Living Brave: Lessons from Hurt, Lighting the Way to Hope

by Shannon Dingle

Overview

“Shannon’s struggle, defiance, strength, and power emanate from every page. That kind of brave can be trusted." — Glennon Doyle, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Untamed and Founder of Together Rising

For all women looking to find “hope in a hopeless world and bravery in an age that seems to lack it,” comes a searing memoir by Shannon Dingle, a writer and disability advocate who has navigated loss, trauma, abuse, spiritual reawakening, and deep pain—and come out the other side still hopeful.

Shannon Dingle has experienced more than her fair share of tragedy and trauma in her life, including surviving sexual abuse and trafficking as a child that left her with lasting disabilities and experiencing faith shifts that put her at odds with the evangelical church that had been her home. Then, in July 2019, Shannon’s husband was tragically killed by a rogue wave while the family was on vacation. The grief of the aftermath of losing her love and life partner sits at the heart of Living Brave, where Shannon’s searing, raw prose, illustrates what it looks like to take brave steps on the other side of unimaginable loss.

Through each challenge, she reveals the ways she learned to walk through them to the other side, and find courage even through the darkest moments. Living Brave gives women permission to wrestle with difficult topics, to use their voice, to take a stand for justice, to honor the wisdom of their bodies, and to enact change from a place of strong faith. 

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780062959294
Publisher:	HarperCollins
Publication date:	07/06/2021
Sold by:	HARPERCOLLINS
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Shannon Dingle is a disability activist, freelance writer, sex trafficking survivor, and recovering perfectionist. While she knows the societal rules about which topics to avoid in public settings, she breaks them regularly and teaches her six children to get into "good trouble, necessary trouble," in the words of civil rights icon John Lewis. She has written for USA Today, the Washington Post, and Teen Vogue, and her story has been featured on TODAY.com, NPR, and Good Morning America and in The Atlantic, the Wall Street Journal, Daily Kos, Christianity Today, and Slate. She lives in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Table of Contents

Introduction: You Have Permission (and So Do I) 1

Part I Surviving is Brave

Chapter 1 Hard Steps 15

Chapter 2 Necessary Grief 29

Part II Choosing Your Voice is Brave

Chapter 3 Powerful Words 47

Chapter 4 Not Keeping Secrets 61

Chapter 5 Hard Truths 79

Part III Trusting is Brave

Chapter 6 Keeping the Faith (Sometimes by Losing It) 97

Chapter 7 Hard Trust 109

Part IV Taking Care of Yourself is Brave

Chapter 8 Our Desires Matter 127

Chapter 9 Our Feelings Are Good Information 149

Chapter 10 Keeping Our Health 163

Part V Relationships are Brave

Chapter 11 Hard Conversations 175

Chapter 12 Chosen Family 193

Part VI Hope is Brave

Chapter 13 Hope Is the Bravest Thing 203

Benediction 217

Acknowledgments 219

Notes 225

Editorial Reviews

In a world that thinks of the journey of loss as a linear process, it’s refreshing…to delve into the realities of complicated grief…Living Brave is a testament to the stories living inside of us that heal [us] when told.”

Nelba Márquez-Greene

"I won’t read about 'being brave' from anyone who hasn’t experienced the fire from which real brave is forged. I’ll read about Shannon Dingle’s brave every damn day. Shannon’s struggle, defiance, strength, and power emanate from every page. That kind of brave can be trusted." —  Glennon Doyle, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author of Untamed and Founder of Together Rising

"Shannon Dingle has faced more challenges and losses than most people who have lived twice as long, and instead of taking the easy or comfortable path, she chooses courage. She’s been a wise teacher for me and so many, especially as she’s modeled how to grieve with courage and open-heartedness."  — Shauna Niequist, New York Times Bestselling Author of Present Over Perfect

“In her compelling memoir…..Dingle reminds us that the world offers no guarantees. Fittingly, for this inspiring story, she gives herself a middle name: Hope.” — Booklist (Starred Review)

“Living Brave is a gift. Written from the center of loss and grief, Shannon gives us permission to heal and hope, acting as a trustworthy guide and companion to those of us learning how to live brave, not in spite of our complicated stories, but precisely because of them." — Sarah Bessey, author of New York Times bestselling A Rhythm of Prayer and Miracles and Other Reasonable Things

"A powerful blend of memoir and self-help, Living Brave offers raw testimony to the lessons Shannon Dingle has gleaned trying to survive loss." — Washington Post

“With breathtaking generosity, Shannon Dingle invites us to find courage to tell the truth, the sound of own voices, what it is we want, and a complex and rich faith, not in spite of trauma and grief, but right in the middle of it.”  — Dr. Hillary McBride, Psychologist, Speaker, Author, Podcaster

