Claire's Story , livre ebook

Outskirts Press - Drew Huffman

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182 pages

English

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When a routine doctor’s visit becomes anything but routine, Claire began to slowly appreciate that her choices and lifestyle weren’t reflecting the person that she really wanted to be and subsequently, living the life she genuinely wanted. Before she knew it, she found herself on a journey of discovery that would not only transform her, but also her husband, her good friend Emily and others. Little did she know that the pair of skinny jeans that had been waiting for her in her closet would be the inspiration she needed to finally live the life she wanted. Follow Claire through her journey of self-evaluation and self-honesty as she finally understands what drives her choices and the impact that her choices have on her achieving her heart’s wants and needs. Along the way and just like Claire, you’ll learn valuable information about how to achieve your own wants and needs. You’ll gain the needed insight regarding choices and what drives them and ultimately be able to formulate a game plan that will outsmart the unhealthy choices—choices that provide immediate gratification but only keep us trapped in a life that falls short of what we truly desire for ourselves, be it physical, emotional, or spiritual. Through Claire’s story, you’ll learn how to create and embrace a new life and a new you by living your reality one choice at a time. With a perfect blend of warmth, humor, experience and common sense, Dr. Drew Huffman and Claire will show you how you can change your reality by creating the reality that more closely meets your expectations. So, what are you waiting for?

Sujets

Romance

Fiction

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Publié par	Outskirts Press
Date de parution	30 septembre 2022
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781977264985
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0500€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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Claire’s Story Living Value Through Choice All Rights Reserved. Copyright © 2022 Dr. Drew Huffman R2.3
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, locales, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher. The author has represented and warranted full ownership and/or legal right to publish all the materials in this book.
This book may not be reproduced, transmitted, or stored in whole or in part by any means, including graphic, electronic, or mechanical without the express written consent of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Outskirts Press, Inc. http://www.outskirtspress.com
Cover Photo © 2022 www.gettyimages.com . All rights reserved - used with permission.
Outskirts Press and the "OP" logo are trademarks belonging to Outskirts Press, Inc.
PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Dedication

Dedicated to all those who have ever taken another breath in hope of achieving a goal, turning a dream into a reality, or wanting to see, feel, and live their sense of self-value one choice at a time despite all obstacles and challenges. Special dedication to those who have always believed in my goals, dreams, and value: my dad (the thinker) my mom (the doer) my siblings (the rocks) my children (the joy of my life) Ricardo (the motivator) Mary Alexander (the one who advised me, "Write a parable.") And Facebook followers and those who liked my work, whose comments and following always provided me with the energy to continue.
Acknowledgments

