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"Other people are not meant to love us in the exact way we think they should; they are meant to set up a healing ceremony at which we learn to love ourselves." Ceremony is a collection for those on the cusp of becoming. It is a reminder that we were not meant to fit into this world perfectly, but to live in such a way that might forge a path all our own. It is a reminder that we are one with each other and nature itself. It is a reminder that we contain within us the latent potential of every future possibility we can conceive of. It is a reminder that we often must release what is not ours in order to receive what is, that we are all born with a unique imprint to leave upon the world, and that self-love is not an infatuation, but a homecoming. Ceremony is a book written around the idea that the most unlikely moments are often the very ones offering us a chance to meet ourselves more deeply; it is a book for the ones who are ready to stop waiting and wondering, and dive all the way into who they were meant to be. -
Join Princess Claudia on an unforgettable adventure as she learns the vital role clouds play in the world. Guided by her wise owl, Iris, and a bumbling wizard named Fumbledore, a nearly blind Claudia discovers that sometimes the things we take for granted are the most important of all. The Day the Clouds Went Away is a beautifully illustrated whimsical fairytale that shares the importance of clouds in our lives, even on rainy days. -
Befriending China tells the story of China's current effort to "open up" to a flood of visitors, as part of a campaign of "People-To-People Peacemaking." The story is partially based on three visits to China from late 2023 through late 2024. It describes the impressive achievements China has made in infrastructure, education, health care, and poverty alleviation. It includes an in-depth eye-witness account of visiting Xinjiang, debunking official rumors in the US of abuse of the Uyghur population there. It also highlights exciting tourism opportunities, with closeup looks at the mountainous Guizhou and Shanxi provinces, and the amazing "megacities" of Shanghai, Beijing, Chongqing, Hangzhou and Suzhou. It includes a preface by Carlos Martinez, editor of the Friends of Socialist China website. It also examines China's democratic system, and its successful foreign policy based on common prosperity and a shared future. Finally, it details ongoing US efforts to slander China and prepare for war against it, arguing that China is not our enemy. -
What does it take to overcome deeply embedded family traumas, career-ending betrayals, and failed relationships? What is the personal cost of keeping secrets—and staying in the closet? These are questions that Mary Means explores in her memoir, as she navigates growing up as a young closeted lesbian in Georgia during the 1960s and learning to love—and be loved—as an adult. Through the deaths of loved ones, the fear of discovery, and the budding of a legacy that would come to change lives across the nation, Something Worth Saving tells a story of resilience and self-discovery perfect for anyone who has ever struggled to maintain a flawless facade when inside they were crumbling. Mary Means is an award-winning leader, founder of the Main Street revitalization movement that has brought vitality back to countless town centers. Her candor and vulnerability permeate her remarkable story. -
How to Master the Art of Being the Worst Salesperson: Funny Failings to Future Success is a humorous yet insightful collection of true, laugh-out-loud business stories that expose the unfortunate (and often cringe-worthy) realities of poor sales practices. Featuring contributions from senior executives at Fortune 50 companies, this book illustrates how misguided sales and leadership decisions can lead to disastrous outcomes for both the individual and the company. But don't worry-it's not all doom and gloom! The author lightheartedly shows how understanding and correcting those mistakes can lead to extraordinary success. The book kicks off with fifteen hilariously painful and humbling true stories, serving as a reminder that laughter is often the best way to learn from failure. In the later chapters, you'll find practical, action-oriented techniques and insights that can be immediately applied-whether you're part of a massive sales team or a solopreneur. The ultimate challenge for readers: honestly reflect on these stories, recognize where your own sales or leadership practices could improve, and turn those cringe-worthy moments into powerful success. -
Every family has a story. Every story, eventually, must be told.
For most of their lives, Julian Perel and his sister, Paula, lived in a house cast in silence, witnesses to a father struggling with a devastating secret too painful to share. Though their father took his demons to the grave, his past refuses to rest.
As adults, brother and sister struggle to find their voices. A scientist governed by numbers and logic, Julian now lives an ordered life of routine and seclusion. In contrast, Paula has entered the world as eagerly as Julian retracts from it. An aspiring opera singer, she is always moving, buoyant with sound.
Yet both their lives begin to change on a Wednesday, miercoles, the day that sounds like miracles.
Before embarking on a European opera tour, Paula asks her housekeeper, Sola, to stay at her place--and to look after Julian in the apartment above. Sola, too, has a story.
As Paula uncovers pieces of her father's early life in Budapest and the horrifying truth of his past, Julian bears witness to Sola's story--revelations that help all three learn how to both surrender and revere the shadows that have followed them for so long.
The Speed of Light is a powerful novel about three unforgettable souls who overcome the tragedies of the past to reconnect with one another and the world around them. Elizabeth Rosner has created a beautifully interwoven story of love and redemption that proves the pain of the untold story is far greater than even the most difficult truth.
