Kitchen Table Wisdom: Stories That Heal

(7) I read this for work - a collection of short stories about healing written by a physician whose lifelong experience with being a patient made her conscious of what traditional medicine was missing by focusing solely on science and discarding wholeness, loss, mystery, awe, and the power of reflective listening. She ultimately became a therapist, walking away from her career as a successful academic pediatrician - after of years of training, surviving, thriving in the male world of medicine through the 50's to the 70's. She ultimately is the force behind the 'Healer's Art' a seminar for early career medical students. For me, it puts much of what I feel inside about doctoring and about having been a fragile, vulnerable patient into words - and it is quite lovely.

Why not a higher rating? I don't know - the stories began to blend together after awhile and become a bit twee. But indeed finding the sacred in ordinary life is so powerful. Giving voice and lending strength and compassion to every individual that comes to me for help is such meaningful life work. It is nice to be reminded of that -- I, alone, am enough -- is a mantra that rather stands out.

Anyway, I think anyone struggling with a life altering disease and/or any physician who feels burned out would enjoy this book. It has a tendency to get a bit over the top I think - I am not a mystic, a Zen Buddhist, nor a meditator and when things veered in that direction - I felt a bit of an eye-roll coming on. But I do not believe that science knows everything and I do believe that kindness, active listening, and bearing witness are as powerful as any other therapeutic options at my disposal. ( )

I read this book several years ago and it's one of the most uplifting books I've ever read. It's a collection of stories about healing, pulled from Dr. Remen's years of working with terminally ill patients and their families and her experiences with Crohn's disease. I wasn't dealing with any kind of hardship when I read it but I found plenty that was relevant to my life. ( )

Recommended to me by my sister as a good read when you or friends are facing medical crises. Well written, informative, and inspiring. I would re-read if I could remember who I loaned it to! ( )

An M.D. and counselor who has had to deal with her own chronic illness writes of the humanity that rises to the top when people bravely faces their fears of death, and discover their love of life. So moving and uplifting, this is a book I've gifted to a half dozen people. ( )

A collection of healing stories with a nugget of wisdom in each one. ( )