A Life Rewritten: Cyndee Dhalai on Healing, Hope, and Creativity
Interview by Natalie Ruiz
Every so often, you meet someone whose story stays with you, long after the conversation ends. Cyndee Dhalai is one of those people. A poet, writer, and survivor in every sense of the word, her journey is one marked by extraordinary challenges, deep personal loss, and an unwavering spirit. Before stepping into the world of writing, she spent over 25 years as a teacher and walked through many of life’s toughest roles — mother, widow, patient, counselor. Her words come not just from imagination, but from lived experience and the kind of insight you only gain by walking through fire and coming out changed. In this interview, Cyndee shares how writing became both a lifeline and a calling, what inspires her work, and how she hopes to help others heal and feel seen through her books.
Getting to Know You
Can you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about your background before starting your business?
I am a poet and writer. I always wanted to write from very young but that wasn’t something seen as a career when I was growing up in my country, especially in my culture. I had many roles in life- daughter, teacher, wife, mother, counselor, patient, and widow. I was a teacher for over 25 years before I had to retire early due to severe illnesses. My life experiences are many that most people would never encounter in a lifetime. Because of some of those experiences, most people consider me a living, walking miracle, inspiration, and medical enigma. I lost four years of my life in a fog of severe illnesses, flatlined a few times, and am allergic to all drugs. No one can understand how I live, but I tell them by Divine Grace. I have always been a helper and uplifting others. And because of my life experiences, I can feel and understand others deeply.
What inspired you to get into this industry or business? Was there a defining moment that pushed you to take the leap?
I have always loved writing and poetry, especially as that struck a chord in me. Ever since I read If by Rudyard Kipling I was amazed by how so much could be said by so few words. I had suffered a deep loss and someone who is very close to me asked me a question and what emerged was a poem. I had written a few before but most of my poetry spun in my mind all the time. I started writing and all these pieces flowed out of me. My closest friend encouraged me initially to put it in a book of poetry and then some friends and others found my few pieces I showed them inspiring and touching. I ended up putting a book together and “Pieces of me, touch my Soul” was published. Later as I was dealing with a deep loss, and I found myself suddenly in a place I never imagined, I started writing to deal with my overwhelming state. I wrote “Grief is the price you pay for love, Run into the fire discover ME in the ashes” by Faialian, a pseudonym. There are many people who are dealing with grief and loss, and I felt the need to help others through their experience and support them.
What impact are you hoping to make?
I am hoping to offer comfort and understanding to others through my writings. I want to inspire others to see life from a new perspective and help them to connect more to themselves and see they are always more never less.
The Entrepreneurial Journey
What were the biggest challenges you faced when starting out, and how did you overcome them?
The biggest challenges I faced were not being knowledgeable of how the publishing world worked and all that was really involved in publishing a book. I trusted what people who were involved in publishing told me. I am from a small country and most of the publishers were abroad and I knew a few writers, but I had no idea about all the different aspects that were involved. It was a real challenge navigating through some stuff but I am involved in a writing community that gave me a lot of pertinent assistance and that is invaluable.
Did you have a mentor, role model, or specific experience that shaped your approach to writing?
I do have someone who inspired me to write and kept telling me to put my words to paper. It was through our communication that I actually began to dwell on the words spinning in my mind. I wrote poetry as that is something I did in my mind all the time. In writing my novel it was a difficult time for me as I was facing a deep loss of someone who was part of me and poetry became a part of writing that.
Finding Success & Growth
Can you share a milestone or accomplishment that you’re particularly proud of?
An accomplishment I am proud of is the response I have received to my work. In both my poetry book and novel, I read reviews on Amazon.com about what people felt in reading my words and I felt humbled I could touch people in that way. When some people I knew, who had suffered a life changing loss through the death of a loved one or breakup, called and told me that what I wrote in my book- Grief is the price you pay for love- was what they felt but couldn’t put words to and they thought no one understood what they felt in them that was an overwhelming time for me.
Mindset & Motivation
What keeps you motivated during tough times?
I think on how far I have come over the years especially with the health issues and miracles that have taken place in my life. I also have some people who encouraged me when I didn’t feel confident.
Are there any daily habits, routines, or mindset shifts that you use when writing?
I write best at night. If I feel overwhelmed or stuck on putting my thoughts clearly, I step back, take a break, and change my environment. I walk outside or go play with my dog or just listen to music.
If you could go back and give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Start writing and keep writing. it doesn’t matter what anyone says, how busy you feel life is or if it is just to yourself. Write what fills you and what you feel pulls you inside.
Advice for Other Writers
What advice would you give to other people who want to be writers or poets?
Start, put aside time for writing, and let what you have in you emerge. Be patient with yourself; it is supposed to be difficult, and it won’t be perfect. Enjoy the process and surprise yourself with what comes from within you.
Looking Ahead
What’s next for you and your writing? Are there any exciting projects or goals on the horizon?
I am working on another poetry book and putting my new book into a PDF. I write by hand, and it takes me longer to put it on the laptop into a PDF.
How do you hope to make an impact beyond your business — whether in your industry, community, or for future entrepreneurs?
I hope to continue my work with some groups I work with, and I am speaking more about writing and actively involved in encouraging others, especially the younger generation to write from within themselves. We are gifted with such unbounded imagination and creativity.
Final Thought
If you had to sum up your writing journey in one sentence, what would it be?
My writing journey has been a journey filled with unexpected experiences that I will always cherish for the joy I feel and the lessons I learnt that are invaluable in doing something I love.
Links and Ways to Connect
Book: Grief Is the Price You Pay for Love: Run into the Fire; Discover Me in the Ashes
Website: http://www.faialian.com/
🌟 A little about me:
I’m Natalie Ruiz, CEO of AnswerConnect, and my path to leadership has been anything but conventional. That journey has shaped my relentless curiosity , challenging traditional ideas about work, success, and balance. Along the way, I’ve been honored as Female Executive of the Year, Woman of Influence (Portland Business Journal), and one of the 100 Women to Know in America, among other recognitions.
Beyond my career, I’m passionate about giving back. Whether I’m mentoring, speaking on global stages, sharing insights through podcasts and publications, or rolling up my sleeves for community impact, my goal is always the same: to leave people and places better than I found them.
Let’s connect: Medium | LinkedIn
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