Women Who Shine

 

 

Am Asking for VOTES for my friend Sherry E. Showalter in the Yahoo “WOMEN WHO SHINE”.

If you will vote for her, please go here to vote:

http://shine.yahoo.com/photos/healer-1344925552-slideshow/sherry-e-showalter-photo-1349122294.html

It is a one time vote and runs through the end of October.

She has a blog here: http://drses.wordpress.com/

She is one awesome woman, worked with working in hospice for 25 + years with people who were suffering and losing lives and loved ones. She was the recipient of the National Heart of Hospice Award for Psycho-Social-Spiritual Caregiving by the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. She also proudly served at the Pentagon along with first responders on 9/11 and says her life has been forever changed by those days, months and years. She has supported our men and women in the military and stood behind them. She gives to all with great compassion, love and caring and she shines to all that meet her.

 

WHOOOO HOOOO!! Son and Dr. Sherry’s Book Is Now Published

I am so excited I can not stand myself.   Son, who writes under the name of John Argent and our dear friend Dr. Sherry E. Showalter, whose blog is below have written a book on dealing with chronic pain.

http://drses.wordpress.com/

The book is finally published.

http://www.amazon.com/CHRONIC-PAIN-Living-Chronic-Easier/dp/1478304596/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1346801620&sr=1-1&keywords=Dr.+Sherry+E.+Showalter%2C+Chronic+Pain%3A+Hand+in+Hand

He is working on his next book that he has titled “Evil Comes To Town”  and I hear that Dr. Sherry is already working on her next novel.

I am so proud of him and so excited.  One of those hands in the cover picture is mine….I helped. HA

A Book Worth Reading

I had to laugh this morning when I read this quote below:

“This is not a novel to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force.”

Dorothy Parker

A couple of years ago, I read a book that drew me in, filled me up, made me look at myself and my emotions and yes…made me throw the book once with great force. That book bears the crease in the cover still. I didn’t throw it because it was a poor book. I threw it because this book was making me look inside myself and sometimes when we do that…we don’t want to because it is easier to pretend that we don’t feel those strong emotions like grief, pain, sorrow, loss….

It only took me a little while before I picked that book up and started reading again and it turned out to be the book that influenced more and affected my life more than any other book ever has. That book is:

“Healing Heartaches: Stories of Loss and Life”

by

Sherry E. Showalter, Ph.D.

Published 2009

When I first got the book, I started reading it because a friend of mine wrote it. I can tell you that what I got from that book is nothing like I expected. I expected the usual grief and sorrow responses and platitudes but it was not. This book made me look deep inside myself, made me realize that grieving is not something to be ashamed of, that it is a very normal process we go through. I felt like she was sitting there talking to me the whole time I was reading the book.

Sherry is a certified Therapist, Traumatologist, Mass Fatality Interventionist, Diplomate` Social Work, Compassion Fatigue Specialist, EMDR Therapist and a PH.D.  She was a first responder during 911 to help the ones there deal with the trauma. She is a National Heart of Hospice recipient for psycho-social-spiritual care-giving which is a high honor. And yet this book was not written like many we see that sound like some dry stuffy professor wrote it. This book was written by someone who has been there and seen it and who cares enough to want to make it easier for others.

I have read this book more than once and each time I come away with something new. She has an amazing way of helping one look at grief and loss…whether it is loss of loved ones, job, home, friendship, loss of faith….loss is loss.

I wanted to share a few of the comments made about this book because these tell you what this book is about way more than my words will.

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“I couldn’t stop reading. I help my breath through some of the pages as I was trying to edit! And the funny thing is; I knew the story. I had heard it before. I had seen the photographs. But something about the way it was written…I was riveted and I still am. DLB”

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“Dr. Sherry E. Showalter has produced a definitive book that gives further impetus to the whole subject of grief and it’s aftermath; normal grief, abnormal or morbid and by whose standards. The work contains many teachable opportunities and lessens learned to help the living and to ease the burdens of the dying. It is a text that will enhance the skills and increase the knowledge of healthcare providers and professionals and all categories of practice and caring for the dying and their survivors in our diverse and global world. It is written from Dr. Showalter’s heart, love and life experiences.” Dr. Bernice Catherine Harper, MSW, MScPH, LLD   November 2010

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“Loving the book, reading it slowly, concentrating on every word and message. You have given a gift to all who read your book. It is a great work and accomplishment!”  IRM

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“What a wonderful book. Borrowed it from my friend who was raving about how moving it was. Now to have my own copy. So many friends that I want to share this special book with. I thought it would be about death and loss, but it is about so much more. Life reaffirmed in every story. I have been so moved by it. I recommend that if others have not read it yet, they should. A beautiful tribute to love, hope and healing from loss.”

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“Hi Sherry–I was pleasantly surprised this morning when I discovered your book in my mailbox. After reading several pages I was even more amazed. Your book is much more than I expected. I am looking forward to this evening when I can digest it cover to cover. I have read enough to know that everyone should get a copy. Thanks. Kenny G”

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Truly an awesome read. I literally couldn’t put it down. This book is full of truth, love heartache and inspiration. I am an avid reader and recommend this book to anyone who sees a book they can relate to, learn from, grow from and enjoy every chapter. Grief and loss touch each of us directly or indirectly. This book resonates easily with the reader. A book I will gift to friends and family. This is a book I will read and reread. I strongly recommend Healing Heartaches and look forward to this author’s next book with great anticipation.

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You are probably wondering why I am telling you about this book. Well, the reason is that this book has become my friend. I turn to it when things happen like all the storms yesterday and lives lost …for that triggers my own sorrows inside. I turn to it when I feel the loss of a friend or loved one, or the loss of more of my health. It is like that old pair of jeans that you feel comfortable with and that makes you feel better after a hard day. And something this good…I want to share with all.

http://www.drsherryeshowalter.com/book.htm

And I would love for you all to check out my friend Sherry’s blog. She is an inspirational speaker and author and writes some of the most amazing blog posts. I think your day will be lifted each day just reading her blog. You can read it here:  http://drses.wordpress.com/

Life is hard enough and if we can find a place, even if it is a book or a blog, where we can find comfort and validation, then I am all for it and this writer is one that does that. I hope you all will get a chance to read the book and the blog and will re-blog this post so others can share in it too.

Related articles

• Book Review: The Grief Survival Handbook: A Guide from Heartache to Healing by D. Keith Cobb M.D. (blogcritics.org)
• How To Find Personal Renewal After The Loss of a Loved One (prweb.com)
• Surviving Loss & Grief: Karen M. Wyatt MD Announces the Launch of Two Free E-books (prweb.com)
• Coping With Grief: How to Handle Your Emotions (everydayhealth.com)