GIVING GRIEF MEANING – A Book to help through vulnerable times

Most of us, I’d even wager to say all of us, will experiance grief at points of our lives. How we deal with it varies from person to person, but it’s not a topic that most of us are excited to tackle.  After a sad event, the author (Lily Dulan) decided to write a book about grief and her experiences.

grief book

You can Find it on Amazon or Bookshop 
ISBN 978-1642503135
Price: $18.95

GIVING GRIEF MEANING 

Following the death of her daughter, Kara Meyer Dulan, from SIDs at the tender age of two months old, Dulan was compelled to give meaning to her daughter’s brief life and honor her name.  As she moved through the grief process in a profound and transformative way, she gradually created The Name Work®, a cross pollination of proven psychological modalities, 12-step wellness tools, and spiritual healing applications.  By attaching a special meaning to names, and following breathing and meditative exercises, daily affirmations, and more, the method teaches us how to overcome our personal and professional challenges.  It also addresses our shared grief at this most difficult and challenging time in history, brought on by Covid-19, racialism, a collapsing economy, and environmental disasters.  For many of us, the upcoming holiday season will trigger feelings of stress, loneliness and grief, and the New Year will bring forth desires to make a lasting change.  GIVING GRIEF MEANING explains how to work through challenges such as:

  • Coming to terms with ANGER, STRESS, FAMILY/MARITAL DISCORD, DEATH, LOSS
  • Reframing a relationship with ADDICTION, FOOD, SEXUALITY, BODY IMAGE
  • Rebuilding after CHANGE, SADNESS, DEPRESSION

Praise for GIVING GRIEF MEANING

“Lily Dulan has written a courageous book filled with depth and vulnerability. Through the devastating loss of her beloved daughter Kara, Lily was inspired to create the process of “The Name Work®.” I’m sure that it will prove to be an accessible and useful tool for many people to give meaning to their grief. This book is filled with real-world examples of love overcoming despair. Lily encourages the reader to feel their own truth and develop empowering thoughts in sync with that truth. For all who are grieving, this book fulfills its promise to bring readers a sense of renewal, love and ultimate peace of mind.

—Judith Orloff, MD, Author of The Empaths Survival Guide

“Lily has written a heart-warming, courageous book about The Name Work®, offering pages of wisdom, guidance and hope to all who are grieving unbearable loss. From the heartbreak and despair of her little daughter’s death to discovering new meaning and purpose in life, Lily shares the lessons she learns on her healing journey to Giving Grief Meaning. Lily’s big heart of love shines through the pages of this book, embracing every reader who longs to find a hope-full path from devastating grief to a new commitment to life, love and compassion.”

—Trudy Goodman, Founder of InsightLA

“Lily’s book, Giving Grief Meaning, takes the reader on an intimate personal journey of Lily’s experience of what it is like to have a much loved and wanted baby in the NICU, and then for her sweet baby Kara to die of SIDS eight weeks after birth at home. Lily and her husband were shattered by unfathomable grief and trauma. Lily’s assumptive world was blown up and she shares her authentic, messy, and dark despair of grief. With the help of community and a strong spiritual practice was she able to transform her pain and suffering into helping herself and others. She chose to live and thrive through her love for Kara. Grief is LOVE. The Name Work® is a beautiful deck of cards with an initial on it. It is a heart centered “tool” or process to create affirmations, positive attributes and describe a loved one by using the letters of their name. Brilliant! I can not recommend this healing book enough to anyone suffering through the wide range and turbulent human emotions of grief, no matter the type of loss. This book will help validate and normalize the life-long ups and downs of the grieving process. Thank you Lily for your gift of this book and choosing life – you are helping so many by shining your light, grace and love with us all.”

