Carmel Greenwood to those who want to change their lives but lack the courage to do so.

The Australian born writer, currently visiting Bermuda, firmly believes "one person is as clever as the next'' and spends her time trying to spread her message to as many people as possible.

A recent book by the mother of five, Letting Go and Loving Life, tells readers that even the most unhappy, depressed people can change for the better.

Visiting Bermuda for the fourth time, Mrs. Greenwood says she now leads a comfortable life with her second husband and five children. But it wasn't always that way.

Married at one time to an alcoholic, Mrs. Greenwood, who lived for many years in Hong Kong, said she was submerged in a tough, desperate existence with little to look forward to.

But ten years ago she decided to fix herself, instead of trying to change those around her. This, she says, was the first step in her road to happiness.

Mrs. Greenwood persuaded the brokerage firm where she worked as a secretary to send her to New York to take stockbroker exams. She failed not once, but twice. But the third time she passed with flying colours and today owns her own finance company.

The realisation that she could succeed in life after all, gave Mrs. Greenwood the courage to leave her alcoholic husband.

"We hang on to a lot of hate and resentment, which blocks you off from having a happy life,'' she said. "I forgave my ex-husband and got on with the rest of my life.'' Mrs. Greenwood, who has been living in San Francisco for two months, was born in Australia. She left there when she was 18 and spent the next 26 years in Hong Kong.

She is currently working on her next next book and hopes to have her own television programme soon.

"These days I'm making a difference in other people's lives,'' she said.

WONDERFUL LIFE -- Mrs. Carmel Greenwood with a copy of her book, Letting Go and Loving Life.