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The Guts, Grace and
Gusto of
Allie Bowling
By the time Allie turned
40, she had already carved out a life of chutzpah. The third of four
siblings, following the death of her maternal grandmother, she became
a surrogate parent to her family and managed the household during her
mother’s prolonged period of grief. With her family’s background
in business and her own entrepreneurial spirit, Allie opened a restaurant
managing all the details of its operation. When life called her in other
directions, she returned to complete her college degree and years later,
with a gift of wit and love of laughter, she was encouraged to launch
a career in stand-up comedy.
Allie’s midlife choice to pursue a stand-up comedy career was
in full laugh mode when audience members asked if she could present
a program on the importance of humor in the workplace. It was that turning
point which added the title of professional speaker to her credentials.
She weaved together her humorous perspectives into content-rich programs
to inspire more humor and energized employees in organizations.
Soon after her 50th birthday she endured an excruciating, fire-like
pain running down her right leg. After undergoing neurosurgery to correct
a herniated disk, she awoke to another medical nightmare —a blood
clot in the same leg that was dangerously moving quickly up her thigh
being caused by a genetic blood clotting disorder.
During her recovery, Allie faced another frightening health reality—profound
hearing loss in her right ear. After more tests, her neurologist handed
her a diagnosis that sent shock waves and fear through her—a brain
tumor. She now needed to undergo brain surgery. Without it, Allie was
at risk of facial paralysis, balance issues and other frightening consequences.
She located the finest medical team in the world for her specific type
of brain tumor and made the decision to have the tumor removed. Her
blood clotting disorder created a high-risk situation for brain surgery,
further elevating her fears.
Complicating her personal health issues and emotional roller coaster
which hurled her in many directions, Allie’s mother had suffered
a stroke with corresponding cognitive deterioration and could no longer
live alone. As primary care giver to her mother, Allie now faced having
to secure new living arrangements for her while anticipating her own
brain surgery.
Even by flying across country to have her brain in the hands of the
finest surgical team, her hearing could not be saved. When she received
this blow, Allie knew her life would never be the same. As a professional
speaker, the reality of a hearing loss ushered in additional fears.
Making audiences laugh was her joy; her hearing loss might mean losing
what she loved to do. For many months following her surgery, Allie looked
into her heart to see how she could turns lemons into lemonade.
The challenges that she faced to reinvent her career, the life-style
changes she had to make, and the strategies she devised for securing
the best possible outcomes are articulated in her programs. She shares
with her audiences the need to be flexible, have options, create a strong
support network, and above all keep your sense of humor no matter what.
Allie lives by her creed: She who laughs—lasts.
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