—Dr. Ivy Margulies, Psy.D., PMH-C

“Insurmountable pain strikes deep and transforms lives; the effects last a lifetime. How we engage that pain truly determines our path forward. Through Giving Grief Meaning, the reader journeys with Lily Dulan as she blossoms into the unique, stunning, beautiful and giving person that she is today. To take pain and truly transform it toward enlightened joy and giving for others is a gift. We at Unatti Foundation are truly grateful for the wisdom that Lily has imparted to our girls in Nepal. The dedication of the Kara Love Project Community Room was a true testament to the care that Lily provides to rise the human spirit. Lily is now sharing all the possibilities to turn pain into growth with the world. Brava!”

—Stephanie Waisler-Rubin and Michelle Armoni, Unatti Foundation

“Earth, My Dearest” #NewBook #EarthDayEveryDay

Earth, my dearest, I will. Oh believe me, you no longer need your springtimes to win me over.” —Rainer Maria Rilke

earth day book

A new book, Earth, My Dearest, is an inspirational compilation of over 200 quotes around conservation and sustainability. Hopefully it will inspire people to treat the planet a little more respectfully, and further give inspiration to those who fight to keep the planet livable and healthy for all species.

Highlighting the wonders of our planet and ways on how best we can save it, Earth, My Dearest includes quotes ranging from poet Henry David Thoreau to activist Greta Thunberg. This quote collection will help show all of us how to cherish the environment and key ways to protect our fragile planet moving ahead to an uncertain future.

There is no time like the present to begin your environmentalism or kick it up a notch. We are on borrowed time, with species vanishing literally every day, and much more rainforest is destroyed then is left remaining. If we hope to have a planet, we better start working together and not just SAYING we care, but actually doing things that show that we care.

We need to show our children how much we love them and save their futures.

What have you done today to love your planet?

For inspiration, check the book out here or wherever you buy your books. Have a good day, love to all.

Life and Other Shortcomings, a book by Corie Adjmi

Corie Adjmi, award-winning author and women’s empowerment activist, harnesses the power and relatability of storytelling to help empower women in all areas of life in her award-winning book, Life and Other Shortcomings. Recently featured and reviewed by the Jewish Book Council, Life and Other Shortcomings, is the perfect gift-solution for any literary-loving (or even not) person in your life.

This book illustrates the stories of 12 women, all on a different path in life, with one common overarching theme: the beauty, honesty and compelling nature of the female experience and what it means to be a woman. Through each character’s intimate journey, specific truths are revealed about what it means to be a woman—in a relationship with another person, in a particular culture and era—and how these conditions ultimately affect her relationship with herself. The stories as a whole depict patriarchy, showing what still might be, but certainly what was, for some women in this country.

I’m only part of the way through it, and I’m liking that it highlights different women’s experiences. We all go through different things- that’s what makes us who we are- but very few women get through life without society’s patriarchal mess digging it’s claws in.  The stories, from somewhat subtle to more “in your face”, are really interesting to read, and I’m looking forward to finishing the book.

How Our Government Really Works—What Every Teenager Should Know

After such a wild election season, kids and teens might find themselves more interested or curious in politics. And if so- good on them. Let them read all they can, and not just about one side of things. Forming well read and  properly researched opinions will only make them better, smarter, and more empathetic people.

One book that has recently come out is a book that describes itself as “compelling, bipartisan insights about our country’s democracy. You Call This Democracy? How to Fix Our Government and Deliver Power to the People from author, speaker and public policy expert Elizabeth Rusch examines in simple terms our democracy’s missteps and how we can work together to create “a more perfect union.”

Some of the topics discussed are-

1. Why the race for president might distract us from the most important story of this election — ballot measures that affect our democracy

2. How COVID provides a surprising opportunity to finally do something about this country’s abysmal voter turnout

3. Important election topics people can discuss with family, friends and colleagues without starting a partisan brawl

4. What every American needs to know about how elections are run in their state

How Our Government Really Works—What Every Teenager Should Know

Whether you’re a student, parent, educator or engaged citizen seeking the truth, You Call This Democracy? How to Fix Our Government and Deliver Power to the People from public policy expert Elizabeth Rusch paves the way for every citizen to not only understand the flaws in our current democracy but to also fix them.

