{"product_id":"important-things-in-life-alison-rhodes-9781911229018","title":"Important Things In Life","description":"\u003cp\u003eI've always found writing my thoughts down very therapeutic and from a young age I discovered that I would often automatically write in rhyme.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eI didn't find the courage to share my writing with anyone until, at High School when I was 15, our English Teacher asked us to write a poem about 'Sight'. It was very poignant as my Mum had recently been diagnosed with a disease that would gradually rob her of her sight, so I wrote from my heart. When our teacher said she had \"a particularly beautiful poem that had been handed in and wanted to read it to the class\", I was amazed when it was mine!\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAs life became busier with work, marriage, and so on, I found that it was at the saddest times of my life that I would feel compelled to put pen to paper. When I devastatingly miscarried our first much-wanted, long-awaited baby, I took some comfort from writing poems for her and then when our incredibly precious son arrived I was able to see the world through the eyes of a child again and wanted to convey the magic around us in my writing.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn 2010 I trained to be a Reiki Healing Practitioner and, in order to get to know the others in the class better, we were asked to tell a little about ourself and our interests. I mentioned that I wrote poetry and though I was reluctant at first, I was persuaded to share some with the group. The teachings I received from the course gave me more confidence and self-belief, things I had been distinctly lacking, and helped me to regain a sense of inner peace which was then reflected in the type of things I wrote about.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eI wrote the poems in this collection over a period of more than four years - from 25 January 2012 (\u003cem\u003eBefore your life is through\u003c\/em\u003e) to 22 June 2016 (\u003cem\u003eSurvive and thrive together)\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn March 2013, I went to bed one night feeling absolutely fine and awoke the next morning barely able to move, with no feeling at all in my right arm. I spent a few months in absolute agony, unable to use my hands, I wasn't able to do much for myself and could hardly walk before I was eventually diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Treatment began easing things a little but the following year I was dealt a second blow when I was told that I also have Scleroderma, a rare disease for which there is currently no cure. I decided then that I couldn't give up. I had to fight all the way. I wanted to help raise awareness and use my experiences to help others who are encountering hardships to understand that our mind is a powerful tool and whatever life brings, we can choose not to dwell on the negatives and find something positive to focus on. The illnesses reduced my physical capacity profoundly\u003cstrong\u003e. \u003c\/strong\u003eThey can often be life-limiting and drastically reduce life expectancy. I have chosen to let them give me a new perspective on life - how we have to cherish everybody and every moment while we still can.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIf, through my words, I can encourage even just one other person to connect more deeply with life's riches, and develop new optimism, my life won't have been in vain. I have selected the poems for this collection specifically because I have a passionate wish to help others to benefit from the very precious help and guidance I have received. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Alison Rhodes\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 191122901X\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781911229018\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Augur Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 11\/30\/2016\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 46\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.16lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.27h x 5.83w x 0.11d","brand":"Alison Rhodes","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":48442634469631,"sku":"9781911229018","price":7.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_e33d2ab8-618e-4c2c-92e9-f9e9294fb265.jpg?v=1777198726","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/important-things-in-life-alison-rhodes-9781911229018","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}