Mariel Maloney’s new book Shifting into 9th Gear: Heal Your Life, Seek Your Passions, Find Your Soul Purpose is a fun, sometimes a little scary, but always honest journey into how determination to create a better life can lead to surprising results.
Mariel’s story begins like that of many young people. She found herself swamped after her parents divorced her. As a teenager, she experienced much of the angst and depression that many experience, to the point where she became clinically depressed and needed psychiatric help. However, she refused to drug herself. Instead, she bought a bicycle and that decision ultimately changed her life.
With her bike, Mariel found freedom and purpose. In her effort to try to find herself, she began riding her bike every day on the Chicago lakefront. It was a journey of many miles both ways, and through some rough neighborhoods and high-traffic areas. At one point, she was threatened in a bad neighborhood. At another time, she was in a serious accident precipitated by a sixteen-wheeler. But Mariel also had her angels taking care of her, she literally believes it.
What Mariel found while riding a bike, others could find while running, skiing, writing, painting or meditating. He freed her from her thoughts and took her to the lake, where she was able to commune with nature and God and begin to make sense of her life. She also made him realize how remarkable she was to her, so remarkable that when she was invited to participate in a multi-day bike race, RAGBRAI, she found herself able to keep up with the Olympic team that was also participating. .
Shifting into 9th Gear is much more than a book about riding a bike. It’s the story of how a young girl brought her life back, and it’s an inspirational story for anyone going through life’s darkest moments. It’s an example of how making a simple change like riding a bike can lead to bigger, more positive changes.
Finally, Mariel shook off her depression. She later married and raised seven children, and according to her accounts of being deeply involved in her children’s lives, she was an extraordinary mother. Since then, she has been involved in the fitness industry, she has become a life coach and serves as a keynote speaker and facilitator for healing retreats.
Mariel divides her story into four sections. The first, “The Rabbit Hole”, describes the darkness he experienced. The second “Healing” describes the nine steps she took to heal her life. The third describes her joyful and uplifting experiences at RAGBRAI, and the fourth “Evolving Mindfulness” offers tips and examples of how developing a personal spirituality can change your life, including everything from community engagement and meditation to creating your own healing wish list and finding your soul’s passion.
Mariel’s story is both interesting and uplifting. Switching to 9th Gear will be a wonderful gift for anyone who has difficulties in life, especially the younger ones who don’t yet realize that life has its ups and downs, like when you ride a bike up and down hills. You may be in the valley now, but if you put in the effort you can climb the next hill and once you reach the top you can start sliding down the coast. This book will inspire many people to gain a new perspective on life and learn how to change their world in extraordinary ways.