The Invisible Suitcase That's Packed for Life


Book Description

This book will serve as a guide for people who are seeking for answers about the unknown, spirits that are tied into religious growth, to understand the knowledge that’s unknown in the dark, places in our life journey. But wisdom will bring the understanding that we all seek for in life through our experiences. I want the reader to be aware that this book is not based on scientific evidence or any evidence-based material in the field of academia. However, this book is based on a spiritual journey where God has brought me in my journey to help people in their walk of life, to understand the process of choice. It is my hope as a writer that the reader take away the skills and insight to help them move forward in their journey to seek for God’s guidance. They are the invisible parts that we carry in our suitcases that are packed away with our life experiences. The woman carries the little girl around inside, and the man carries the boy around to remember when he was him. Our life lessons are within. Question: what do you have in your invisible suitcase?




Pack, unpack, zip


Book Description

"Pack, unpack, zip" tackles some of the complexities of migratory grief including the search for home, self and belonging. This collection includes poems first published in volumes "A Voz Limpia - poesia en Espanol (mostly) hecha en Australia (mostly)", run by a collectvie of Latin-American authors based in Australia.




Navigator


Book Description




Lighten Up: The Life-Changing Magic of Letting Go


Book Description

First off, let me start by saying congratulations! By picking up this book, you've already taken the first step on an incredible journey. A journey that, I promise you, is more exciting than finding money in your old coat pocket and more rewarding than finally mastering the art of parallel parking. Now, I know what you might be thinking. "Another self-help book? Isn't this just going to tell me to do yoga, drink green smoothies, and journal my feelings?" Well, hold onto your skepticism, my friend, because this isn't your average, run-of-the-mill, cookie-cutter guide to inner peace. This book is a rollercoaster ride through the landscape of human emotions - but don't worry, it's the kind of rollercoaster that's more exhilarating than terrifying, and you won't need a barf bag (though keep some tissues handy, because we might hit you in the feels a few times). What's In Store for You? In the pages that follow, we're going to embark on a grand adventure. We'll traverse the peaks of joy, wade through the valleys of sorrow, and navigate the winding paths of everything in between. Along the way, we'll: Explore the art of letting go (spoiler alert: it's not just about decluttering your closet) Learn how to embrace change without feeling like you're free-falling without a parachute Discover how to love yourself, flaws and all (yes, even that weird thing you do when you're nervous) Master the ninja-like skills of emotional resilience And ultimately, find a path to true emotional freedom (no, this doesn't mean you'll never feel sad again - we're aiming for freedom, not robotic indifference) Who is This Book For? This book is for you if: You've ever felt stuck, like you're running on a hamster wheel of emotions You find yourself replaying arguments in your head, coming up with perfect comebacks weeks too late Your emotional baggage is so heavy, you'd have to pay extra if emotions were airlines You want to feel more in control of your reactions, instead of feeling like a puppet to your feelings You're ready for a change, but the idea of change also makes you want to hide under your blanket You're curious about this whole "emotional freedom" thing, but you're pretty sure it's just for monks and people who do yoga at 5am In other words, this book is for humans. Imperfect, messy, beautiful humans who are doing their best to navigate this wild ride we call life. A Word of Warning Now, I feel it's my duty to warn you: this journey isn't always going to be easy. There will be moments when you'll want to throw this book across the room (please don't, unless you're reading the e-book version, in which case, throw away). There will be times when you'll face uncomfortable truths about yourself. You might cry. You might laugh. You might do both at the same time and worry about your sanity. But here's the thing: that's all part of the process. Growth isn't always comfortable, but it's always worth it. And I promise you, the view from the other side is spectacular. My Promise to You As we embark on this journey together, here's what I promise you: I will be honest with you, even when it's uncomfortable I will challenge you, but I will never leave you hanging I will share real, practical strategies that you can apply in your everyday life I will respect your intelligence and won't sugar-coat things I will do my best to make this journey not just enlightening, but also enjoyable (prepare for dad jokes and pop culture references) Are You Ready? So, dear reader, are you ready to embark on this adventure? Are you ready to laugh, to cry, to grow, and to discover a version of yourself that's freer and more authentically you than you ever thought possible?




Trauma and Grief Assessment and Intervention


Book Description

With clarity and eloquence, Trauma and Grief Assessment and Intervention comprehensively captures the nuance and complexity involved in counseling bereaved and traumatically bereaved persons in all stages of the life cycle. Integrating the various models of grief with the authors’ strengths-based framework of grief and loss, chapters combine the latest research in evidence-based practice with expertise derived from years of psychotherapy with grieving individuals. The book walks readers through the main theories of grief counseling, from rapport building to assessment to intervention. Each chapter concludes with lengthy case scenarios that closely resemble actual counseling sessions to help readers apply their understanding of the chapter’s content. In the support material on the book’s website, instructors will find a sample syllabus, PowerPoint slides, and lists of resources that can be used as student assignments or to enhance classroom learning. Trauma and Grief Assessment and Intervention equips students with the knowledge and skills they need to work effectively with clients experiencing trauma and loss.




