Glad No Matter What: Transforming Loss and Change into Gift and Opportunity

I'm a huge fan of Sark and have read all of her books over the years, so though I am more than a little "biased" when it comes to her work, I'm also well-acquainted with it. No matter where you are in your life or what you are facing, there is something to help you within the pages. So sit down and meander as you will. What you need will find you. This time around I found Sark's deeply personal sharing over the breakup of a relationship and the loss of her mother and a beloved pet, to be incredibly helpful. Few people are as open and honest about ALL the feelings and stuff we go through. What I love best about Sark is that she doesn't pretend stuff isn't happening or pretend everything is perfect, she embraces it all, goes INTO it and emerges with new wisdom and new ways for us to change our "relationship" to our issues and feelings. Unlike other books on similar topics, you don't feel judged or foolish for not being able to quickly adopt change or instantly "get" and embrace some of the thoughts and ideas. Sark is REAL and that's part of what makes you listen and learn. Because if she can feel as bad as she does at times, and yet come out of it and find the blessings, so, too, can we. The book was very inspiring and this time around, I immediately started doing some of the "work." Meanwhile, I filled up a notebook with my own notes and thoughts inspired by her various riffs. Sark is funny, clever, soulful, entertaining, aware and real. There are many authors we like and would love to meet, but after all these years, I'd love to meet Sark in real life and have her as a real life friend. Reading her books, it's almost as if she were there with you, in a way we wish all our best friends could but few can because honestly, Sark is also very clever. I've now given this book as a gift to several people (of all ages) and most recently recommended to a young woman who is contemplating divorce. "Glad no matter what" is a great title and a great challenge, but it's one that Sark makes us feel as if we can choose and live every day, no matter what. Life is about change and loss and this may be one of the best and most accessible books to address the topic, in the way only Sark can. Thank you, Sark. Just one heads up: If you have only recently lost a loved one, you may not be quite ready to read certain portions of the book. But they are the words you'll cherish when it's time.

Sark has a way of expressing and describing feelings as I've never seen. I am only reading a few pages at a time to let what she says sink in and touch the parts of me that need expressing. There is a common trend of positive, accepting, feeling your feelings in much of the things I'm reading these days. However, Sark pinpoints these and brings them to the surface so that you can easily examine what is happening in your own life. As usual, she is entertaining and endearing. She is also very real for those of us still examining our whys and "how the heck did that happen?" She lets us see our part in our life and puts us back in there to work it out for ourselves to come out even better than if we were to have just endured the experience. I always look forward to opening her books to any page and feeling a slice of her perspective. Witty, smart, truly sensitive and such a valuable enlightening tool.

I love this book. The style and format is very SARK so it's fun to read. It has a handy index where you simply select the feeling that you have (grief, joy, lost, happy etc.) and you turn to the page indicated at the front of the book that coincides with that emotion - and a wondeful life lesson/story awaits you. I purchased a second copy for my mother who was having difficulty moving through the death of her sister. This book has been very helpful with her grief and she has made great progress. If you are at a point in your life where you're going through scary changes, loss, grief or simply feel alone and isolated - this book is a wonderful read to help lift you up and get back to life! Thank you SARK!

I love this book. It's different than any other book I have read. First, it's handwritten in a colorful fashion for print. You can feel SARK's intentions in her writing. Second, this book has helped me to find a new range of emotions. It will help you sift through the negative and positive feelings that you have. You can read this book straight through or use the table of contents in the beginning and go straight to the issue at hand. 3rd, there are activities that will help put what you have read into action. It's a hands-on approach to healing.

Love Sark. This is one of her best yet and I'm still reading it! This is one you keep forever because you will reread and it will still be as good or better than the first time you read it.

I have been reading SARK for years, encouraging those I train in Stress Management to read her also. Her background and reaction, creating positive from negative is a lesson most of us struggle with, although I believe we have the natural ability to learn. I didn't really know what this latest book was about until I saw her interviewed. I lost my husband almost 2 years ago and then my mother last year. I have been realizing that I have never really allowed myself to grieve their loss, as this pain, coupled with regrets and guilt, was just too hard to let myself feel. SARK's book helped me a great deal. I felt like I was given permsission to miss the good in both relationships and yet to still recognize what was also most annoying, without feeling guilt. I gave myself permission to be human, to grieve, to miss and to let go of painful memories, loving and enjoying the years I felt blessed to have them. This was truly a gift and allowed me to wake up with a sense of moving on. I could appreciate SARK's practices to ask for and create the miraculous of every blessed day I am alive and to love and open my heart with gratitude for those friends, family and yes, my pet cat through which I can receive and express that love. Death is part of life and the lesson is always Love. Thank you SARK!

Insightful and extremely helpful.

Having read most of Sark's previous books, I looked forward to getting this one. I wasn't disappointed, it was full to bursting with her colouful take on life, with generous scoops of her wisdom and knowledge. Her books are enriching and help to point the way to a happier, joy filled way of living. Highly recommended!

excellent ! thank you...

From my perspective, this is SARK's most comprehensive book. It is filled with personal examples, stories and best of all excellent tools and resources to assist you in transforming loss and change. I highly recommend it!