Penny was afraid of everything. She was very good at bluffing her way through the world. She moved through her life, coping with what got thrown at her in the way that women do. Doing what she needed to do, keeping up with what was expected of her at work and at home. Trying to keep everyone else in her life happy, no matter what the cost to herself.
Penny had an alter ego. Her name was Wench. Wench was everything that Penny wanted to be. She was witty and gorgeous, larger than life, sassy and sexy, intelligent and brave. She wasn’t afraid of anything or anyone. She lived her successful and fun life in that middle world called the Internet.
Penny went through a very dark period in her life. She got through it, calling on Wench for her strength from time to time. Then she met her prince, got married and lived happily ever after!
Of course that is a fairy story, and life generally isn’t a fairy story. But it is very much based on truth, and Wench did and does exist and she is amazing. Of course she is also slim, healthy, fit and has a glorious head of hair!
It’s very easy in our lives to focus on the bad stuff. To let it drag you down until you become a person that no one really wants to be around. We have all met them, the people that suck the positivity out of the air around them. I know that I have been there at times in the last few years. I would like to apologise right now to anyone that suffered from my negativity in recent years. You know who you are!
People like Wench are the people who lift you up and carry you along with them for a while, leaving you breathing fresh air and basking in their sunshine. That’s the person I long to always be.
I am so lucky. I have a beautiful and funny daughter who I adore. I have a loving and supportive husband. I have amazing friends. A good job, and a growing business. All the ingredients that I need to live a glorious life. But there is still something that holds me back from launching myself off that cliff top and trusting my parachute.
Nigel encourages Wench to fly wherever she wants or needs to go. When I am with him Penny and Wench become one, to quote a cliché, he is the wind beneath my wings. (I can’t actually believe I just typed that!! Forgive me!) With Nigel I am always Wench. Zoe thinks Wench is her mum too.
Project Penny has brought yet more amazing people into my life. Alison, Ann, the 3 Claires, and everyone else who has helped over the last three months. And especially Dawn, who gave me this wonderful opportunity. Thank you ladies, your generosity, encouragement and support has changed something in me.
Looking in the mirror now the Penny I see looks an awful lot like Wench. I think I am about to launch myself off that cliff top. Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be one hell of a flight! And we have only just begun!
