Inspiration from Jen Hatmaker

Hello Sunshine!

I want to tell you about a book signing I attended this week that was so inspiring.  Have you ever heard of Jen Hatmaker?  I saw her once on Oprah.  I follow her in Instagram.  I have not read any of her books, but I was very interested in this one. 

AWAKE is her memoir.  She is a little younger than me, but we grew up in the same 80s culture.  Her writing is fantastic.  She is deep and insightful, funny and inspiring.  She tells about impactful moments in her childhood that informed her life choices, and there are many parallels to my youth.

She begins her book with THE END… and tells about how her marriage ended suddenly due to discovering her husband’s infidelity.  This book is a must read if you have lived this.  The way she describes how she felt… physically, emotionally, mentally… it is spot on.

At the end of her talk, she took questions and someone asked if she’s really been able to turn it all around and find joy again.  Her answer was beautiful.  While she never wanted this, she explained that this life trial ignited a post-traumatic growth spurt and now she thinks that it might be the best thing that could have ever happened to her.  

Can you imagine?  

She said she now has full authority over her life.  She has agency, autonomy, she is at peace with her body, her relationships are better, SHE is better.  A better mom, a better friend, a better daughter, a better sister, a better partner.  She’s become more truthful, more real, more open.  She has started to LISTEN to herself, believe her intuition, and has become fully AWAKE.  

Her inspiring words resonated deeply with me.  The trauma of betrayal is so intense and so disruptive to daily life, it can pull you down into a deep chasm of despair... for years.  Many women get lost there and stay stuck in the depths of victimhood indefinitely.  It takes a strong will to decide that the next chapter is going to be all about YOU.  That this will not define you.  That this will not be how the story ends.  

I’ve still got 75% of this book to read, but I can already highly recommend to anyone who wants to explore overcoming grief and loss and rebuilding a life that is truly rich with love, joy and gratitude.