PERSEVERANCE Manifesting Dreams into Reality

From Setback to Serenity: A Dream Rebuilt

Thank you, Sheryl Crow, for inspiring me to never give up. When things got tough—and they got really tough—I kept hearing her voice singing, “Miracles happen if you don’t give up before they happen.”

Perseverance was our lifeline. After a contractor stole our life savings and left us with nothing built, the dream of Serenity Island Retreats was the only thing that kept us going. We placed lounge chairs in the empty pool shell and imagined the future: a built-in pool with a flush-deck spa overlooking the water. We held tightly to that vision, fueled by hope and sheer will.

Just after we finally completed the project, Hurricane Ian hit—hard and fast. And again, I heard Sheryl Crow. We put one foot in front of the other and carried on.

Today, Serenity Island Retreats is a reality. Guests have been giving us consistent 5-star reviews, and their joy and gratitude remind us every day that the journey was worth it.

The adversity we faced was a crucible—a transformative experience that forced us to dig deep and rediscover our strength, our purpose, and our faith in the dream. Everything I’d learned through decades of yoga, wellness, and leading retreats got put into real-world action: breathing through the chaos, staying centered, and rebuilding with grace and grit.

Now, I share those same tools and life hacks with our guests—simple, powerful practices that take you from stressed to blessed in just a few mindful breaths.

Life can be nutz. But we don’t have to be.