Tera Leigh: Live Your Dream

Click here to see Tera's Resume

Award-winning writer and author Tera Leigh is sometimes referred to as a "renaissance woman" - a polite term for someone who has endless curiosity and a willingness to try new things that leads them to many life and career changes. She is licensed to practice law in California, was CEO of a high profile internet marketing firm, taught New Media marketing for UCLA and Cal State Long Beach Extension programs, and has worked as a business consultant and coach. In 1999, she signed her first book deal, co-licensed a product line, and began to write professionally.

Fear of Regret

Not everyone can identify the emotion that most dominates their personality, and indeed, these emotions may change. For Tera, she will tell you that "fear of regret" has become her greatest motivator. She says, "After years of trying to be something that I wasn't, and making no one happy in the process, I realized that I had lost a huge chunk of my life to work and boredom." After that, she says, that she became engrossed in what it meant to fully live one's life. Clearly, each of us have our own definition of what is fun or valuable.

"Throughout all the changes in my life, there has always been one constant; I have written about it in one way or another." With that realization, Tera believes she reconnected with her passion. She continues, "My biggest fear is that when I am too old to ride motorcycles and jump out of airplanes, I will be overwhelmed with regret instead of the joy of a life fully lived.

This method of thinking has led to a remarkable life; from skydiving, riding in a racecar at Daytona International Speedway, riding in a hot-air balloon, standing onstage during a "Grand Ole' Opry" performance, traveling Europe on her own, hiking in mountains around the US, and more! Each year, Tera adds to the list of extraordinary experiences in her life, and plans for more. In 2008 / 2009, her plans include a visit to a Montana Dude Ranch, and a photo safari to South Africa.

Making a Difference through Creativity

One of the things Tera often tells her readers is that their creativity will give much to their lives if they embrace it. Tera says, "I wanted to encourage people to not only discover their creative potential, but make a difference with it. Using your talents to help others can change your life."

In 1998, with a group of hardworking volunteers, Tera founded the Memory Box Artist Program, Inc., (now a non-profit charity) to encourage women to use their creativity to benefit others. To date, the program has provided over 105,000 boxes to hospitals for neonatal loss, free of charge. One nurse told Tera about a mother who wanted to take home mementos of her stillborn baby and the only thing the nurse could find to carry them in was a biohazard trash bag. It is Tera's goal, her dream, that some day no bereaved mother will ever leave the hospital without a Memory Box in hand.

With a bit of paint, a touch of glue, and a lot of heart, women around the world are reaching out to ease the grieving process for another family they have never met.

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You can write to Tera by clicking the "contact" link below.