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Tenebrae is the ancient Latin word for darkness—the gradual extinguishment of light, one candle flame at a time. In this memoir told in poems, Dan Flanigan follows that gradual dimming through the last illness and death of his wife. Written in free verse and prose poems, Tenebrae moves across the full arc of a long marriage. These poems refuse the familiar consolations. There is no posturing, no preciousness, no self-pity. A dying woman is rendered as fully human—strong, flawed, dignified, unmistakably herself—and the speaker does not cast himself as hero. Other poems in the book reflect this same grappling with the fundamental issues of our lives—loss, hope, despair and acceptance, reflecting a compassionate embrace of the human condition. If you think you don’t like poetry, Tenebrae may change your mind. These are truly poems for the people—plain but exquisitely crafted and expressed in a language that is both elegant and easy to understand… They reach from the heart to the heart. -
On the other side of the life you are trying to keep together, on the other side of the pain you think will never dissolve into peace, on the other side of everything you are forcing—is the life that is waiting. The life where you are not pushed by your fears, but moved by your vision. The life where the right things arrive, and remain, and you do not have to contort your truth to make them so. The life where you are actually living, not just waiting to begin. The life that is really yours. The life you arrive to the end of with tired eyes and a full heart. The life that you are proud of. The life that you actually want. The life that is gently asking you to let go, and see it. The life that's been waiting, all this time, for you to arrive.
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“Heart-Dreamer: Stepping into Life, Love, Creativity and Dreams – No Matter What” is an award-winning motivational book written for anyone who has a dream, lost their dreams along the way, or never knew how to dream. Rooted in the ebb and flow of Cheryl Melody Baskin’s life as an unstoppable dreamer, creative visionary, musician, and motivational life coach, Heart-Dreamer lights the way toward more moments of self-discovery, self-love, inner healing, soaring dreams, and hope. “As soon as I saw the sentence 'allow your heart to guide you,' I knew Heart Dreamer contained the truth about life." - Bernie Siegel, MD., New York Times best-selling author and physician As you listen to the author’s heart-centered and interactive presentation, breathe in all the support, journal writing prompts, life wisdom, self-talk dialogues, inner child healing, creative imagination, soothing visualizations and meditations, self-care strategies, life-changing positive affirmations, sound healing, inspirational songs, and transformational wisdom from people around the world. "This isn't just a book, it's a way of life." Ricky Kej, Grammy award-winner and United Nations humanitarian artist. With Heart-Dreamer by your side, discover how to believe in yourself and in new possibilities; release fears, doubts and the perfection syndrome; shoo away your inner critic; ignore the inner voices of naysayers from your past or present; unleash your creative spirit; tap into your inner child's imaginative side; experience nerve-busting tools and how to write effective positive affirmations; listen to the intuitive voice of your wise inner guru; learn how to become your own best friend; ignite a spark of adventurous curiosity and choose to begin again with new visions of hope. “Melody invites me to be gentle with myself and with everyone around me, and at the same time, she challenges me to dare to dream big.” Reverend Dr. Deborah L. Clark, Multi-faith coordinator, pastor, and yoga instructor Simi -
Rachel likes to think of herself as a nice Jewish girl, dedicated to doing what’s honorable, just as her parents raised her to do. But when her husband, David, survives a plane crash and is left with severe brain damage, she faces a choice: will she dedicate her life to caring for a man she no longer loves, or walk away? Their marriage had been rocky at the time of the accident, and though she wants to do the right thing, Rachel doesn’t know how she is supposed to care for two kids in addition to a now irrational, incontinent, and seizure-prone grown man. And how will she manage to see her lover? But then again, what kind of selfish monster would refuse to care for her disabled husband, no matter how unhappy her marriage had been? Rachel wants to believe that she can dedicate her life to David’s needs, but knows in her heart it is impossible. Crash tackles a pervasive dilemma in our culture: the moral conflicts individuals face when caregiving for a disabled or cognitively impaired family member. -
The fastest growing segment of the horse world is women mid-life and beyond. This thorough but light-hearted guide welcomes you to the equine life. Whether a newcomer to the world of hay and hoofs more someone who’s been in the saddle since childhood, you’ll find information about every aspect of the horse world. Riders of a Certain Age is full of wisdom and sound advice for people coming into horses as adults. It encourages us to keep riding forward at a point in life when others might expect us to whoa. From leasing to leakage, money to manure, this engagingly candid, comprehensive resource is an owner’s manual for reclaiming the right to indulge your horse-loving inner child. With carefully curated guidance collected over years of horsing around, Fran Severn presents you with tips, lessons, and advice as you begin enjoying a life with horses in it. You’ll find information about: -Getting into the saddle (or not, but still enjoying horses) -Finding an instructor and being a good student -Understanding and overcoming fear -Riding with ‘replacement parts’ -Dealing with the physical changes and challenges of our older bodies -Learning the world of buying, leasing, and boarding horses -Managing your ‘stable finances’ to pay for it all and still stay solvent
