The Road to Me

Book excerpt: To find belonging in the world, sometimes you have to go through yourself. Alina Martin was fifty-four years old when she sold her possessions and embarked on a journey around the United States to escape what had become an unbearable existence devoid of self-worth and self-love. With only her dog, Romeo, as her companion, Alina details how her desire to feel free and happy fueled her travels from a place of exhaustion and lack of connection to explore the world around her with the hope of finding a place where she finally belonged. Included with her personal stories as well as those gathered from people she encountered while on the road, Alina discloses her memories of an abusive childhood and marriage, long buried in her subconscious, and reveals how facing the pain ultimately set her down a path inward to realize freedom, her true self, inner peace, a greater understanding of all things past and present, and a sense of acceptance and belonging in the world. The Road to Me is a heartfelt account of a wanderer’s experiences on the road as she bravely faced her painful memories, encountered strangers who inspired her, and found the way to authenticity and self-acceptance.