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This is a book about unraveling the layers of our lives, delving beneath the surface in order to better understand ourselves, our relationships, and our path. Author Susannah Conway uncovered this process following a tragedy—the sudden death of the man she loved. In sharing her journey of self-discovery, she reveals how grief reshaped her life and led her to reconnect with her creativity, make peace with her past, and learn to appreciate herself.
You hold in your hands a guidebook of sorts, a collection of thoughts and theories, each chapter culminating in a small creative exercise for you to reflect upon and apply to your own life. With her words and signature dreamy Polaroid images, Conway reminds us that we are not alone, that living mindfully is a process, and that in time you can let yourself be who you were always meant to be.
Introduction ix
1 An ending, a beginning 1
2 The tides 27
3 Redrafting the blueprint 51
4 Writing with my eyes 71
5 I have a body 93
6 Look me in the eye and tell me you don't love me 119
7 A tribe of one 145
8 The art of belonging 169
9 Unraveled 193
Epilogue 220
Book Friends 226
Love & Gratitude 231
About the Author 233
JillSalahub
Posted June 28, 2012
Any woman who has experienced grief and loss (that is, every woman alive) should read this book. For some of us this is the loss of a loved one, for others the loss of self, or for others still it might be the loss of both. This book is a map of one woman's personal journey through bereavement and rediscovery of self, but it is also offered as a guidebook for those making their way along the same path, traveling through that same territory of loss. And yet, as Susannah says, this "is not a story about grief, although it informs everything I've learned about life. This is a book about unraveling the layers of our lives and exploring what we find in order to better understand ourselves, our relationships, and our path."
This book embodies, through both word and image, the tender heart of that sadness, not shying away from the reality of it, the truth that life can kick your ass but that we can also lean into joy and be softened by beauty, can and will encounter grace, and know love. We may have tears streaming down our face or feel bad about our thighs, but with our eyes and heart open wide to both the brutality and beauty of life, we can heal, we can live a wholehearted life.
This book might first be about one woman's individual journey towards wholeness, but in the end, it is an offering to the reader, an invitation to unravel our own hearts. Sometimes, simply knowing that others have walked a similar path is all the medicine and advice you need, but Susannah Conway takes it one step beyond, offering a reflection at the end of each chapter, small creative exercises that invite the reader to explore, to unravel. In this way, it is a book that one could come back to again and again.
In the end, this book is like a long, intimate conversation with the best girlfriend ever, one who has been where you are, can authentically sit in that dark place with you, but who also has a map that shows the way out, an invitation to the rest of your beautiful life.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.FiveAtHeart
Posted June 26, 2012
I don't necessarily know how to write a review,
but I'll give it a shot for Susannah Conway since
I find this "tribe of one" wise woman to be so
incredibly INSPIRING!
The book! I read 'This i Know' in two thoroughly
enjoyable sittings. Enough said?
Overview
This is a book about unraveling the layers of our lives, delving beneath the surface in order to better understand ourselves, our relationships, and our path. Author Susannah Conway uncovered this process following a tragedy—the sudden death of the man she loved. In sharing her journey of self-discovery, she reveals how grief reshaped her life and led her to reconnect with her creativity, make peace with her past, and learn to appreciate herself.
You hold in your hands a ...