ello, my name is Marianne Pritchard, and here is a little bit about myself:

     I was introduced to Dianetics and Scientology thirteen years ago when a friend lent me a copy of Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health. At the beginning of this book as with all L. Ron Hubbard's books, there was an important note: "In reading this book be very certain you never go past a work you do not fully understand. The only reason a person gives up a study or becomes confused or unable to learn is because he or she has gone past a word that was not understood". This single piece of information changed my life. If only I had learned that at school. If it were not for that important note, I would not have gotten through that book. I know this as a fact because I hadn't gotten through any other book up until then. What I learned in Dianetics was fascinating. This one book taught me more about the mind and life than I ever thought possible. And what's more, it made sense.

     That's when I went to the Dianetics Foundation for some Dianetics counseling - called auditing. This technique is taught in the book Dianetics: The Modern Science of Mental Health. The word auditing comes from the Latin word audere - which means to listen and compute. This is also where I learned my first 'people' skills. The most basic of all skills - communication skills.

     The auditing I received helped me think much more clearly. My auditor applied the techniques as described in the book to help me recall parts on my past I had hidden from myself. It was a simple as that. It would not have been possible without my auditor guiding me. As a matter of fact, it was at the point that I realized I was a spiritual being. I knew I was a 'human' being with a body and a brain, but auditing helped me realize my true potential as a spiritual being.

     Dianetics was my beginning, but it was just the beginning. I learned that L. Ron Hubbard had written many books to help people understand and handle life. What I had learned as far was working. It had changed my life and I had witnessed it changing the life of others, so I began working at the Church of Scientology. I, too, wanted to help people and I was proud to be of a group that did what the Church of Scientology does for people. I've seen hundreds of people come in for help from all walks of life. I've seen all religions, races, colors and creeds - all looking for answers and for help. Whether for marriage counseling, drug rehabilitation, professional business consultations, or some basic communications skills. I've seen them all at the Church of Scientology of Ottawa and at the Church of Scientology in Toronto when I went there for some courses too. I look forward to visiting other churches around the world where I have friends that have moved on to help there. Places such as Florida, Germany, Vancouver, Edmonton, California. I have met more well-intentioned people take full responsibility for their fellow man in this organization than most people have met in their entire lives.

     It seems like lifetimes have gone by since I became a Scientologist 13 years ago. Before that I was just getting by trying to survive I was unaware of myself and my environment. I was not very socially active and did not have much of a circle of friends. Now I am happily married to a Scientologist. We were both previously married- an unfortunate statistic in this society. But fortunately we had L. Ron Hubbard's technology of auditing to fix us up. Fortunately L. Ron Hubbard had the vision to establish groups which would run organizations to deliver the services we needed for our lives. We have that information now and are applying it to our marriage. And if you have children as we do, you'll want to know aaaaalllll there is to be taught on communication. L. Ron Hubbard says "When in doubt, communicate" from Phoenix Lectures. All of our children have also experienced successes in the communication courses offered at our church. When my children were much younger, I did not have the information L. Ron Hubbard has on children. I'm certainly thankful I have this data now however. I have a wonderful relationship with my children because we CAN truly communicate.

     I also get to practice my communication skills with the children in my daycare-without which I would be a very lonely person. I never realized how easy it was to love and care for children. L. Ron Hubbard says that "When children are unimportant to a society that society has forfeited its future" from Science of Survival.

     But it's not just with little ones that I apply my skills. The communication courses I have taken have given me enough confidence to start my own business as a professional beauty consultant. I also help my husband with our interactive distribution network and his landscaping company. Life has progresses in an upward motion for me since I became a Scientologist. I learned about the Tone Scale and got my son out of anger. I learned about the Third Party Law and restored a friendship for my daughter... I learned about the ARC Triangle and created friendships. One time I even sobered up a stranger at a bus stop and prevented him from getting hit by a car.

     We all know life will happen and there will be obstacles. I believe now that life is a game and I have learned some basic rules to this game. And like any other game, it is better to know more rules about it than not if one is to play at all.