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Book: How Learning to Say Goodbye Taught Me How to Live (A Spiritual Memoir) by Joffre McClung

categories: Book, Spirituality, Self-Help, Personal Growth, Inspiration, Death, Cancer, Wisdom, Personal Tranformation, Self-Awareness, Self-Love, Empowerment, Grief and Loss

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Joffre McClung

about this book: I had had enough of loss and illness when my best friend informed me she had been diagnosed with stage-four cancer. I thought I would go crazy if I didn't do something, so I wrote. By journaling my thoughts and reactions to my best friend's battle with cancer, I was afforded the rare opportunity to witness how much I had grown. The previous eight years of loss in all areas of my life had forced me to go deeper with my inner work. I had been stripped bare of everything I knew and identified with during that period. However because I was willing to do the inner work, I emerged from that period more empowered and more my authentic self. But it was no until I helped my friend go through the last two years of her life that I was finally able to understand how important the changes I had made were.

The journal, much to my surprise, became a book of heartfelt reflections on the lessons and strength to be gained from grief and loss. I would like to think my best friend would be very proud to have played a role in my burgeoning wisdom. In truth, she and her journey not only changed my life but also opened me up to writing about my spiritual perspective and practices – something I would not have even considered before that journey with her. I know she would be thrilled that the book pushes people to wake up and become more self-aware. I don't think she would even mind that I used the issues we struggled with as a way to prompt others to look at how these same issues play out in their lives.

• "McClung has written a thoughtful think piece that also serves as a touching tribute to "one of my greatest teachers during the worst times of her life." The questions the author presents readers arise appropriately from her narrative and also have universal relevance, including "When is the last time you said you were sorry to yourself or to another?" — KIRKUS INDIE REVIEWS