Today, I interview Linda Bello-Ruiz who grew up in Redwood Valley, California, in a family of six children. Linda was blessed with great parents, but with a crowded household, she wanted to find her own way to stand out. She craved attention, so she often used her height and bright red hair to turn heads.

Her experience with her siblings also gave her a boost in maturity, and she soon became a comfort and a leader among her peers. She remembers getting in trouble for this, hearing her teacher advise other kids not to follow her example. This was the first time she remembers her voice being shut down. Linda was anxious to get out on her own, and she tells us that as soon as she finished high school, she was packed up and on her way. 

She made her way to San Francisco and was excited to start her new adventure, having already been accepted to a college and planning on staying with family in the area. She eventually met a man who would become her boyfriend and end up changing her life. Linda yearned for the approval of a man, and this man made her feel special – at first. As it turns out, he was a drug user who also became a pimp in the area. Soon, various women were calling Linda to get his permission for certain things, and she realized that her life was quickly falling apart in a very drastic way. Her friends and family begged her to leave him, but she was blinded by the validation he gave her. Her full awakening happened one night when he wanted to put her on the corner with the other girls. She was afraid, but she dressed the part and stood there. She felt so out of place and lost, having gone against her instincts. She changed her mind and told her boyfriend she wasn't willing to do it, and he took her home and beat her. This was the wake-up call she needed. 

After several humiliating, confusing, and extremely dangerous situations following her departure, she found herself on the beach with no will to live. She asked God to reveal himself to her, and he did in an amazing way and with perfect timing. Linda is grateful for the turnaround her life made that day. She regained her voice. In her new wisdom and learning to forgive, she continued in ministry and found ways to help others, a mission that continues today each time she shares her heart and her story with others. 

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Award-winning author, Linda Bello-Ruiz co-founded and directed a safe haven for street girls, runaways, and sex-trafficked minors in Costa Rica. Upon her return to the United States, she earned her Master’s Degree in Psychology and worked as a bilingual counselor for 26 years. In retirement, Linda wrote her award-winning memoir, From Tears to Triumph, and later authored three 'based-on-true-events" books, all with a message of hope and purpose. She is an Inspirational Speaker on choices, consequences, and hope. 

Find Linda here: 
https://www.facebook.com/lmbelloruiz/ 
https://www.facebook.com/LindaBelloRuiz
https://lindabelloruiz.com/ 

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I'm your podcast host, Dr. Doreen Downing, and I help people find their voice so they can overcome anxiety, be confident, and speak without fear. 

Get started now on your journey to your authentic voice by downloading my Free 7 Step Guide to Fearless Speaking: https://www.doreen7steps.com.  

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I’m Dr. Doreen Downing and I help people find their voice so they can speak without fear. Get the Free 7-Step Guide to Fearless Speaking https://www.doreen7steps.com​.