Brave(ish): A Memoir of a Recovering Perfectionist

Margaret quits her sales job at forty to follow her husband's hotel career to Paris. She feels adrift without a professional identity and abandons her writing. When she and her husband move to Cairo, the void inside her threatens to engulf her. She asks for and accepts help, learning lessons in Egypt, Thailand, and Singapore. Finally, she decides to let go of the old rules and roles to step into her own life and creative destiny.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 272 pages
Publication date: 01 December 2020
Publisher: She Writes Press

At forty, Margaret embarks on an extraordinary journey, leaving her successful sales career behind to accompany her husband's hotel career in the enchanting city of Paris. With a mix of bravery, a well-traveled passport, a journal dedicated to her novel, and the deeply ingrained Davis Family Handbook of Rules to Live By, she sets sail on this adventure. While many see her as living the dream, Margaret cannot shake the feeling of being adrift, lacking a professional identity that defines her. In her quest to regain a sense of productivity and value, she abandons her writing and embraces new roles as the perfect wife, hostess, guide, and expatriate. However, when her husband and she relocate to the vibrant city of Cairo, the void within her begins to threaten to engulf her. It becomes evident that something needs to change, prompting Margaret to take a bold step she was raised to avoid: seeking and accepting help.

Over the next fifteen years, Margaret's journey takes her to diverse cultures in Egypt, Thailand, and Singapore, presenting her with lessons that surpass her expectations. However, it is upon their return to Chicago, where Margaret assumes the role of the perfect caretaker to her parents, that she faces a pivotal decision. Will she dare to let go of the old rules and roles that have kept her safe, embracing the uncertainty of stepping into her own life and creative destiny?

Margaret's transformation is a testament to the power of self-discovery and the courage to break free from the constraints of societal expectations. Through her experiences abroad, she learns to embrace change, challenge her beliefs, and redefine her sense of self. Her journey serves as a reminder that life is a journey of continuous growth and that it is never too late to pursue our passions and embrace the unknown.

Weight: 360g
Dimension: 143 x 215 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781631527470