“Shannon Dingle's propulsive memoir will break your heart wide open from the very first page. Shannon has endured more pain and trauma than any woman should have to bear, but in spite of it all she delivers a profound message in beautiful prose for how to live a purposeful life.”  — Jo Piazza, Author of Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win

“[In this] powerful blend of memoir and self-help, Dingle explores the importance of self-compassion, how to overcome shame, what it means to practice self-care, and how to harness the power of words… offering a raw, affecting examination of what it takes to heal.” — Publishers Weekly

“Heart-rending and thought-provoking, unsettling and wholly unrepentant, Shannon Dingle holds space for those who know what it is to battle the dark night of the soul—again and again and again. Her story is a testament to the transformative power of deeply human love.”  — Alice Greczyn, Author of Wayward: A Memoir of Spiritual Warfare & Sexual Purity

“Living Brave is necessary, even life-altering, for every human, especially those coming to terms with the most painful aspects of life. You’ll come away with a new definition of brave, one that invites you to write your own story of recovery, renewal, and hope.”  — Rachel Macy Stafford, New York Times bestselling author and Certified Special Education Teacher

“Dang, Shannon can write and more than that, Shannon can live. In Living Brave, she offers her life with an openness often reserved for the raw screams in the privacy of one’s shower. I’m here for it.”  — Melanie Dale, author and speaker 

"This is the single most powerful book that I have ever read. Two things will happen when you read this memoir: It will hurt, and you will grow as a person." — Mike McHargue, bestselling author and host of The Cozy Robot Show

“In a world that thinks of the journey of loss as a linear process, it’s refreshing for a book willing to delve into the realities of complicated grief and passionate hope.  Living Brave is a testament to the stories living inside of us that heal ourselves and others when told.”  — Nelba Márquez-Greene, Founder of The Ana Grace Project, LMFT

“Shannon Dingle does not want your pity. She has a story to tell and you should know it, because it will change you for the better and arm you for the future.”  — Maysoon Zayid, Comedian, Disability Advocate

"Shannon Dingle's bravery, her willingness to speak truth to power in her life and in the world, has made me a stronger person and advocate. This book will inspire you to live bravely in challenging times."  — Rev. Jennifer Butler, author of Who Stole My Bible and CEO of Faith in Public Life

From the Publisher

"A powerful blend of memoir and self-help, Living Brave offers raw testimony to the lessons Shannon Dingle has gleaned trying to survive loss."

Washington Post

Heart-rending and thought-provoking, unsettling and wholly unrepentant, Shannon Dingle holds space for those who know what it is to battle the dark night of the soul—again and again and again. Her story is a testament to the transformative power of deeply human love.” 

Alice Greczyn

In her compelling memoir…..Dingle reminds us that the world offers no guarantees. Fittingly, for this inspiring story, she gives herself a middle name: Hope.

Booklist (Starred Review)

Shannon Dingle's propulsive memoir will break your heart wide open from the very first page. Shannon has endured more pain and trauma than any woman should have to bear, but in spite of it all she delivers a profound message in beautiful prose for how to live a purposeful life.” 

Jo Piazza

With breathtaking generosity, Shannon Dingle invites us to find courage to tell the truth, the sound of own voices, what it is we want, and a complex and rich faith, not in spite of trauma and grief, but right in the middle of it.” 

Dr. Hillary McBride

"Shannon Dingle has faced more challenges and losses than most people who have lived twice as long, and instead of taking the easy or comfortable path, she chooses courage. She’s been a wise teacher for me and so many, especially as she’s modeled how to grieve with courage and open-heartedness." 

Shauna Niequist

Living Brave is necessary, even life-altering, for every human, especially those coming to terms with the most painful aspects of life. You’ll come away with a new definition of brave, one that invites you to write your own story of recovery, renewal, and hope.” 

Rachel Macy Stafford

Living Brave is a gift. Written from the center of loss and grief, Shannon gives us permission to heal and hope, acting as a trustworthy guide and companion to those of us learning how to live brave, not in spite of our complicated stories, but precisely because of them."

Sarah Bessey

"A powerful blend of memoir and self-help, Living Brave offers raw testimony to the lessons Shannon Dingle has gleaned trying to survive loss."

Washington Post

Dang, Shannon can write and more than that, Shannon can live. In Living Brave, she offers her life with an openness often reserved for the raw screams in the privacy of one’s shower. I’m here for it.” 

Melanie Dale

Shannon Dingle does not want your pity. She has a story to tell and you should know it, because it will change you for the better and arm you for the future.” 

Maysoon Zayid

"Shannon Dingle's bravery, her willingness to speak truth to power in her life and in the world, has made me a stronger person and advocate. This book will inspire you to live bravely in challenging times." 

Rev. Jennifer Butler

"This is the single most powerful book that I have ever read. Two things will happen when you read this memoir: It will hurt, and you will grow as a person."

Mike McHargue