How are you? I’m not sure what brought you to this website. You’ve probably read some of my posts on Facebook, seen my tweets on Twitter, pinned my boards at Pinterest, seen my Instagram page, or read a few of my blogs. Regardless, of the reasons, I’m elated you’ve found it! While here, I hope you’ll take a moment to check out my menu pages. There are some interesting postings for viewing. For starters, I’ll share a bit about who I am then we’ll proceed from there.

Author / Artist / Caregiver / Coach / Educator / Experiences / Journeys / Life-Changing / Mentor / Survivor / Volunteer / Workshops / Wounded Warrior / Writer 

Those mentionable items are the glue that holds me together.  My life didn’t start out that way.  It took years of conquering, struggling, battling inside demons, and overcoming many obstacles.  Yes, you’ve read it correctly I used the word demons.  When it boils down to it, we all have our inner demons waiting to escape ─ to make our life reek havoc.

There were times I didn’t know I would be where I am today.  I can’t begin to reveal every horrid detail that has happened throughout those years.  Certainly, it wasn’t a life of peace and harmony.  I’ve seen the darkest of the night.  There are not enough hours in a day that afford time to unveil everything about my journey.  Just know it has been a life-changing experience and each mentionable item represents a piece of me.  Those past experiences have shaped the person I am – today.  Understand, I can’t change that ugliness from my past, but I can move forward to make a difference in the present and future.  Surely, I’ve had my fair share of life’s toxic experiences (even perhaps someone else’s)!

Having traveled the journey, I’ve been introduced to one heck-of-a-teacher ─ L I F E.  That’s the best educator anyone embraces.  Truly, it taught me about both sides of living . . . unhealthy and healthy lifestyles.  You’ve heard the statement, “We all have a story to tell.”  And that couldn’t be more accurate as I unraveled the pieces of my life.

As a result of my experiences, I’m a writer and published author of the creations Not a Blueprint It’s the Shoe Prints that Matter / A Journey Through Toxic Relationships and Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall . . . Where Does My Self-Love Fall? / A Success Guide to Replace Toxicity with Love.  I’m having an aha moment believing it myself.

Not a Blueprint is a personal memoir, it’s raw, and it’s real!  The story speaks to relationships (all types) and how it literally destroyed my life.  Before I developed that story, it was the inside pages of my diary and pretty painful to express.  Yes, I did a lot of journaling back when.  Since then, I’ve discovered life is so full of stuff . . . the good, the bad, and the ugliness.  Talk about toxicity; it’s taken to the umpteenth degree.  Once you’ve started reading, you’ll find I knew about toxicity and lived its lifestyle (i.e., brokenness) long before society’s crippled state of affairs.

There is a defined need to recognize the many faces of toxicity since it’s running rampant through this universe.  In November 2018, the audible version was awarded the Crowned Heart of Excellence Award by InD’tale Magazine.  I salute Sara L. Morsey for her outstanding job as its narrator.

Throughout my journey, I’ve worn many hats.  I’ve been a daughter, sister, mother, wife, friend, worker, mistress, caregiver, teacher, volunteer, writer, author, mentor, speaker, and wellness coach.  And those hat-wearing years have brought on powerful and insightful lessons.

Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall (the activity guide), started out as a companion to my storybook.  That gradually changed during its rewriting phase . . . realizing there were many people, besides myself, who didn’t know where their “self-love” lied.  Certainly, I had lost a lot of self at the initial stage.  Those activities installed have helped to build on its maintenance of self-dimensions.  Knowingly, we are all a constant work-in-progress.  Shucks, life itself is a work in progress!

I think we all have moments in life where we feel regretful.  Those moments where we could rewind the clock to live life differently; washing away the pain, the sadness, and the hand that life dealt us.  I know I do as I’ve climbed many hills and mountains traveling that rough journey.  To this day, I’ve come a long way from whence it all started.  I’m unchained from the toxicity that kept me captive.  It’s a great feeling to be free to start life anew.  While growing and blossoming, I’ve maintained a healthy lifestyle . . . staying free of the drama life brings.  I see life as a breath of fresh air, and all the beauty that surrounds it.  When we can breathe better, we can live better.  Through this experience, I’ve encountered a complete metamorphosis ─ releasing one identity for another.  In this transition lifestyle, I see myself as that long-blooming, rich flower waiting to attract those butterflies.  It is there, I’ve come full circle!

Nowadays, I’m doing workshops on living a wellness lifestyle and tapping into its awareness of toxicity.  When asked, “What qualifies you to speak on the topic?”  I simply tell them, “My experiences of over a decade.”  And it never fails, they’re speechless.

That ugly person no longer lives inside me. The journey, the education, the insights . . . all have afforded an opportunity to conduct these programs inside prisons’ transitional institutions and valuable places where there’s a need for a wellness lifestyle.  I enjoy networking with companies alike, author friends, other skilled artists, and giving back.  My life was restored to me . . . now it’s my time and turn for giving!  Toxicity no longer controls me.  I’m the controller of toxicity!

Nina Norstrom

Author / Speaker / Wellness Coach