It was my own struggle with the pain from my childhood—followed by my decision to write and share my story—that made me understand the life-changing power of personal narrative.

Last September, despite a 15-year fight to save my eyesight, I lost my eyesight to a rare, blinding eye disease and found my world turned upside down. But amid my grief over my sudden inability to see my family's faces or maneuver the world around me, I realized I had a choice: I could harness my adversity or let it harness me.

I’m a travel agent, a business owner and an author. I penned my memoir, which was my emotional story poured out onto the pages for others to read. I emptied my soul and wrote about what happened to me and my children while I built my business, hoping that my story would inspire others. I was also featured in another book, “Women Who Mean Business,” with other high-powered women who talk about how they built their empire doing something they love. Why should you write a book like I did?