#2. 59 and a lifeguard

In the Grimm’s fairy tale, Hansel and Gretel’s trail of breadcrumbs almost leads to their demise. For Rosa Bullis, following a trail of breadcrumbs has been full of emotional and physical obstacles, but ultimately led her on a path to salvation and true happiness.

When she was 52, Rosa was diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN), often referred to as the “suicide disease.” It affects the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensation from the face to the brain, and is considered to be the worst pain known to man. Rosa associated the feeling with “lightning bolts” in her face. After attempts with medication, she went on to have three surgeries – all provided temporary relief. It is sometimes through our most painful circumstances that we learn the most. It was during her last and most extreme episode that taught her how loved she is by so many.

At the age of 56, after her youngest went off to college, Rosa found the courage to leave her unhealthy marriage of 22 years. She felt empty, unloved and lost. She spent most of her life making others happy – now it was time for her to be happy. With the love and support of her children, her journey began.  Rosa shares, “This was not an easy journey. There were very dark times and some days and nights of crying especially in the beginning. It has been my children’s love and support that helped me through the toughest times.”

Rosa acclaims that after leaving her husband, everything she needed fell right into her path. “I believe the universe was guiding me with breadcrumbs knowing that it would be impossible for me to comprehend or manage the whole loaf of bread,” Rosa explained.

Even though Rosa had been interested in yoga for years, her journey to becoming a teacher was not an easy one. With her struggles with TN, she had to delay her training. It became a challenging and extended process – as she battled with the symptoms and figuring out the best treatment methods. But it was worth it. Going through this training opened up something inside of Rosa and gave her the inspiration to explore more healing practices.

Soon after her yoga teacher training, she was lead to another “breadcrumb” and then another and then another. Some of those “breadcrumbs” include becoming a Journey Dance™ Guide, Reiki Practitioner, Sacred Sound Practitioner, and an Energy Medicine Practitioner. She traveled to Mexico with her two dogs to teach yoga and practice Sound Healing for six months. Through all of these practices, Rosa helps others deal with difficult times and memories, especially through sound and energy healing. A major part of Journey Dancing™, a transformational movement based class, includes ritualistic dancing which helps release the trapped negative energy in the body as well as express and honor the love for one’s body and self.  With helping others, she has helped herself become who she’s meant to be.

In addition to her spiritual journey, Rosa found herself at a nine to five job for the first time in a while, due to a “breadcrumb” dropped by her son. He came to her and explained that they were looking for more lifeguards at the beach where he worked, and since she had done it in college he thought she was the perfect fit. “I was thrilled that my 21-year-old wanted me to work with him.” she commented.

So, with her son in mind, she gave it a shot. It was a vigorous and difficult training, especially since it had been over 40 years since Rosa swam regularly and that was in pools not the ocean. Rosa was recovering from pneumonia that spring and was uncertain that she could be ready in time for the test. She began training with distance swims in the ocean and doing morning drills with the guards every day to build up her speed and stamina. With earnest studying, she passed the written test. However, the physical surf exam was much more challenging, as she failed it twice. As the current dragged her back, she pushed forward with the support of the other much younger lifeguards who amusingly refer to her as “Mama Rosa,” and passed on her third try. Training in the ocean taught Rosa a lot… every day the ocean is different. Some days the current carries you with ease while other days one must battle the current and rough waves to get to the destination.

She was now 59 and a lifeguard – on a beach where the next youngest staff member was 30-years-old. It was the toughest and lowest paying job Rosa ever had but for her it wasn’t about the money, it was about the experience. She says that her son’s confidence in her gave her the best gift ever.  “When I passed the test, I felt like I could do anything,” she said.

Rosa reflects that the path to true happiness is never as clear as it seems and is full of bumps, wrong turns and may be longer than expected. “By choosing to pick up each ‘breadcrumb’ rather than walk over or around, I have learned and experienced a life that I would never have dreamed possible,” she said.