Imagine that you are living a life that makes you feel like an outsider, yet is all that you have ever know.  Somewhere within yourself you find the courage to leave your family and the only way of life that you have ever known in search of a life that will allow you to finally define yourself.

To start not only a new life, but to have to learn a whole other way of living is a scary thought, but that is exactly what this week’s guest did.

Anna Dee Olson has lived a life most have only seen in the movies. Having grown up in an Amish community where she lived a life of strictness and rigidity, where she was forbidden to use even the most common technologies that most Americans take for granted on a daily basis, she was taught that life was meant to be a struggle and that her difficulties were God’s way of punishing her for her sins.

Anna has faced difficulties that most will never experience, and now, she speaks about these experiences and uses the example of her life to inspire and motivate others to reach for their dreams and to believe in God’s love.

In less than a year after leaving the Amish lifestyle behind Anna passed the test to get her High School Equivalency diploma.  Fall of 1993 Anna’s dream of going to college became real.  In 1995 Anna graduated the first time and in 2005 Anna graduated with an Associate of Applied Science Degree.  During the past 16 years Anna was involved in Student Senate, Relay for Life, Madhatters Drama club, Women of Today organization, and Toastmasters International.

Today Anna’s motto is: “True forgiveness is a choice we all have.”   Anna is a successful published Author and Public Speaker.   Anna strongly believes in helping people through volunteering, sharing her experiences to help others, and help the world understand the secretive life of the Amish culture.

Anna is such an inspiration to anyone that wants to change anything in their life.  She found the courage to leave the only life that she ever knew in order to find where she fit in the world.  During the show Anna talked open and honestly about her life growing up Amish.  She shared some of the culture and beliefs that she was taught growing up in an Amish community and her transition into the “outside world”.

Listen to this show

JTS Links:
Life By Design
Journey to Self on Blog Talk Radio

Guest Links:
Anna’s Website
Ask the Amish Lady

(Click on the book to purchase)

Join us next week for Journey to Self at 12pm cst/1pm est on Blog Talk Radio.

Until next time, enjoy the journey to self and everything in between.

Filed under: Show Notes, Upcoming shows