From Childhood Stutterer to Inspirational Thought Leader The Courage to Shine is a powerful and inspirational memoir by Dr. Eileen Forrestal, a former anesthesiologist who transforms her life from "hidden and silent" to seen, heard and known'  This book will inspire you to live life with courage and confidence. Are you hiding out? Is fear stopping you from showing up, or speaking up, anywhere in your life? From a lifetime of 'putting people to sleep', Eileen is now engaged in 'waking people up' to the power of their own words to heal relationships, forgive past hurts and express gratitude for what matters.  When young Eileen accidentally overdoses on junior aspirin she suffers a speech impediment which she deals with by remaining silent in the shadows to hide her voice. 40 years later, unfulfilled and dissatisfied, with a failed marriage, a strained relationship with her mother, and in an outwardly 'successful' career, she wonders as so many of us do, how did this happen to me? Following this wake-up call, she leaves her successful career in medicine and starts a business writing and publishing inspirational and popular Get Up and Go Diaries. In The Courage to Shine Eileen retraces her journey, acknowledging the courage it takes to tell the truth about one's own life. She shares her story of finding her voice, healing a powerful mother-daughter relationship, and discovering the courage to shine. Eileen is now a successful entrepreneur who finds joy and freedom in the healing power of words and encourages others to discover the same. She now lives a life "beyond her dreams" as an entrepreneurial thought leader, writer, speaker, and coach using her own words and wisdom, to share her story of finding her voice. If you ever wonder if you're living the wrong life, as if somehow, when "two roads diverged in a yellow wood" - you took the wrong road and wound up here, The Courage to Shine will inspire and uplift you. You may find yourself asking, does taking the path less travelled path make all the difference, or perhaps, Is there any such thing as a wrong road? "In this very personal story, Eileen shows the courage it takes to face up to those areas where she had previously been reluctant to do so, the biggest one in her life being her fear of speaking. After a long career in anaesthesiology, which is all about putting people to sleep, Eileen is now determined to wake all of us up, to our own power and potential—especially to the power of our own words, and the courage it takes to tell the truth. Eileen has proven that we can heal our past, and from that, we can create the future we truly want. She has also demonstrated that yes, it does take courage to face an uncertain future, and it definitely takes courage to shine in that future. I encourage you to read it for yourself so you too can be inspired to overcome whatever fears are holding you back in life (and trust me, we all have those fears) so that you can shine, find your voice and discover the healing power of speaking your words." -Jack Canfield , co-author of the #1 New York Times bestselling, Chicken Soup for the Soul series, The Success Principles , and teacher in The Secret "You do have quite a story to tell, and I can see that it could inspire readers to overcome the obstacles facing them in their own lives". -Éanna Brophy , former journalist, reporter, sub-editor, and columnist for The Irish Press " The Courage To Shine is truly an inspiring read of a life transformed and a voice recovered - a work as brave as it is illuminating" -Gerard Beirne , author, poet, lecturer, and curator of the Irish Literary Times It is said that 'the most important book you read is the book you write yourself'. This was true for me and writing it changed the course of my life.  Maybe reading it could change the course of yours. I was asked to write it because I was told I had a story to tell, a story that could change someones life.   In writing the book I realised I was the author of my own life. As I 'joined the dots of my life backwards' I could see how, and why, I got to where I was in my life. It was no accident. It was all by design - my design. I was stunned, but incredibly empowered.  In writing it I was clear that I could not change the past but I could change how I viwed the past, and more importntly, I could design the future. - one day, one choice at a time. The power was in my own 'hands', on the tip of my tongue. My words had real power to create the life I wanted.   I am now consciously 'authoring' my own life.  What life do you want to author? Having spent years in the background of her life, both in her career as a anaesthesiologist, and in growing her entrepreneurial publishing company, Eileen is now coming out into the spotlight with The Courage To Shine and her Coaching and Consulting Company Shine Your Light. having struggled with her on self expresssion (because of a chldhood stutter) and its impact on her self esteem, confid