Tania Jane Moraes-Vaz - Life, Love, Lemonade: Stories of Healing and Overcoming Lifes Lemons

Life, Love, Lemonade: Stories of Healing and Overcoming Lifes Lemons

Copyright @ 2021 YGTMedia Co.

YGTMedia Co. Press Trade Paperback Edition

ISBN trade paperback: 978-1-989716-14-4

eBook: 978-1-989716-15-1

All Rights Reserved. No part of this book can be scanned, distributed, or copied without permission. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher at publishing@ygtmama.comexcept for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

The author has made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information within this book was correct at time of publication. The author does not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from accident, negligence, or any other cause. This book is not intended to be a substitute for the medical advice of a licensed physician. The reader should consult with their doctor in any matters relating to their health.

Published in Canada, for Global Distribution

by YGTMedia Co.

www.ygtmama.com/publishing

To order additional copies of this book:

publishing@ygtmama.com

Developmental Editing by Tania Jane Moraes-Vaz

Edited by Christine Stock

Book design by Doris Chung

Cover design by Michelle Fairbanks

ePub & Kindle editions by Ellie Silpa

Printed in North America

Reparenting Myself to Become ME

Jumping In

The Power of Surrender

The Harvest We Are Dealt

When Life Knocks You Down, You Punch Back with Gratitude and Grit

Wake Up to the Rest of Your Life

I March to My Heartbeat, No One Elses

The Earthquakes That Wake Us

How I Stopped Overcoming and Learned to Sit with My Grief Instead

The Buck Stops Here

Navigating Grace within Loss

Designed to Overcome: When Life Gives Us Lemons + Breadcrumbs

Being the Light in Your Storm

The Evolution of a Woman

Boundless Beauty

Too Much

When Life Gives You Lemons, Plant Its Seeds and Grow Yourself

Journey to HappinessLiving Your Truth

Forever Becoming. Ever Blooming.

The year was 2020. It was a year where I, like many, looked forward to all the things it held... all the dreams I would birth in it... all the promises I would go on to keepto my family, and most of all, to myself. It was a year where I had prayed and asked God for expanse, strength, and community (and expansiveness was my word of the year). Oh, and traveling to and speaking at various retreats also made the top of my vision board. You bet your sweet soul I entered the year with guns blazing and with massive FU energy because sometimes, that is all the fuel you need to get out of your own way.

And get out of my own way I did. The year started off with some incredible events I had the fortune of attending. And in March, I hosted my first live event where I got to hug my fellow women in business, share stories of growth and healing, and have a mini vendor market. But little did I know that YGTMs Boss Mama Retreat would be the last in-person event Id attend before the year took a turn for the uncertain and forced many of us to pivot, adapt, and evolve hard and fast.

And the precursors of that started with the tragic death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter. Still, the year continued on. The Super Bowl performances by JLo and Shakira were the talk of the town, and everyone and their grandma had an opinion about them. Looking back now, wow, talk about #firstworldproblems. If only I knew then what I know now... which is why it is said that life is lived prospectively but only understood retrospectively.

I remember the moment clearlythe moment when life as we knew it came to a complete standstill. The date was March 12, 2020, and the clock read 3:02 p.m. when I first heard news about the nationwide lockdown on the television at my clients house. You see, there had been whispers of a full-blown global pandemic for the first two months of the year, but life had continued as usual until this moment. I can still smell the aroma of warm brie and smoked meat and feel the palpable energy in the roomexcitement, connection, and ambition accompanied with an underlying current of panic and uncertainty. I went on clicking away (I was there for a photoshoot), sipping on my mocktail and taking in the collective energy. Everyone put on a smile and slowly addressed the elephant in the room: businesses would be shut down for two weeks and March break would be extended. We felt hopeful. Okay, yes, a break would be kinda nice... to not have to rush... to have the kids home... to actually have a reason to slow down and be intentional. At least those were my thoughts at the time, which, in hindsight, is quite eye-opening and sad that we need a reason to slow down instead of consciously choosing to live with intention, consciously choosing to pause in every moment of our day.