Synopses & Reviews
Melanie Brocklehurst hit rock bottom after the death of her soul-mate. Feeling she had nothing more to lose, she decided to follow a formula she created in her teens to achieve positive change. As a result, she embarks on a journey that changes her life. Along the way she quits her job, sells her house, and travels the United States dating fifty men in fifty states. And, eventually she falls in love again...in the most unexpected place.
Told with honesty, humor, and warmth, 50 Dates in 50 States clearly captures the ups,downs and hilarious moments of Internet dating and traveling alone across the United States. Melanie—shaped by events of her past but refusingto be defined by them—overcomes grief on a journey that is touching, delightful, and unexpectedly uplifting.
By turns joyful and melancholy, this wise and funny author will pull at your heartstrings in this inspirational, heartfelt, and beautifully written memoir.
Part travelogue, part romp, and part how-to guide, 50 Dates in 50 States, through its unique format, not only provides laughter and tears but also shows you how to build the life of your dreams by following the formula detailed throughout.
Review
“I could not put down this book once I had begun to read. Why? Because its compelling reading—as well as sharing her own remarkable story, each chapter gave me insights about my own life and work. I often say that our greatest strength is our fallibility—Melanie proves this in her open and honest portrayal of life and work and lets you into her secrets of success. Melanie is a wise practitioner, we can all learn from her book. I will keep this book close—like a best friend for life.”
-Dr. Andrew Machon, London, United Kingdom, International Executive, Business Coach and Author
“Melanie Brocklehurst is an exceptional executive and has now proved herself to be an exceptional author and coach. 50 Dates in 50 States: One Womans Journey to Positive Change provides a practical guide for those wanting to make positive changes as Melanie openly shares her 8-step Positive Change Formula wrapped wonderfully in the story of the past year of her life. You are going to love both the book and the positive changes that you achieve through putting her formula into practice!”
-Bonnie Boezeman AO, Sydney, Australia, Managing Director, Business Benefits International
“Whats better than a dating guide? Answer: A book that helps you with dating, provides you with a formula to achieve positive change and is wrapped up in a story! Melanie has created a unique and exciting book that is part travelogue, part romp and part how-to coach yourself happy. In her book, 50 Dates in 50 States, Melanie doesn´t patronize you. She, like me, shows that to find the right life partner isn´t necessarily ‘easy or ‘simple but that the results are worth it.”
-Marla Martenson, Los Angeles, United States, Author of Excuse Me, Your Soul Mate is Waiting
Synopsis
50 Dates in 50 States tells of how Melanie, a workaholic, hits rock bottom after the death of her soul-mate and remembers a formula she created and used previously to achieve positive change. She follows the formula on a journey that changes her life. Along the way she quits her job, sells her house, travels the United States dating fifty men in fifty states,
and eventually falls in love again...in the most unexpected place.
Through its original format, you can also learn how to build the life of your dreams by following the formula that is detailed throughout. 50 Dates in 50 States is instructive as well as inspirational and encourages you to follow your dreams as life is not a rehearsal.
Synopsis
"Ive never understood people who, to coin a good English phrase, are ‘All mouth, no trousers, which means they talk a lot but never act, or, bitch a lot but never do anything to improve the situation.
Ive always been a person of action—in fact occasionally I need to think a bit more before I jump in! Im also a person who keeps my issues to myself. I generally manage to maintain a happy facade to my work colleagues, friends and even my family, with the exception of my best mate, Georgia.
Miss G, as I call her, knows pretty much everything because we spend so much time together. She was my surrogate husband until I found the poor bugger who was foolish enough to fall in love with me!
Ive often joked shed make a wonderful partner as shes a great cook, independent, a good conversationalist and we have a lot of common interests. Shes also a dark-haired, clear-skinned amazon who stands six feet tall with no shoes on. In fact, the only reason were not a match made in heaven is she is a she and so am I, and neither of us are that way inclined.
However, even Miss G had no idea of the depth of my depression and despair at the beginning of 2011, or that I was having a daily conversation to stop myself from downing pills in my house. Even with her I couldnt share how far Id sunk.
I felt that I was becoming one of those ‘all mouth, no trousers people, even though the chatter was only in my head. I felt literally and physically stuck, which for such an action-oriented person was a very unfamiliar feeling."
About the Author
Canberra, Australia
Table of Contents
FOREWORD
INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 1 PROBLEMS
CHAPTER 2 THE POSITIVE CHANGE FORMULA
CHAPTER 3 OPTIONS
CHAPTER 4 SOLUTIONS
CHAPTER 5 IMPLEMENTATION
The Best Laid Plans...
The Start of the 50 Dates
California Date #1: Chris - Life Is A Rollercoaster Date #2: Sam - Making Out At The Drive-In Arizona Date #3: Diego - Allergies And Rock Concerts New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas Date #4: Nathan - Scary Stalker Material
Dates #5&6: Dylan And Tom - Vegetarians And Memorials
Date #7: Josh - Another Ex-Girlfriend On The List? Tennessee Date #8: Steven - You Missed Out On Some Great Hickory-Smoked Ribs! Mississippi Date #9: Richard - I Need A Coke Hit! CHAPTER 6 TENACITY
Louisiana Date #10: Max - Music And Magic In New Orleans Alabama Date #11: Adrian - Safety First Florida Date #12: Mark - Threes A Crowd, Leave Your Smart Phone At Home Georgia Date #13: Phil - Art And Truck-Driving CHAPTER 7 INTEGRITY
California again... and Nevada! Date #14: Sam - The Official Date In Las Vegas A Military Operation
Maryland Date #15: Andrew - Jumping Straight Back On The Horse Washington D.C. Date #16: Luke - A Walk In The Park Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware Dates #17-23: Too Many To Mention Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan Date #26: Jacob - Moonwalking in Gary, Indiana Illinois Date #27: Roger - The Job Interview Minnesota, North Dakota, Idaho, Utah Date #28: Roberto - The Restorer Of Faith Omaha, Iowa, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Missouri, Kansas and Colorado... Phew! Dates #34-36: Toby - Banter And Bickering In The Badlands Hawaii Date #43: Jonny - Swimming With The Sharks Mexico Date #44: José - My Unofficial Date Back in the UK with my family
CHAPTER 8 VICTORY
Mexico again... and 8 of the 9 states
New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Oregon and Washington Date #45-50: Charlie - Charlie And The Hot Chocolate Factories of New England
Date #51-52: Harry And Ian - I Left My Heart In...
Alaska Date #53: José - My Last Official Date CHAPTER 9 EVALUATION
The Final Stage of the Positive Change Formula
Life After 50 Dates
CHAPTER 10 THE POSITIVE CHANGE FORMULA IN ACTION ALL OVER AGAIN
Kick-start the Positive
EPILOGUE
AFTERWORD
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
POSITIVE CHANGE COACHING AND CONSULTING
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS