Living Life and Saying Goodbye

I could feel their pa I read this book in several days. I could feel their pain and anguish and their parents as well. ALS is an awful progressive disease where your body dies slowly, one muscle and nerve at a time.

Susan puts a spin on it that I did not expect. She shares her anguish and that of her husband and children, but the main focus of the book is on how to live well with the time she has left. She makes a clear decision not to spend her time in therapy and hospitals, but living life as fully as she can. I love how she explores her roots with her birth father in Cyprus and takes time to go through her photographs for her children. She creates a special Chickee hut in her backyard where she can lounge and enjoy the beauty of nature.

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She also takes a trip with each person she is close to--her son, daughter, husband, sister and dear friend. Those are all things I would want to do if I knew death was near.

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And, of course, they are things I should do now--as soon as I can--because none of us know how long we have. The book is a wonderful reminder to live in the moment, to have the strength to live with uncertainty and to let go of what you can no longer do. She talks, for example, of no longer being able to swim and letting it go.. The book helps me to remember that when I get frustrated because my knee does not work as well as I would like, or I don't have as much energy as I want--to let that go and appreciate the general health that I do have--life is such a gift.

Thank you Susan for writing this book. It is a true gift to me and to the world. I feel like I really got to know you through this book and to care about you and your family. Blessings to all of you. Nov 09, K rated it really liked it Shelves: An easily readable book on a tough topic. This memoir recounts the experience of a year-old woman diagnosed with ALS. Instead of giving into self-pity, Susan Spencer-Wendel makes a conscious choice to live out her remaining time with joy -- taking trips she's always wanted to take with the people she loves and forming happy memories, even as her functioning declines.

Naturally, reading about Susan's deteriorating health and bleak prognosis was painful. But I feel this is an important book to r An easily readable book on a tough topic. But I feel this is an important book to read for people who, like me, need to be reminded to appreciate what they have.

The book wasn't perfect, and I considered a three-star rating at times. The narrative sagged occasionally, weighted down by details which were probably more interesting to live through than to read about -- an occupational hazard of writing and reading memoirs in general. Also, while I recognize that this surely says a lot more about me than it does about Susan, while I fully admired Susan's bravery and positive attitude, I also felt that I couldn't completely relate.

Boy, would I be a wreck if this happened to me.

Saying Goodbye: How Gratitude Made my Life Bearable and Beautiful

There was some acknowledgement of Susan's considering suicide and feeling discouraged, but a lot more emphasis was placed on her positive attitude and successful insistence on restraining her urge to complain and always seeing the glass as half-full. When I read about someone who displays so much more courage than I would have, part of me is in awe and part of me feels a bit distanced, like I can't relate to someone who would have done so little griping and complaining.

But again, that's me, not the book, and Susan has set a powerful example for those of us not suffering terminal illness but rather, the myriad little hassles of life. Sep 05, Doris Evans-McCarthy rated it liked it. Yes, I know that the number of stars I gave this book is lower than the average given by other readers, but hear me out. I think Spencer-Wendel is a very brave woman for being able to still get out there and live her life despite slowly being robbed of every single thing the human body can do except for thinking.

Gradually she is being locked into an infantile, dependent body, riddled with ALS Lou Gehrig's disease. She sets out to spend her last relatively healthy year accomplishing some thi Yes, I know that the number of stars I gave this book is lower than the average given by other readers, but hear me out. She sets out to spend her last relatively healthy year accomplishing some things: What I wish she had done more of in this book is talk about her experience of the disease, rather than just bucking up and being brave.

Saying Goodbye: How Gratitude Made my Life Bearable and Beautiful - www.newyorkethnicfood.com

I think the losses she was encountering were every bit as important to the story as were the discoveries outside the disease. She was so careful to not slip into self-pity that she left out something I think is crucial to a memoir of this kind. Still, it's a good read, filled with one woman's idea of what to do in the face of death. Not everyone approaches death the same way. Some might decide to end it all with a diagnosis like this.

She chose to live through it and be there, especially for her children. I do have to say, though, the episode of taking her year-old daughter to Kleinfeld's was painful to read. A very moving and touching story. Susan the author has ALS. Even as she is writing this book, her muscles and nerves are deteriorating.

Eventually she will die.

A Life Well Lived – Saying Goodbye

But even with her right thumb the only functioning digit, she taps this story away on her iPhone. It's the story of her life, molded into the perspective of someone seeing the end come too soon. And as she accepts her diagnosis, she decides to live joyfully in spite of it all. Have you complained about something today? Or have you rejoi A very moving and touching story. Or have you rejoiced in the opportunities you've had? Sure life isn't easy, but it could be much harder. And if you read this book, it will change your whole perspective on "harder. YOU can make a difference.

This was a beautiful book. Susan perfectly blended the last years of her life - dealing with symptoms and finally the death sentence, with the things that had shaped her and prepared her for this time. And then she grabbed the proverbial brass ring to ride with joy to the end - painting memories for her family into the sunset of her life. I fell in love with Susan's spirit, her sense of adventure and the love she has for everyone around her.

I will recommend this book to everyone!!!! Look for it's release in March of I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Reading the description may make you think: Oh, no, too depressing. But this is truly one of the most inspiring books I have read in a good while. Susan Spencer-Wendel lets us in on a year of her life, that is sadly likely to be close to the end of her time here, where she chooses time and time again to live in and with joy, despite the challenges thrown in her path.

And on top of all that, she keeps a sense of humor. I was so so so honored to have nar I cannot recommend this book highly enough. I was so so so honored to have narrated this book.

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View all 4 comments. Sep 14, Sachin Ganpat rated it did not like it Recommends it for: I really wanted to like this book. After all it is a true story, written by someone who is really dying. It would be cruel, and heartless, to not like this book, far more to criticise it, not so? But I didn't like it. I was looking for a book that I could have empathised with the author. It started out great. I felt her pain. I felt her uncertainty. I felt her sorrow It started with all the jet setting, then all the demands on her family, and friends, and on he I really wanted to like this book.

It started with all the jet setting, then all the demands on her family, and friends, and on her husband. No matter what, she had to get her way. She needs the ceiling painted, does she hire a painter it's not like she doesn't have the money , no, she asks her seventy-something dad to do it for her.

Constantly I didn't feel acceptance or enlightenment, instead I felt the author's utter selfishness and conceit. I can't fathom what it would be like to be in her position, and I do admire that it did not stop her from doing anything, even writing this book. But this book is not inspirational, and I am sure many people in her position would not be able to fly all around the world, or visit the Yukon, or even get a book published.

I have no idea as to who I can recommend this book for, but if you're looking for inspiration, this is not the book to find it. Our book group is reading this and I have been unable to put it down. How do we face any challenge? Where does our strength of will, character and the ability to face another set back emanate from? What would I do with a year or with two? How do I dare feel hopeless at times? I love the fact she remains concerned about beauty, appearances, and works to feel like she hasn't lost everything she "is".

How do you fit into the universe? What is the purpose of living well? Thank you, Susan, for giving Our book group is reading this and I have been unable to put it down. Thank you, Susan, for giving me a perspective to consider. We ,too, have a friend with an ALS-type affliction. You have given her and us a gift. Apr 02, Deirdre Keating rated it it was amazing Shelves: I almost never give a book 5 stars, but "amazing" describes this book exactly. I heard of Susan via one of my favorite features in The Week Magazinea spotlight on a specific author and their favorite books.

I liked her choices, and her own memoir was described as being about "making the most of her remaining time" after her diagnosis of ALS at age She was an investigative reporter, and when she describes some of the horror she witnessed and reported on during her 20 years on that beat in I almost never give a book 5 stars, but "amazing" describes this book exactly. She was an investigative reporter, and when she describes some of the horror she witnessed and reported on during her 20 years on that beat in Florida, the unsentimental tone she writes with makes much more sense.

She is a 'get-it-done' woman,a no-nonsense realist who decides to do what needs to be done finish her children's photo albums! Here's what I appreciated most: From my own experience with my mom facing her death, I know how tempting it can be to stay at that stage, how much energy is drained by facing the inevitableplanning one's funeral, leaving the notes or recording a messagethey all sound doable but are x harder to do when the context changes.

I love her frankness about her own weaknesses, whether about vanityhigh heels and tatoo'd eyebrows or in her personal relationships, and her strengthsher tenacity as a reporter and her determination to stay in control of her attitude while everything else in her life moves beyond her control. And yet, I loved learning about her different experiences as she set off to fulfill her bucket list and learn more about her origins. The most moving parts of the book are also the ones I imagine were most difficult for her to write, the ones describing her children. I can still picture her, poolside under the tiki hut with her Goldie nearby.

I only cried twicewhen she got the book deal, because if I were sick, that relief would be the greatest gift to me, and again, at the very end, as she typed her children's names. I can't fathom all that she has surrendered, but, read this book or not, you and I will one day have to give up all of it too, and it was a generous gift for Susan to share with all of us her journey of letting go.

Mar 28, Collette rated it it was amazing. One of the most spiritual books I have ever read. But he never made me feel that way. He always complimented me on this column and my business. Did he truly believe that? He made me feel like I could be successful in all my adventures. Chances are, if you were lucky enough to cross his path, you felt it too. Every breath we take is one moment closer to our ultimate destination.

Dedicated to your stories and ideas.

You know this, I do too. Why does it take death to remember? Mark did a great job with those in between moments. I will never forget. But life persists, even in death. And so we go about our days, remembering our friend and the things he taught us. He must have known intuitively that gratitude has the power to transform a frustrated moment into something beautiful.

But, truthfully, the one thing that kept my spirits going did not come from my inner reserves; it came from Charlie and his consistent expressions of deep gratitude for me and all that I was doing for him. Every day, whether I was giving him nutrition in his feeding tube or propping his head on a pillow, he thanked me. He lifted me each day on our journey with ALS, a journey that lasted one year and four months, all with a simple heartfelt expression of gratitude.

In the final moments of his life, as I held Charlie in my arms and witnessed his last breath, I felt a profound love between us. That love ushered in waves of gratitude for a well-lived life and the commitment we shared. I felt more proud of Charlie and myself than I ever had in that moment, because we had the courage to release ourselves from the shackles of suffering. Life gave me two experiences I never thought I would have — great love and overwhelming loss.

I was searching for a deep, meaningful life when I moved away from home. Charlie helped me find it in ways I never could have imagined. Eric Mulholland is an actor, educator and licensed massage therapist. He has blogged about theatre for Whidbey Life Magazine and traveled extensively working with PYE Global , an organization co-founded by his late husband.

He enjoys writing and lives in the Pacific Northwest with his loving pooch, Ziggy. We invite you to share a story about yourself or another person, reflecting on the question: Please log in or Create a Profile to post a comment. I am moved by the depth of love you shared with each other, and grateful for the way it continues to ripple I am moved by the depth of love you shared with each other, and grateful for the way it continues to ripple out through you.

Sorry for your loss but glad to see that you experienced true love and care through a great relationship. Hope you have the courage to live on. Thank you, dear Eric, for sharing. It touches me deeply, your both pure love, devotion and your loss, and your generous kindness to share it with us. I will keep you and Charlie in my prayers and in my heart. May you feel the love that is always there to soothe your pain.