Eight weeks ago I wrote the below email in response to being asked to go for coffee after a networking event. I wasn’t sure if the invitation of coffee was intended to learn about my business or a more personal request, the undertones of his email seemed like the latter. Below is what this poor guy received and basically sums up why I am embarking on this adventure……

Hi!

You might be wondering why it has taken me so long to respond to such a simple idea of having a coffee.  Below is my explanation and if at this point I sound like a crazy person (l probably am) please delete and read no further!

As you know I am disillusioned right now, not just with society per se but also relationships, friendships, life in general etc etc… 

Lawsuit:  Even though the judge made his decision with our lawsuit it appears it will never end, our neighbors are still trying to squeeze us dry.  If you want to learn more and fancy some light reading while drinking a beer visit my blog www.neighborconflicts.com and look under “current disputes”, you will learn the extreme lengths our neighbors went into making our lives hell including harassing me on a near daily basis.

My brother:  The day after learning the judge’s decision of our lawsuit I was informed my brother had committed suicide.  My brother was 12 years older than me and we did not have a close relationship but this news was jarring to say the least.  I felt like I was living in a bad dream.

My marriage: I have been with the same person for 30 years (shit, I am old). I recently moved out of our home and now living in a 350 sq ft studio in the village.  Adjusting from living in a multi-million dollar home with all the bells and whistles and moving into a studio with questionable plumbing and structural integrity has been relatively painless.  It appears I like the simple life (admittedly, I miss the pool!). My husband is a good guy and there is no drama or ill-will but we do not work well together during the “downs” of life.  Sadly growing older it is clear we will be up against more life trials and I need someone who can lift me up and not tear me down during these times.  As my mother taught me “life is not a dress rehearsal” and I refuse to be complacent with life or partnerships.

Camino del Norte: So now that you have learned that I am a wreck of a person you probably understand my desire to walk 15-25 miles a day for 8 weeks.  It seems a lot easier than life right now!  My brother completed the Camino Francis many years ago and wrote an article for a travel magazine about it.  My mother sent me a copy of the article shortly after his death, I read it nine weeks ago and that is when I made the decision to do my own Camino in his honor, mainly to hold myself accountable!

Coffee: If you have read this far you are probably either bemused, confused or have a small understanding why coffee is hard for me to commit to, my bandwidth is at its max and the simple idea of coffee seems amazing and scary at the same time.  

I congratulate you if you made it this far as that shows real stamina or a sick sense of intrigue!  You made my day asking if I would like to meet, even if it was to just learn about my business!  

Louisa