She had no plan. Just a twelve-year-old, a suitcase, and something pulling her forward.
Read the opening of Every Year Since - the book that started with a leap of faith that became twenty-four years of returning back.
A "memoir for anyone who has ever wondered if their life adds up to something" — Nancy Barbee has spent decades answering that question through action. This is the book she was always meant to write.- A memoir spanning decades of service, love, and purposeful living- Stories from India — the villages, the people, and Dhanbad, the city that stole her heart.And proof that ordinary lives, lived with intention, leave an extraordinary mark.
Find your purpose.
See your impact.
Stop waiting.
Nancy Barbee
A retired kindergarten teacher from North Carolina. Nancy has travelled to India every year since 2001 as a Rotary International volunteer, raised 4 million dollars towards Polio eradication — leading immunisation teams, building school libraries, and showing up for communities most people never reach. She will be featured in the Open Planet documentary series in 2026.
Having been with you to those places really made it all come together in my mind. I especially enjoyed understanding the backstory behind your love for Dhanbad. Your writing style is relaxed and conversational — most of the time I could hear your voice reading it to me, almost as if it were an audiobook."— ROLO CUADRADO, Reader
You're all set!The first chapter of Every Year Since is on its way to your inbox.
Check your email in the next minute or two.That first message has everything you need to get started.If you have questions along the way, just hit reply. I read every one.Now go check your inbox!
P.S. Don't see it? Check your spam folder.I'm a small-town commissioner sending emails from a small list.
Sometimes the inbox gatekeepers get suspicious of new senders.
If it landed in spam, just move it to your inbox and you'll be good to go.
While you are here
Check out some of my work
What's Your IQ=Impact Quotient? PodcastHear all about polio, Rotary projects, entrepreneurs, travelers, and new technology and how they impact your life and world.
What's Your Impact Quotient? Worksheet A worksheet designed to help leaders pause, reflect on their impact, identify and clarify how their values align with the service, leadership, and the life they are living.
My Angel Is You Children BookHeartwarming and inspiring rhyming picture book teaching children about gratitude, kindness, and awareness.
Lessons for Teachers: Reflecting on Why You TeachThe perfect pick-me-up for Novice and veteran professionals as well as college students entering the industry to help rediscover their sense of purpose and reignite the passion for teaching.
Connect with me on Socials