“We think we live in a democracy. One person, one vote. But how democratic is our government really?” Rusch asks. “The hard truth is that political power is not shared equally among all citizens. It shouldn’t matter if you are rich, poor, urban, rural, Democrat, Republican, old or young when you mark your ballot. Your race and gender shouldn’t matter either. But they all do.”

You Call This Democracy? gives an honest view of how our democracy truly functionswho really has the power and why (and how that power impacts politicians and policies) and how we can work together to make our democracy more responsive to the will of the people.

Consider the following:

1. Presidents can take office without winning the popular vote. 

2. Voting districts are drawn by politicians for their own benefit.

3. Millions of citizens—young, old, poor, people of color, women—are blocked from voting.

4. Money wields much more influence than the wishes of ordinary Americans.

You Call This Democracy? offers insightful solutions to undemocratic elements plaguing our government, with inspirational examples of citizens already working to make change. International comparisons, extensive sources and resources prompt readers to dig deeper ― and take action.

Supplementary materials to the book include Rusch’s “50 State Democracy Report Card” (https://www.youcallthis.com/your-state), where people can check to see how democracy fares in their state overall and on specific metrics, and how they can strengthen democracy in their state; and a series of short, fun, informative videos on the issues covered in the book, called Flash Course on Democracy, available free at: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUOGZlteO6dRY7aQV1uqpddW1C1maGLxP.

Additionally, discussion guides and debate questions are available at www.youcallthis.com.

Elizabeth Rusch is the author of 20 award-winning books, and more than 100 magazine and newspaper articles. She is also the creator of the “50 State Democracy Report Card” and the video series Flash Course on DemocracyYou Call This Democracy?, an Amazon Bestseller, was featured in the New York Times Book Review and received a starred review from Kirkus, which called it “a riveting must-read.” Rusch and her work have also been featured in The Discovery Channel, Oregon Public Broadcasting’s Think Out LoudThe Wall Street JournalTeacher magazine, Parenting Magazine and Working Mother, among many others. Rusch has a master’s in public policy from the University of California, Berkeley, and has served as a Jacob K. Javits Fellow in the U.S. Senate. Visit her at www.elizabethrusch.comwww.youcallthis.com and on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLUOGZlteO6dRY7aQV1uqpddW1C1maGLxP.

You Call This Democracy? How to Fix Our Government and Deliver Power to the People Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt

ISBN-10: 0358176921

ISBN-13: 978-0358176923

Available from Amazon.com and wherever books and audiobooks are sold

For more information: www.youcallthis.com. Thank you.

New book, Life and Other Shortcomings

You have likely learned about these women in history books. But, have you ever taken note how female writers, authors and artists have continued to break barriers and take storytelling to new heights?

March 8th is International Women’s Day: a day to honor, celebrate and remember women and their achievements. To raise awareness against gender bias. To call for equality and justice.  To support women all over the world. While there’s a countless number of women we can celebrate, let’s take a moment to honor the women of literature… our female authors, writers, and poets. The women transforming the landscape of literature, one story at a time.

Corie Adjmi, award-winning author, doula, and women’s empowerment advocate, harnesses the power and relatability of storytelling to help empower women in all areas of life in her award-winning book, Life and Other Shortcomings.

Her book illustrates the stories of 12 women, all on a different path in life, with one common overarching theme: the beauty, honesty and compelling nature of the female experience and what it means to be a woman. Through each character’s intimate journey, specific truths are revealed about what it means to be a woman—in a relationship with another person, in a particular culture and era—and how these conditions ultimately affect her relationship with herself. The stories as a whole depict patriarchy, showing what still might be, but certainly what was, for some women in this country before the #MeToo movement.

