Be inspired by this story of personal liberation that will make you get up and own your life!
Living an ordinary life, journalist Jay Banks gets the chance of a lifetime to interview the dying world famous author Katherine Johnson. In her wildest dreams, Jay could not predict the unusual encounter with Katherine Johnson would shake her and make her question every important aspect of her life. Suddenly, every action, feeling, relationship and choice is cast in doubt…
Jay’s story offers every reader, young and old, a fresh and powerful way to examine the most important parts of life and shift from ordinary existence to fascinating and exciting living. Joining Jay Banks as she goes through pain and awakening on her journey of liberation allows readers to take an important step forward towards their own personal freedom.
I just wanted to tell you … this morning my university class was cancelled.About the author Ronit Baras
Ronit Baras is an author, a life coach, a journalist and a motivational speaker. Born with a physical disability to a migrant family, Ronit battled with childhood illness, was kicked out of high school and endured the loss of two children. Yet, she transformed her life into a living example of “mind over matter”.
Ronit completed a degree in Special Education (with flying colors), specialized in emotional intelligence while travelling and working around the world with her husband and kids, published numerous articles, wrote personal growth books and coached many people to happiness.
Ronit’s journey from sickness to health, from failure to success and from sadness to happiness will captivate every reader. Against all odds, with passion, determination and “can do” attitude, she turned each challenge in her life into great success. Ronit is an expert in personal development, specializing in accelerated learning, communication, relationships, parenting, work-life balance, self-confidence and stress management.
Take a peek inside In the Outback with Jasmine Banks
Page 9:
The first time Mark had invited her to dinner, Jay had tried to get some information about him. She had found out that he had two teenage sons and was a workaholic, a flexible boss and very professional. A year after he had joined as chief editor, the board had asked him to sign up for 5 years, but he had refused. He never invited any of his team members for dinner. He didn’t drink, he didn’t smoke and he was divorced.
“Divorced?! You don’t need this, Jay, trust me. It’s like he has a diploma in broken relationships,” her mum told her when she reported that he had invited her for dinner.
Jay was a “safe” kind of girl. She wasn’t the type who played with fire, so she found a way to avoid dinner, even though she thought Mark Hayden was a really nice guy.
…
On Wednesdays, Mark’s sons used to come and stay the night with him. They entered the office in bare feet and wild hair. Jay watched them with envy. She couldn’t remember herself ever walking barefoot outside the house.
Once, only once, on the way home from Kindergarten, when she was 4 years old, she remembered her mum picking her up and she walked barefoot to the car, but only because they couldn’t find her shoes. Her mother talked about the shoes so much the next day that long afterwards, even during naptime, Jay slept with her shoes on.
Page 18:
“Call me Katherine. My name is Katherine and I love my name. What about you?”
“My name is Jasmine and I don’t like my name. That’s why everyone calls me Jay.”
“And why don’t you like your name?” asked Katherine and played with the white silk scarf hanging over her shoulder.
“I don’t know. The kids always made fun of me in school and pretended they smelt me. Jay is a much nicer name. Jay in Sanskrit means ‘victory’. Jasmine is an old lady’s name. Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you,” she hurried to apologise. On paper, words came out much better. Jay wished the ground would open up and swallow her whole.
“Why should I be offended by the way you feel about your name?” Katherine asked, “Let’s go into this park. There is a different smell in the air. Australia has a different smell. I’ve been here once before. I have a friend who moved here with her husband and his four kids. They live in the outback. Tonight, we’re flying out to see them. I’ll expect you in a couple of days. They’re a wonderful couple. You’ll like them”.
Katherine Johnson was a mature woman, yet she sounded just like a little girl. Where could she possibly get all this energy from? Jay compared Katherine to her own mother. Her mum was “heavy” in her mentality. She thought everything was hard, everything was heavy, everything was complicated. Jay imagined Katherine Johnson’s three kids. What fun it must be to grow up with such a cool mum. Then again, maybe she wasn’t that cool before she found out she was going to die.
I went to a friend’s house yesterday and we talked about a project we do together. I told her that on the weekend, I sat outside in my balcony and ate chocolate – two bars – and enjoyed every bite.A word from the author
I could start this book with “Once upon a time, in a land far, far away”, but I know that what’s happened to Jay Banks happens everywhere, every day and in everyone’s life. Living life with no direction and making decisions based on what we must, should or have to do only takes us backward, making us feel trapped and causing us misery and pain.
Although the characters in the story may be fictional, they are based on people I know. If you look around you, I’m sure you will be able to recognise them in your world too.
This book is part of a very special mission – to make the world a happy place by giving my readers permission to shine. I’m releasing this story to the world with the aim of reaching 1 million (1,000,000) people around the globe. It excites me to think that 1 million people will be joining me in spreading the word of positive thinking and personal freedom until it reaches all of humanity.
I hope you enjoy this story, reflect on it and be inspired to live a happy life.
Happiness is a choice!
Warm Regards,
“Helping YOU achieve success and happiness!”
