A former nun explains why she ran away from her 'Cloistered' life

Catherine Coldstream starts a special life. She goes to a monastery at age 24. This is a quiet place where women live and pray. Her life there is very focused on God and following many rules. She spends 12 long years in this place. It is a 'cloistered' life, which means she stays separated from the outside world almost all the time. She does not see many people or go to many places.

After 12 years, Catherine decides to leave this life. She writes a book called "Cloistered: My Years as a Nun." In this book, she tells her story. She explains why she leaves the monastery. It is a big change for her to leave a life of constant prayer and strict rules. She wants to live a different life outside the monastery walls.

Her book helps people understand what this special kind of life is like. It also shows the challenges of living in a cloistered community and what happens when someone decides to step away from it. Catherine's story is about her journey from a quiet, religious life to a new kind of freedom.