Women writers are more than just storytellers… they are life’s narrators through the complex and beautiful perspective of the female experience. An experience that, for far too long, was silenced and overlooked. Authors, like Corie, use these experiences to help connect and empower women to never stop challenging the norm.

Neema’s Reason to Smile

A heart-warming story about a child’s desire to go to school

 The kids are little older now and the novelty of going to school has wane. I have always shared with my nieces and nephews that they should not take education for granted … that going to school should not be a chore as there are many children in this world who would love the opportunity to learn how to read, write, and fuel their imaginations. However, they are unable to attend school because they cannot afford clothing, supplies, and books.

Neema’s Reason to Smile, written by Patricia Newman, is a vibrant and lyrical tale of a young Kenyan girl, named Neema, who dreams of going to school. We learn about Neema’s young life and how she must work selling fruit instead of receiving an education. She saves her coins in hopes of one day having enough money to pay for school, but it is one step forward two steps back for young Neema. One day Neema spots a little girl heading to school and follows her.  She ends up at a school and witnesses a learning environment she had only dreamed of. School was everything she thought it would, but alas, it was not meant to be for Neema; so she thought. For young readers, I believe this book is about responsibility to family, kindness and reciprocity. Although this story is considered fiction, the story is based on the real-life students at Jambo Jipy School in Kenya.

The book was engaging and illustrations well-done. My niece and nephew were attentive (with an occasional distraction as the family dog passed by). They asked questions about Africa, and found it sad that there are kids too poor to go to school.  My niece and nephew cheered when a teacher invited Neema to attend her class.  So, this little book was a reality check for them.

A couple of drawbacks I noticed included a few too many high-level words and harsh description of the “beggar”.

 

Rating: 4/5 stars

Donna Andrews

Super aunt of a 7-year-old girl and 8-year-old boy

 

 

Win New Book- The Greatest Brick Builds: Amazing Creations in LEGO

LEGO bricks have been used for decades by children and adults to create dazzling and playful buildings, vehicles, and unique works of art. In The Greatest Brick Builds: Amazing Creations in LEGO  ( available in hardcover $19.99), these jaw-dropping creations are presented in full color, with close-up photos, scale representations, historical commentary on the structures, and details on how each model was constructed using LEGO bricks. Included in this collection are the Golden Gate, the USS Missouri, and the Great Sphinx of Giza, as well as other iconic structures created by LEGO crafters from around the world.
A perfect  gift for LEGO fans young and old — get inspired with some of the world’s most impressive LEGO creations!

One of you can win a copy of this book for yourselves- feel free to enter by using the RC form below. Ends Jan 27, 2018. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

GHOST TOWNS OF THE WEST

Ghost Towns of the West by Phillip Varney and Jim Hinckley blazes a trail through the dusty crossroads and mossy cemeteries of the American West, including one-time boomtowns in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. The book reveals the little-known stories of soldiers, American Indians, settlers, farmers, and miners. This essential guidebook to the historic remains of centuries’ past includes maps, town histories, color and historical photographs, and detailed directions to these out-of-the-way outdoor museums of the West.

Plan your road trips by chapter–each section covers a geographic area and town entries are arranged by location to make this the most user-friendly book on ghost towns west of the Mississippi.

Ghost towns are within a short drive of major cities out West, and they make excellent day trip excursions. If you happen to be in or near Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Vegas, or El Paso, for example, you ought to veer towards the nearest ghost town. Western ghost towns can also easily be visited during jaunts to national parks, including Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Crater Lake, Mount Rainier, Glacier, Yellowstone, and many others throughout the West.

Ghost Towns of the West is a comprehensive guide to former boomtowns of the American West, covering ghost towns in eleven states from Washington to New Mexico, and from California to Montana. This book has everything you need to learn about, visit, and explore a modern remnant of how life used to be on the western range.

Pick up your copy now on Amazon or wherever your prefer to buy your books.