Why Be Happy?

Why not? I hesitated to read this book. What could I learn from reading this memoir? I've read Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit, Written On the Body and Sexing the Cherry. She lost me after that. It got weird for me. I wasn't quite getting her. Was she arrogant? Was I being a book snob?
When I had the opportunity to download this galley I decided to give it a try. I understand Jeanette better now. Her struggle, somewhat like her writing in her novel Oranges, was a wild ride. We would hope that someone who adopts a child would be the best parent they could be. Wrong. Her young life was full of abuse and neglect. Our childhood is a huge part of what makes us tick. Jeanette's clock got smashed. Adopted as a baby and raised by a mother who was clearly mentally unstable, a religious fanatic and wouldn't allow any book in the house other than the bible. Her father was mentally absent and avoided conflict. She has spent the rest of her life trying to pick up the pieces. I can't imagine coming out under her difficult circumstances and she doesn't get smarmy about it. She does explain why being loving is difficult. I had some trouble with the first few chapters but once self-reflection kicked in I decided to keep going. If she can be bold enough to bare her soul, I can be respectful and read her personal story.
I get her confident manner and why it's hard to face criticism when that's all she had growing up. I got a glimpse inside her head and have a greater appreciation for her body of work. If you enjoy Ms. Winterson's books read this memoir and a little "click" will go off in your head.

New title..same journey

I change, grow, expand. Time to let it be. Let peace in. Allow rather than search. Breathe rather than labor. Sit rather than stir. 

Each day I will do my best to live in peace. Just for today. Just for this moment. Just for this breath. 

Oh, there will be stumbles and anger and laughter and joy. 

Om Shanti Om

A Magnificent Death

Book Review

Dying To Be Me by Anita Moorjani

  I will admit that I have a slight obsession with death. I don’t feel it’s necessarily unhealthy and at times I’m sure we’ve all thought about it. It is inevitable after all. Having recently been diagnosed with a brain tumor I think more about what comes after the body fails.

  It’s not so much that I feel scared of what comes after. Ok, I will admit to a bit frightened. More, it’s where does my soul go? What is on the other side? Is there a heaven? Is there a God? What does God look and feel like. 

  I don’t believe as I did as a child that it’s a large man with long curly hair sitting on a large throne. Though, as a seven year old I remember lying in bed after saying my prayers and thinking about angels. I wanted to go live with them in heaven, hear their melodious harp music and frolic in the clouds. My belief now and for several years is that we are all energy and we connect to this energy collection when we die. I do believe I will see my loved ones on the other side. I imagine but am not certain about reincarnation, coming back, etc. I leave that open at this point.

  I've read several books about NDE ( near death experience.) When I recently read Dying To Be Me by Anita Moorjani I felt like something clicked in my heart and my head.  Ms. Moorjani was at the end of her life after suffering with cancer for many years. She went into the hospital and was in a coma for 4 days. Her doctors told her family her organs were shutting down and to expect her death.

  What Anita experienced while in the coma is amazing. In wonderful detail she explains her experience, seeing her passed loved ones, the energy of the universe and her own innate nature of love and self-acceptance that she neglected before her NDE. She can see as others have, her doctors, and family at her bedside and even knows sees that her brother is flying from India to be by her bedside. She explains in detail the feelings of love and magnificence of her own being and how she is connected to Universal Energy which is the God energy of us all. She understands through this experience that she is all she needs to be. Not what others think of her, not what education she has, not what she owns, but how she thinks that manifest the person she is meant to be. She feels we all need to claim our magesty just as we are. Sounds simple right? Perhaps it really is.

  Moorjani miraculously survives, completely recovers and is now cancer free. She came back from her NDE with feelings of boundless love for not only others but most importantly for herself. And with that love she lives a life of happiness and inner freedom, sharing this adventure with us all.

  Tap into my magnificence? I’m going to give it a try. I want a life with no regrets. I want happiness and joy and live my life to the fullest. For me it’s our experience, relationships and love that make us who we are. I do plan on seeing the Angels in that Universal Energy on the other side. We have some frolicking to do!