“time and time again I had to cling to the hope that if other people had survived, there would be a way I could also. Often, that hope was all I had”.Regaining purpose Glenis’ book isn’t lengthy. Size matters for those who mourn – it’s just too hard to wade through lengthy narratives. There are chapters detailing ways Glenis began to slowly rebuild her life. For example, developing a project was important. Prior to Gary’s illness, a long list of home renovations had been planned. They’d all been shelved. Weeks after Gary’s death, as Glenis faced the ongoing question of “what is life for me now?” she wrote in her journal “today I rang to follow up replacing the shower screen”. Change had begun. Forging a new identity Slowly, through her sadness, Glenis realised she had a choice. She could either dwell on her despair - or choose to be happy, to live fully, in the present. She resumed her love of travel, even exploring Paris alone. Now, rather than trying to escape pain, she recognised “I am indeed running towards life”. Concluding thoughts In the conclusion of her book, Glenis reflects:
“Although you won’t believe it now, the pain does ease… and the beautiful memories emerge”.
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