Society has become a place where combat veterans would

rather commit suicide than live. Many who “have it all” are

discovering that they still feel miserable but can’t figure out

why. They feel powerless under the boredom of what society

deems necessary.

Aurita Maldonado is a Puerto Rican woman warrior and Afro

Latin dance instructor who chose a different path before and

after her two combat tours in Afghanistan and Iraq.

She received a Purple Heart for wounds received in

Afghanistan before leaving the Army to align her thoughts,

words, and actions. She adopted a new mission: cultivate

peace, happiness, and learn to become her own best friend. All

while learning to live as one with Mother Earth.

Aurita rejected lucrative government jobs, sold her

possessions, and moved to Haines, Alaska, in 2010 to begin her

journey with PTSD and self-acceptance. An extreme athlete,

she used movement to help her navigate the storms with a grin

until she was suddenly paralyzed from the waist down ina

fight against a deadly rat lungworm infection.

The perspective shifts she adopted to continue to enjoy life

while learning to use her body again will make you reassess

your choices to settle for the status quo.

This is an inspirational memoir of a remarkable woman’s journey

to stumble in style as she navigates seemingly insurmountable

tragedies early in life. It is a story of triumph and discipline.

Joy and sorrow. A portrait of a Lady Hurricane dancing, both

literally and figuratively as one with the storms of life.