are still going to keep returning to Puerto Vallarta to visit our friends in the winter months but not over our allotted 183 days. I have the best of both worlds.

I am so glad that I received the book, “The Secret”, and have read it so many times that it’s now dog-eared and falling apart, as well as all the other books in the series.

So, Rhonda Byrne, it is amazing how when your life was in a bad place you found a way out and then shared it with the rest of the world. You and your staff are amazing. I can never say thank you enough. Thank you so much to everyone. I am forever grateful!!!!!

LOA = LIFE OF AMAZEMENT