What Do I Do Now? The Secrets of a Midlife Reboot
The Real Brass Ring takes The Secret on a high-speed road test in a
tale of midlife transformation in the real, flesh-and-blood world of
contemporary Chicago. It is the story of a midlife reboot, a raw,
unfiltered journey of enlightenment that illustrates a woman's daunting
personal reinvention and the rewards of fearlessly pursuing a life's
true calling.
After a jolting encounter with internationally known psychic and author
Sonia Choquette, Dianne Bischoff James is forced to face the truth about
her life. Sonia's words cut like a knife:
Dianne, you are a talented writer, healer, teacher and performer. But
sadly your life is heading down the wrong path. Your brass ring is
coming by and you need to grab it before it's too late. You have modeled
yourself after your parents' desires. You are completely stuck in the
make-believe role of being a 'good girl.' You live with depression
because nothing about your life is your own. ... Fix your ways or soon
it will be too late.
Dianne had achieved an impressive education, an accomplished
entrepreneurial career, a busy family life and social status; yet
somehow, she had completely missed the real brass ring. Although she had
had a perfectly traditional background, her marriage was a sham, career
uninspiring, health failing and self-esteem and spirituality
non-existent. At 38, it was as if she had awakened to a nightmare: she
had been living a profound lie.
Finding herself completely off-track, Dianne openly bares her soul and
utilizes the metaphysical principles of The Secret to set out to
change every aspect of her existence. She insists that she is worthy of
an authentic romantic relationship and initiates the break-up of her
marriage, with three children in tow; and dives into midlife cougar
dating, including a close call with a charming but dangerously abusive
alcoholic. By experimenting with the Law of Attraction, she also
launches the acting career she had always dreamed of as a child and
surprises even herself with success in an extremely competitive arena.
Gradually, yet boldly, Dianne also faces other critical issues,
including physical afflictions, a terrifying financial recession and the
death of a loved one - removing each daunting roadblock one by one and
manifesting a newly-created self.
I'd approached every change as a free fall, diving through the air and
grabbing at brass rings along the way, Dianne writes. I'd made more
mistakes than I could even count, but I also absorbed the painful, yet
innately valuable teachings ... Now, I had what I wanted all along,
emotional peace, love, a uniquely sculpted family unit, an outlet for my
creativity and a new life in hand ... This was the picture Sonia painted
for me on my 38th birthday - it just took me over a decade to erect the
living model from the shadows.
By chronicling her own personal reinvention with grit, humor,
incisiveness and compassion in The Real Brass Ring, Dianne provides
the inspiration and passion others need to reclaim their authentic self.