The Debris of Drugs and Alcohol: Finding Peace in the Midst of the Broken Pieces


Book Description

As people, we all struggle with stress, moments of panic, times of confusion, and other times that we feel overwhelmed and we can't sleep. And if it was up to the devil, he would be more than happy to medicate all of us with his fake remedies of alcohol and drugs. He is an opportunist, experienced in using our problems, our vulnerability, our wounding, our pain, our traumatic past experiences to get us where he wants. He is good at offering temporary relief for deeper crises of the soul. This is my true story of God stepping into my messy, shattered, and broken family life and rescuing me. You see, freedom, according to Satan, is being away from God. I don't think my son had any idea of who the devil was or how cunning he could be. He befriends to destroy, he gives to take away. As a mother of an adult struggling with addiction, my life was paralyzed. Every breath increased my pain of hopelessness and despair. I felt afraid, alone, and abandoned by God. God seemed distant, absent, silent, and unconcerned. I felt like running, but there was no place to hide. Was God punishing me? Where and how did I go wrong? Sharing my painful journey was not an easy step. I tried at all costs to hide this painful part of my life. It took years in my classroom of pain for my mind to be unshackled by the Teacher, the Holy Spirit. I no longer need to hide nor be ashamed of my challenges with my prodigal son. Nevertheless, breaking free from shame, stigma, and judgment is a process that took years. When we only let others see the beautiful parts of our stories, avoiding our broken painful chapters, we mislead people, and perhaps they envy us for what they falsely think are perfect lives. Worse, we misrepresent the power of the good news that reaches down into our broken souls, hearts, and lives to provide peace from our broken pieces. Dear waiting, praying, and expecting parents of struggling children, I believe God wants to usher you to your own breakthrough, healing, and freedom. You can learn to relinquish your child(ren) to God. Do not lose hope. Have faith. In his time, he will make all things beautiful for us! God wastes nothing, even our pain.




The Invisible Suitcase


Book Description

The Invisible Suitcase, Elaine Olund's debut collection, presents the poet's world using the deft brushstrokes of the artist she also is. "There's a word for everything', Olund tells us in one of several short poems exploring botanical terms; "this one means 'grow toward light.'" This book shimmers with the light of life all around us. Whether the poet's light shines on the image of wilting carnations-"So white. Dirty-edged though, like snow / charcoaled with car exhaust"-or on a mother who is "gray-tired/lost in a haze of Parliament smoke", these poems are rendered in full color, with images both fully themselves and bright windows into the human experience. -Pauletta Hansel, Cincinnati Poet Laureate, 2016-2018 Elaine Olund's debut poetry collection, The Invisible Suitcase, twines around roots, growing towards the light, and letting go. Memory's roots burrow deep as the tunnels on the Pennsylvania Turnpike "plunge..." her "...into darkness." Olund uses marcescence, the botanical process of holding on to old foliage, thwarting new growth, as a metaphorical warning. The speaker mourns loss while cutting into a strawberry, "slicing these little hearts wide open." Copper, a favorite color, morphs into a penny rolling out of reach, like a lover "no longer worth reaching for." Finally, releasing memories too tightly held allows the speaker to make a "Packing list for a new life," as "into the invisible suitcase, breath folded/neat as a silk scarf." -Ellen Austin-Li, Author of Firefly, Finishing Line Press, 2019 For me a good poem is either a sort of controlled explosion or a journey. Olund has both kinds of poems in this collection. Some, like "Watching Carnations Wilt," have to be reread, danced with, as they slowly give up their secrets. Sharp images rise up, sink, and then re-surface. The Invisible Suitcase will take you to deep and real places and when you return to your life and the room and the book in your hands, everything is familiar, but richer and realer-strawberries are cut and hearts, bleeding. -Howard Wells, Editor & Book Developer




The Missing Element


Book Description

Everyone longs to be understood in their essence. In The Missing Element, author Debra Silverman describes human nature in a compassionate and succinct way, and offers ways for us to get to know ourselves in depth with the wisdom of archetypes. The information in this book stands on the shoulders of our elders, who understood the four directions, the four elements, the four noble truths. Whatever pain you experience is specific to your personality type, based on the four elements. The 'missing element' is twofold: it refers to the Observer inside you--the part of you that can stand outside of judgment and see yourself with a more wise and compassionate approach--much like our elders did. And it also refers to the elements that make up your personality and more specifically, to the element which is your weakest. Your issues will repeat themselves again and again until you can see yourself and others from the compassionate vantage point that unites all of us. You will understand that your life and all its stories were designed by your soul to get your attention right now. It is inviting you to seek the wisdom of the ages to help you grow... that’s why you found this book at this moment in time!




Praying Together


Book Description

Praying together as a couple is important. You know that praying together offers many benefits: a better relationship, more respect, more intimacy, deeper love for your spouse, better communication, and the list goes on. So, why aren't you doing it? What’s holding you back as a couple from one of the richest experiences in your marriage? Praying Together offers a guilt-free understanding of the hidden reasons we as couples aren't going to the Lord in prayer as a team. Birthed from their own shortcomings and transformed marriage, authors Sam and Vicki share a model for prayer within the marriage relationship that is compelling, simple, biblical, and powerfully transforming. While each chapter closes with sample Scripture and prayer for husbands and wives to use together, Praying Together equips couples to pray with one another after the book is finished.




What We Become


Book Description

En route from Lisbon to Buenos Aires in 1928, Max and Mecha meet aboard a luxurious transatlantic cruise ship. There Max teaches the stunning stranger and her erudite husband to dance the tango. A steamy affair ignites at sea and continues as the seedy decadence of Buenos Aires envelops the secret lovers. Nice, 1937. Still drawn to one another a decade later, Max and Mecha rekindle their dalliance. In the wake of a perilous mission gone awry, Mecha looks after her charming paramour until a deadly encounter with a Spanish spy forces him to flee. Sorento, 1966. Max once again runs into trouble--and Mecha. She offers him temporary shelter from the KGB agents on his trail, but their undeniable attraction offers only a small glimmer of hope that their paths will ever cross again.