Description: When Melanie Gibson needed a good kick in the pants to get her mind in order and her life back on track, she turned to the Korean martial art of taekwondo--and, from white belt to black belt, learned to trust herself, build confidence, and speak up for what she wanted in life.
Brief description: Melanie Gibson was raised in Snyder, Texas, where she began taekwondo training at age ten. She has a bachelor's degree in English from Texas Woman's University, a Master of Library Science from the University of North Texas, and an MBA from the University of Texas at Arlington. She has worked in the healthcare industry since 2004, with roles as a hospital librarian, corporate trainer, and learning designer. Melanie continues to pursue advanced taekwondo black belt degrees, writes about taekwondo on her blog Little Black Belt, and is a competitive board breaker. She lives in Fort Worth, Texas.
Review Quotes: "Melanie's story proves that mental illness can be overcome. That alone
would be enough, but that fact that she rekindled her love of taekwondo
and used it for its true purpose (inner peace) made it that much more
compelling. A must-read for anyone looking to get out of a rut!"
spirited book, and her determination should prove contagious, spurring
readers to discover a pathway through which they can combat mental
illness and discover their true selves. . . . An inspirational, sharp,
and disarmingly humorous account about taekwondo and mental health." --Kirkus Reviews "I am left in awe of Melanie's courage to reveal her darkest struggles
in the hope of helping others. Her fight to find the light inside
herself and share it with the world is a tale of inspiration for
anyone-martial artist or not. Let the breakthrough in these pages be a
call to us all to transform from our own worst enemy to our own best
friend." --Ando Mierzwa, Happy Life Martial Arts