Running Toward Freedom: My Life as a Work of Art
How I Chose Courage, Inspired Change, and Became the Artist of My Own Life
Prologue: The Spark Within
Long before I found the words for it, I sensed that life was meant to be more than a series of routines, obligations, and the quiet hum of “good enough.” Even as a child, I would tilt my face to the sky and dream of adventure, of color, of a life that glowed from within—not just for me, but for everyone around me. I believed with all my heart that we are each born a masterpiece, and that our greatest work of art is the life we choose to live.
Yet, I was not immune to the world’s attempts to dim my light. “Ronda, you set your goals too high. You are always going to fail.” The words echoed in my mind, heavy as stone, as if daring to dream were a fault, and reaching beyond the ordinary was a kind of rebellion. “It’s okay to be just a secretary,” they’d say—with a finality that stung. But something in me refused to settle, refused to accept that my story would be written by someone else’s pen.
Act I: The Call to Adventure
I remember the turning points vividly—those quiet moments and loud crossroads where I was asked to choose between the familiar and the unknown. Each time, I found myself standing on the edge of something vast, my heart racing with anticipation and fear in equal measure.
What pushes a person to step into the unknown? For me, it was a yearning stronger than fear—a call to live authentically, to break free from the paradigms that kept me small. I was told I was “too much.” Too ambitious, too passionate, too hopeful. But I began to see that “too much” was exactly what the world needed.
Adventure became my north star. I started saying yes to opportunities that scared me, to risks that others called reckless. I traveled, I learned, I stumbled and soared. Each experience, whether a triumph or a failure, added new colors to the canvas of my life. I realized that art is not only what we create with our hands, but how we choose to live, how we choose to love, and how we give of ourselves.
Act II: Embracing the Artist Within
For years, I believed the lie that art belonged only to the gifted, that entrepreneurship belonged only to the bold and the lucky. But with every risk I took, every fear I faced, a new truth emerged: I am an artist. I am an entrepreneur. Art, I learned, is about possibility. Entrepreneurship is about daring. Both require vision, both demand faith.
I began to see my life as a work of art in progress—a living, breathing project shaped by inspiration, intention, and courage. Each time I faced doubt, each time I was tempted to shrink back into the safety of the ordinary, I remembered my purpose: to help others see the art in their own lives, to help them believe in the beauty and potential waiting just beneath the surface.
I started creating spaces for others to gather, to share their stories, to dream out loud. I taught workshops. I mentored. I listened. I painted and I wrote, not only for myself, but for all those who had ever been told they were too much, or not enough. My art became a beacon—a light in the darkness, a reminder that courage is contagious.
Act III: Paradigm Shift—A New Standard
The greatest transformation in my life did not come from a single event, but from a slow, deliberate raising of standards. I began to question every belief that kept me small—every whispered warning that told me to play it safe. I realized that the only standards worth living by are those that call us higher, that demand our best, that honor the masterpiece within.
This was my paradigm shift: I stopped asking for permission. I stopped waiting for the world to give me a seat at the table. Instead, I built my own. I aligned my actions with my values, surrounded myself with dreamers and doers, and committed to living each day as an act of creation.
I learned to celebrate not only the epic wins but the quiet acts of bravery—the decision to speak up, to try again, to love fiercely, to risk failure for the sake of growth. Life, I found, is not about arriving. It is about becoming.
Act IV: Inspiring Courage, Sharing Light
As I grew, so did my calling. It wasn’t enough to change my own life—I wanted to spark transformation in others. I wanted to help people overcome fear and live in love. I wanted to remind them that the world is desperate for their unique light.
So I chose to run toward freedom, not only for myself but for everyone still trapped by old stories, outdated standards, and limiting beliefs. I shared my journey—my struggles as well as my victories—so others could see what was possible. I created programs and retreats that empowered people to step into their courage, to discover the extraordinary within themselves.
I saw the ripple effect: a student quitting a job that drained their spirit to pursue their passion, a friend choosing to forgive and begin anew, a community coming alive with creativity and hope. I watched what happens when people believe they can change, when they realize that their life is their greatest work of art.
Act V: Becoming Extraordinary
I believe that inside each of us is a voice that whispers: “You were made for more.” My mission is to help people hear that voice and to trust it. I want to help people become brave—not by erasing fear, but by choosing love and possibility in the face of it.
I want to help people become extraordinary—not by achieving some mythical standard of perfection, but by living true to themselves, by daring to be seen, by giving their gifts to the world without apology.
Extraordinary, I have learned, is not about what you have or what you do. It is about who you choose to be. It is about the daily decision to create, to connect, to contribute. It is about raising your standards, shifting your paradigm, and living as if your life matters—because it does.
Epilogue: The Light Shared
If my story has taught me anything, it is that change is possible, that courage is a choice, and that each of us has a light worth sharing. We are not defined by the voices that tell us to settle. We are not limited by the roles others assign. We are artists, entrepreneurs, adventurers, and dreamers.
My life is still in progress—a canvas waiting for new colors, new risks, new acts of courage. As I run toward freedom, I invite you to join me. Together, we can create a world where every life shines, where every story inspires, where each of us becomes the extraordinary person we always knew we were inside.
· Live courageously.
· Create bravely.
· Share your light generously.
· Raise your standards, and help others do the same.
Because when we do, we change the world—one masterpiece at a time.