Dr. Lois E. Olena Dr. Douglas F. Olena Deni Sinteral-Scott Elaine Simpson Kurt Huffman Sharon R. Huffman Ricardo Fraga Thelma Pica
CONTENTS
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Chapter 73
Chapter 74
About the Author
PROLOGUE
I’m so glad I met Claire Johnson.
Most would have considered Claire a very average person if there is such a thing. There was really nothing about her that someone might find extraordinary if they happened to pass by her on the sidewalk or see her at the store. Nothing about her appearance or demeanor would stand out or make a person feel uncomfortable or insecure to approach her just to say hello. She didn’t have that "something" we look for when we think of someone extraordinary.
Claire met her husband, John, when she was in college, and they married soon after she obtained her teaching certificate. John had left college for trade school for HVAC prep after realizing he wasn’t really ‘a college kinda guy.’ Not long after Claire’s first year of teaching, they became the proud parents of Michael (now 13), followed by Madison (11), Andrew (8), and Kayla (6).
The Johnsons lived in an older, but well maintained single-family 1,800-square-foot home and filled their days with work and raising the children. Sure, they both had had other interests in their early twenties, but like most people, work and family life just took over.
Their house and yard were decorated with all the basics of family life dirty dishes, piles of laundry, a swing set, miscellaneous toys (some broken, some not), and abstract sidewalk chalk art that extended from the street all the way to the front door … unless there was rain, which only gave the kids another reason to repeat the cycle.
John had been with the same company from the moment he received his license, and Claire had taught at the same school since getting her certificate. Like most couples, they worked hard at their jobs and even harder to provide their children with the extras they could afford. Their life was good but not as good as they later learned it could have been.
No, just seeing Claire, you would never suspect anything extraordinary. However, if you just happened to stop and speak to her now, you would quickly discover that she was anything but average, anything but usual. In fact, you would find her and the life she created for herself and her family to be just that extraordinary.
It wasn’t until I spent some time speaking with her that I became intrigued by her story and her degree of true contentment. She shared with me about many moments of joy and success, some of regret and failure, but in each of them it was clear she knew something I didn’t how to be fully mindful and present with every choice made. In looking back at my own life, I had to admit, compared to Claire, I was a toddler when it came to having her insight.
However, she did share with me that she hadn’t always been so aware. As she put it, she didn’t even realize that for most of her life she simply had been role playing, going through the motions, and making choices based on the image of happy person - a ‘good wife’, a ‘good mother’, and a ‘good teacher’. I couldn’t help but want to hear more about how she got to where she was today. And so, she told me.
It all started one day during an annual checkup with her primary care doctor.
CHAPTER 1
Having scheduled an extra hour off before lunch for a doctor’s appointment, Claire left work one day, happy to be getting a two-hour break from her usual routine. She had also planned to have lunch with an old friend, Emily Vansickle, after her appointment. She loved her old friend but rarely had time for just the two of them.
Her doctor’s appointment began as every other annual exam. Approaching the receptionist’s window, she was handed the usual twelve sheets of questions to be completed with the same greeting as last year, "Good morning, Claire. Here are the forms we need completed before the doctor can see you. It shouldn’t be long." After completing the forms, she grabbed a magazine and waited patiently to be called.
"Claire, you can come back now," she heard as a staff member opened the door that led to the exam rooms.
"OK, thanks," she replied.
After being placed in an exam room that resembled a walk-in closet with furniture, the nurse took her vital signs and while leaving informed her, "I’ll let the doctor know you’re here." "Great, thanks," Claire replied."
"Great, thanks," Claire replied.
There was nothing pressing about Claire’s health or anything in particular to talk with her doctor about just an annual exam that she needed to do in order to renew her health insurance policy with the school. Other than the occasional back or knee pain, she didn’t have any chronic medical conditions that needed following, nor did she take any routine medications.
As the doctor entered the room, he sat on his stool and greeted her, "Good morning, Claire, how are you?"
"I’m fine. Just my annual appointment," she said.
"Of course. So, nothing unusual? No headaches, problems with your vision, or heart racing? No changes with your bowels? Any pain?"
"No, nothing major. I mean occasionally my back, hips, and knees hurt a bit, and sometimes I just hurt all over for no reason but it’s nothing I can’t live with. I kind of expect it given how busy I am with my job, husband, housework, and kids. I expect to hurt a little," Claire answered.
Giving a bit of a smile from her comment, the doctor said, "OK, let me just quickly review your chart and our last visit, OK? Now the only numbers I have for comparison with today are the last two annual appointments."
"Is that a problem?" she asked.
"Not at all, just coming in for your annuals tells me that you must be doing well that you’re healthy."
"Healthy? Mm, probably more like busy than healthy, doc," she said as she laughed.
"Well, nothing like being wanted," the doctor added.
"Mm, I think you mean needed."
"OK, needed," the doctor agreed and then continued. "Looking at the last couple of visits, there are only two things in your chart compared with your previous numbers that kind of stand out to me."
"Yeah, what’s that?" she asked.
"Your blood pressure and your weight," he said.
"Really? Are they bad?" she asked.
"No, not necessarily. I mean your blood pressure is on the verge of being classified as hypertensive, and your weight, well, it’s been steadily climbing."
"I know, I mean, trust me, I can tell. After all, I’m the one that looks at myself in the mirror every morning. It’s almost depressing," she said trying to smile through her words. "I’ve never weighed this much, and, for the record, I hate shopping now. I mean, I have a closet filled with clothes that I want to wear but can’t, and what really drives me crazy is my favorite pair of jeans. But who has time to work on weight loss with my schedule?" "So, it bothers you?" he asked.
"Of course!"
"So, why does your weight bother you? Is it the joint pain?"
"To be honest, it’s not the joint pain. I can live with that. I just know it isn’t me, so I try not to think about it. Luckily, my life is so busy that most of the time, I don’t give it a second thought. And to be honest, I don’t really have the time or the energy to do mu