A former WWOOF Australia host, writing under the pen name of Bella Pearce, reveals how volunteer work saved her from mid-life crisis in her debut book, My Extraordinary, Courageous Adventure.
She says that having been a WWOOF host for ten years in Australia she know the benefits of taking on WWOOFers: “Every community benefits from the travelling worker as they explore and become a part of the dynamics of each location. I want to share my experience with as many people as possible, to highlight how incredible it is to see the world this way. The ripple effect of volunteering is unlimited, as we strive for sustainable communities and the planet at large.”
GOLD COAST, Australia – 2012 was the beginning of a new chapter in the life of Bella Pearce. Determined to change her perspective on life, she set about an extraordinary journey volunteering to work on sustainable farms throughout the United States and Canada. In her memoir, “My Extraordinary, Courageous Adventure” (published by Balboa Press AU), Pearce shares how her volunteer work helped her find the strength to recover from the stress, grief and loneliness after her marriage breakdown and business failure.
From living on a dock in Alaska, a luxury cabin in Canada to sleeping in a tent in California, Pearce shares stories reflecting upon the different location’s cultures and lifestyles. Visiting The Caribbean and house-sitting in Canada over winter was the grand finale for Pearce’s total life rejuvenation.
The connection to the people and each place was felt across her emotional, mental, spiritual and physical body as she re-established her life, through meditation and a back-to-basics-lifestyle. The emotional roll-a-coaster ride of emotions were felt from exhaustion, to tears, joy, happiness and total amazement at the incredible locations. “My belief in myself was renewed as I gained many new life skills, while helping the hosts’ sustain their own lifestyle.” “Working for any volunteer organisation is truly an inspiring, selfless and life-changing act.”
The author hopes her story will inspire the reader to think about the infinite possibilities that are waiting for them, with Pearce encouraging her readers to reflect on their own lives. One of the most important lessons Pearce learnt over the journey was that life was too short. “Be courageous,” she says. “Stop dreaming of the life you want and start living it.”
“My Extraordinary, Courageous Adventure” by Bella Pearce
Softcover | 8.25 x 11 in | 282 pages | ISBN 9781504309981
E-Book | 282 pages | ISBN 9781504309998
