Not Everyone Makes It Out — But She Did

Hailey Bell
Jul 20
4 min read

🌟Featuring: Carmen Lea

📍 Camrose, Alberta

📝 Author | Poet | Mental Health Advocate

Meet Carmen Lea — the heart and voice behind Unshattered: A Journey in Poems from Wreckage to Radiance. Based in Camrose, Alberta, Carmen is more than an author; she’s a bold mental health advocate, a self-love movement leader, and a creative powerhouse.

Through raw, reflective poetry, Carmen shares her journey of healing, heartbreak, and inner radiance — inviting others to embrace their own mess and magic.

When she’s not writing, she’s planning inspiring events, empowering others through marketing, or dreaming up her future TED Talk (yes, she’s manifesting that mic drop moment). Whether you meet her as a poet, a consultant, or just a soul with something to say — Carmen leads with authenticity, vulnerability, and unapologetic joy.

Her words are a lifeline. Her laughter is a lesson. And her message? You are already enough.

We’re proud to shine a light on Carmen’s journey — and the light she helps others rediscover in themselves.

💬 INTRODUCTION

I’m Carmen Lea — an Alberta-grown author with a wild heart, a loud mission, and a lived-in story. I’ve called many places in this province home, but no matter where I landed, one truth followed me: I was tired. Tired of chasing validation. Tired of pretending I was okay.

Writing has always been my release — but I didn’t start writing from my soul until I got honest. Honest about the pain. The patterns. The wreckage I was dragging behind me. That’s when everything shifted. I stopped writing to be liked, and started writing to be free.

Now, I write to help others do the same.

🔥 THE PASSION

My mission? To help people drop the performance, face their truth, start healing, and finally come home to themselves. Live from within. Be kind to yourself first — and others always.

I wrote Unshattered: A Journey in Poems

from Wreckage to Radiance because I was finally ready to stop hiding. It’s a raw and real poetry memoir that cracks open the silence — and helps readers feel seen, safe, and inspired to heal.

This book isn’t just about me. It’s about us — anyone who's ever felt broken, buried, or not enough. I want more people to love themselves boldly and be kind to others unapologetically.

What keeps me going when life gets heavy? The DMs that say,

“This book helped me forgive myself,”

“I didn’t know how badly I needed this.”

That’s my fuel.

Well... that, a little sass, stubborn hope — and of course, a good ol’ Timmies run. ☕💛

🍁 COMMUNITY & CANADIAN PRIDE

Being a Canadian creative means showing up with heart, grit, and zero need to bulldoze anyone to prove our power. We don’t have to be loud to be strong — but don’t mistake our kindness for weakness. When it counts, our elbows come up and we stand our ground.

We don’t do condescending.

We do community.

We don’t tear down — we hold space.

To me, Unshattered is stitched with that same Canadian spirit — grounded in emotional resilience, raw honesty, and relentless compassion. My hope is that it becomes a voice in Canada’s growing wellness movement. A reminder that you’re not alone — and you don’t need to be perfect to be powerful.

That’s Canadian pride.

The Carmen way.

🚀 BUILDING THE DREAM

One moment I’ll never forget? A woman messaged me and said,

“Every woman needs to read this book.”

That cracked me wide open.

It reminded me that I’m not just publishing poems —I’m helping people find themselves in the dark.

That’s the dream. And I’m just getting started.

💡 ADVICE FOR CREATIVES

To the dreamers, doers, and beautifully stubborn creators —

Believe in yourself like your rent depends on it. Stop shrinking to fit into places you’ve outgrown. And please — never discount your worth just to make a sale. You’re not a garage item. You’re original art.

Confidence isn’t arrogance — it’s alignment. Your mindset? That’s your superpower. Get that right, and the rest will rise to meet you.

So stand tall.

Price like you mean it.

And stop waiting for permission to shine.

You’ve got this.

And if you ever forget?

I’ll be here to remind you.

— Carmen Lea 💋

🤝 NETWORKING SPOT

Honestly? I’d love to collaborate with Oprah Winfrey — because, I mean… obviously.

But real talk — my dream collab is to co-create a workshop, retreat, or live event centered around self-love, healing, and mental wellness. Something real. Something raw. Something that changes people from the inside out.

If you’re passionate about anti-bullying, spreading kindness, or helping others heal and rise — then guess what? We’re already aligned.

I’m down to build, co-host, speak, or just be a part of something purpose-driven and powerful. Big heart. Big vision.

Let’s make something huge together. 💥

🌈 CLOSING

What’s next? I’ve just released a companion journal:

Wreckage to Radiance: A Self-Love Journal for Healing from the Inside Out.

And that’s just the beginning.

More books, guided journals, creative tools, and soul-led projects are on the way — all part of Unshattered: The Movement — a platform rooted in healing, self-love, and radical kindness.

I’m also slowly building a safe, supportive online space on Instagram and Facebook — a space where readers, writers, and kind-hearted humans can connect, be seen, and grow together.

And the dream? For Oprah Winfrey to read Unshattered… and pick it for her book club. Big heart. Bigger vision. Watch me work.

Anything else?

Yes — kindness saves lives.

Be gentle with yourself, especially when you feel like you don’t deserve it.

Because that’s when you need it most.

Author of Unshattered: A Journey in Poems from Wreckage to Radiance

✨ Inspiring healing, self-love, and kindness—because your worth isn’t up for debate.

📘 Amazon Author Page

📖 Goodreads

📸 Instagram: @carmenlea_unshattered

🌺 Facebook

“Be kind. Be bold. No guilt. No shame. No excuses.