The Soul Warrior

The pandemic showed us how much society has lost touch with itself. Mental health issues exploded as a result of isolation and fear. As a social creature, we didn’t know how to cope with being alone, unable to see our family and friends. Wearing masks everywhere was layer of separation from others. From a physical health standpoint of course we were advised to take precautions however like most things in life, there was an opposite reason that impacted our minds. This was as or even more noticeable in our children. Generally, we’re most social when we are younger, and we need social interactions to help with our growth and soft skill development. Schools, therapists, mental health practitioners were swamped because of the demand for help with children experiencing anxiety and other mental health conditions. It was during this time that we at Soul Warrior Fitness started providing services to schools and youth. Though the restrictions and lockdowns due to COVID are hopefully a thing of the long past, our children are still experiencing mental health conditions that will heal in time or be there for the long run. During the dozens of interactions with children, teachers, parents and mental health workers, we decided to write a fictional story about a child’s journey through her personal ‘darkness’ to help parents and tweens lose themselves in an imaginary world while picking up interesting techniques to help manage their emotions, thoughts and feelings. Below is the synopsis of ‘The Soul Warrior’ as well as an extract from the book.

The Soul Warrior Book Cover

Synopsis: The story focuses on our young heroine, Marina, as she tries to understand the Darkness that is taking over the universe. Her life gets flipped upside down as she is taken back to the beginning of it all. Does Marina just need to overcome the typical challenges of a tween or is she actually the creator of the universe? The Soul Warrior book and ebook include simple step-by-step instructions on wellness techniques included in the book: belly breathing, mindfulness meditation, goal setting and grounding. 

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The Soul Warrior

“It seemed like a regular day for Marina. She was just getting home from school when someone called her name. 

“Hey, Marina!” said Tami. “Are you going to come over so we can finish our homework together?” 

Marina thought for a moment. “Yes, I’m coming over, but first, I need to change out of my school clothes and go for karate practice.” 

Marina was a young girl with long black, silky hair and skin the colour of cinnamon. She was only ten years old but already knew that she was meant for great things. Her parents, Gabriella and Jason, were hard-working, caring parents who were pretty hands-off. Gabriella was a fashion designer who travelled around the world to promote her styles at shows. Jason was a website creator and usually worked from home so he could take care of Marina and take her to her various activities.

Marina got herself ready for the day, made her school lunch, and completed her homework on time. Her parents were there to keep her safe, provide guidance, and share their life experiences with her. They didn’t worry about the small tasks as they always seemed to happen without much effort. Little did they know that Marina took care of many of the small tasks without asking for help. Marina seemed like a typical ten-year-old girl with a few exceptions. She had near-perfect grades, made friends with everyone she met, and was able to have a conversation with anyone about any topic. 

In school, she sat at the front of the class, not just to participate or ask questions but to make sure she was completely focused on what her teacher was saying. Some of her closest friends loved to study and learn as well, and they always pushed each other through friendly competition to be better. They all cared about people and the planet and worked together to promote environmentally friendly activities like recycling, reusing materials, or fundraising for children living in less fortunate situations. Marina was outspoken when it came to her love of other species and always gave them the same respect and love that she gave to humans as she felt all things were connected not just on this planet but the entire universe. She had a mature side that no one could explain. She meditated, went out of her way to help others in need, and loved all people all creatures. 

Before her karate class, she helped the younger students practice their moves because she knew that helping others was the best way to become better. She always pushed herself during class and stayed afterward to perfect her katas (a sequence of pre-planned movements that must be learned for each belt). She achieved her purple advanced belt after less than two years in karate because she had a goal of becoming a black belt in four years. 

On the drive to her class that day, Marina asked her mom and dad, “Why are people always rushing everywhere? Everyone seems so busy all the time. They are so focused on doing ‘stuff’, but I don’t think they are happy.” 

Her parents were used to their daughter’s deep observations but were caught off guard by this one as they had just discussed how they were working nights regularly. “That’s a really good question, Marina,” Gabriella replied, “Maybe by being busy, people don’t have to think about how unhappy they are or how to achieve what they want in life?” It ended in a question as she didn’t know why. Almost every other person they knew was in the same situation and every day seemed to get worse.

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We truly hope you enjoyed reading this sample. If you would like to read more, please see below for a link to the book on Amazon. 

Amazon Link: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0C7PKQML3