Thirsty: Journaling to Survive, Thrive and Feel Alive

by Karen Ribeiro

For the longest time the title of this book was I Don’t Know… and it’s okay. It was a HUGE step, in the process of waking up from a spiritual coma, to accept the fact that not knowing what to do sometimes or what to say most of the time seek is OKAY and maybe even normal. The new title, Thirsty, speaks to all of us who yearn for understanding; and the glass metaphor used for all chapter titles—particularly the cover image of a glass half-full—represents perspective, and choice.

The stories in Thirsty: Journaling to Survive, Thrive and Feel Alive, range from tragic to terrific and illustrate the process of strengthening character and moving toward happiness. Basically it’s about putting the puzzle of life together. Since this process is done in relationship with others, Karen’s whole family comes along for the ride, especially her high school sweetheart-turned-husband. He gets beat up a bit (literally too! at least until Karen and Paul realize that play fighting doesn’t seem like play to their toddler) and shows his resilience through the process Karen goes through to reclaim her soul. Her exciting quest for in-sight ultimately produces an ever-expanding, increasingly more beautiful, life puzzle.

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:

In Thirsty I share the process that has filled me with inspiration for decades, journaling. The teenage angst and the deep darkness I explored was important to write about. But eventually I learned the art of journaling is to transform the dark into lightness.

This book was drafted many years ago, during the most “raw” time of my healing process. It sat on a shelf for a decade as I practiced being a healed person and is now offered with what I feel is a detached, unemotional perspective. Detaching from deep emotional triggers, as we all know, is no simple feat. My early years hold more anguish and confusion and my later years offer insight and awareness—due to the intense reflection you will read about, and in part to the simple fact that we find challenges easier to bear as we get older. (If you would like to listen to my 30 minute radio interview about my experiences, please click here)

I totally love the fact that we are emotional beings, thirsting and exploring shifts in perspective, seeking each day to live a life that unfolds more and more beautifully.

I am thirsty, aren’t you?