And so it goes…   One day, I awoke—following a long and winding road filled with bumps, curves and hills.  At times there were mountains and mudslides, but somewhere along the way a string of events, a restrictive culture combined with my own personality faults and strengths helped change me. My book project started because I desired to understand what happened.  The biggest challenge in this march toward self-awakening was that I didn’t personally know anyone else who seemed to be experiencing the same thing.  I had one dear friend pursuing her own spiritual quest, but our paths differed.  We could and did support one another, but neither of us could show the other the way to get to our unknown destination.  Without a lead or guide, I stumbled often.  My initial idea was to dig deeper—deep enough to find out what happened to me and to so many other women I knew.    So what's all this about?  It's my desire to help others come out of their dark corner unscathed so that together we can alter what’s accepted and what’s not.  Together we can write a new chapter in our culture and create a world where girls and boys, women and men thrive, not just one group or the other.    The path I have taken seemed to me unchartered.  It wasn’t.  I just didn’t personally know anyone making the trek.  Hopefully, my experience as well as the experiences of others can be used as a road map for many of you to follow—so, that you too, can take your victory lap and declare yourself Queen.    By journey’s end you will understand that we are not here to simply look good, be married, or raise children. Rather, we are here to act out our passions, use our talents and make our mark on the world.           May my voice inspire and encourage you to take one step closer to your Queenship.  All hail to you!