Sometimes all it takes is a little positive thinking to turn your life around. No one knows this better than Irene Cabay.
Born and raised in the MD of Bonnyville, Cabay was leading a simple life farming in Alexander when a sudden divorce turned her whole world upside down. Thanks to the power of positivity, she was able to turn it back around – becoming a small business owner and, now, a published author.
“When I was going through this really bad time in my divorce, I was lower than low. My son gave me a book that suggested if I change the way I think I could change my life. I had nothing to lose,” said Cabay. “I was putting little affirmations all over my bathroom mirror, on my bed so I could see them before I went to bed and contemplate it. I didn't really believe anything was going to happen. After three months I noticed huge changes.”
For 12 years, Cabay continued to pen these notes to herself every day. During that time, in 2001, she purchased the shop Northern Treasures, where she was a former employee, and continued running the business until selling it in 2009.
Even though her life appeared to be taking a turn for the better, she didn't abandon her newfound daily exercise.
“People told me even then, ‘you've got it altogether.' No I don't. People don't know that even though I ran my business and had the cheerful face, they don't know I'd go home at night and cry myself to sleep. I think most people do at some point in their life. Not every day is sunshine and roses.”
It wasn't until about six years ago, after selling Northern Treasures, that Cabay decided she wanted to share her findings with others. Last year, that chance finally came.
“Something else I believe in, is you have to have a bucket list, it's not just a movie. My dad passed away last year and he left me a little bit of money. So I said, ‘I'm taking this money and I'm publishing this book.'”
Released in April, Cabay's debut book Wisdoms and Affirmations tells her story through a compilation of the quotes and tidbits she's used to overcome her tribulations and foster positive thinking. Already, she has some of the major literature stores hopping to add the title to their collection, such as Coles, Indigo and Chapters.
While she's just started to ramp up promotion of her book recently, already the new author has received an amazing response from readers. She is even set to host a book signing at the Bonnyville library and session with a local woman's group on Nov. 24.
“I talk about it with my friends and I was telling one the other day that if I didn't know I was talking about myself, I would think I was talking about someone else. I can't believe this is happening to me,” expressed Cabay. “Chapters wanting to distribute it, ‘wow' is all I can say.”
One book under her belt, Cabay has a second in mind of what she describes will be more of a “feel good, look inside kind of book.” The next step for the farmer turned author, who currently lives in Edmonton and is also a certified Thought Field Therapist, is to hone her “gift of gab” and take on speaking engagements.
Her hope? To help bring others to the realization that if you go into life with a positive attitude, you're going to get more out of it.
“I was so low that it just felt like life was not worth living anymore. Now I wake up in the morning and I can't wait to get going. Everybody has this down time in life, but there's up times too.”
Cabay continued, “What you think about, you bring about, and what you think about expands. If you put it out there and you really want it... the universe will conspire to make it happen. I really believe that with all my heart.”
Wisdoms and Affirmations is available in Bonnyville at Buds N' Blooms, Tellier's pharmacy, Health Food Mart and Home Hardware. It can also be purchased online on Amazon or at irenecabay.com.
