I wish I could like this post a thousand times! 💖 Reading 'How to be sick' was a revelation for me. It's like she was reading my mind. Every word she wrote felt like a soothing, guiding hand.
Darling Vōx you have expressed so eloquently the same ways this book has also helped me. I also carry with me the pocket companion of the book. Thank you 🥰
Ohhhh it's so lovely to hear how much it helped you too, Catherine. It's truly such a compassionate and amazing book. Not very many others have stuck with me as much as this one, especially as far as every day practices. 💖
this book was transformative for me as a sick person as well, i've read it many times, it opened me up to a new way of thinking and treating myself. i'm glad you're spreading the word!
Another person who loves this book. I came across it must be 14yrs-ish ago and it sits on my bedside table for comfort on really bad nights (though I often forget it is there!). I already did some buddhist practice and meditation before I read it but you can definitely come at it with no pre-existing experience other than that of your own illness. Tonglen was and is the thing I found most useful from the book as I’d not come across it before, breathing in the suffering of all beings and breathing out compassion. It’s tough to start with but it really does help. I have her other two books as well but they didn’t speak to me in the same way as this book.
This is so wonderful to hear, Alison. I do really love how accessible she makes the buddhist practices. Like you mention, you can come with no experience and still benefit powerfully.
I absolutely loved reading this, thank you so much for sharing. It is comforting and inspiring to read your words when I'm up against the frustration of uncertainty. The feelings of release that you described started arriving in my own body as I read your piece, how beautiful that you created that. x
Thank you for this. I've put a copy on hold at my local library.
I took a pain management course and one of the practices they suggested was to find a part of your body that feels good and focus your attention on that. It helps the pain to fade into the background. I tried it once during a very uncomfortable MRI and actually fell asleep.
I offer this suggestion as a little thank you for the book recommendation...
I finished reading my library copy today and it's every bit as good as you said! I feel so seen and supported. And there are so many good practices to experiment with.
I'm ordering a copy from my local bookstore so I can highlight it and write in the margins and dog-ear the pages and carry it with me.
Thank you for these important words, ahhh I picked this book up a very long time ago and found it so hard to read. It brought up so much. I kept it on my bookshelves for all this time and now I will be reading it again, hopefully more resourced & accepting. What a gift to read these words and feel the wisdom in a way that's accessible and personal. Less intimidating!
I totally feel you. My partner had a similar experience when reading this book, there was a lot of resistance. It's not an easy subject at all! I don't know what it was for me, but the timing was truly cosmic in that I was somehow open to it. I hope you can approach it lightly and with compassion for yourself if it's still hard to read. That's the most important part.
This post unlocked something in me yesterday - the part about adding to suffering by also suffering in your mind helped free me of some heavy issues that I've been carrying twice - once in my body and secondly in my head. I can't change the situation, but I can change how I approach it. Thanks for writing this, and I'm glad you've found some ease in illness x
I feel so much gratitude that this could help unlock something. That's how I felt when I first read the book, like it cracked me wide open! Sending you all my love, Alys.
This is so helpful, thank you! Interestingly, the way you describe dukkha brought me back to when I gave birth and wasn’t able to get pain meds (don’t ask) and had been in a 9-month flare up. I had to learn to just surrender to the pain and go with it rather than trying to resist it. I’ve applied that lesson since.
Also the self-compassion, I regularly talk to my inner child who is in pain and discomfort soothingly as if she were my own baby.
Wow! Childbirth is definitely the ultimate dukkha scenario. It’s so amazing how we intuitively tap into these practices in the times of great need. That’s beautiful. Also, honestly, learning how to talk to my inner child changed my life so profoundly. Such a blessing 💞💞💞
I really appreciate your vulnerability in this piece. I have this book in my cart now. Thank you for sharing the ways you feel pain and peace, and how they coexist within you now. I will take this to heart.
I read this long ago - in the early 2000s when my health first when sideways in a BIG way. I remember having a hard time with it, despite my openness and practice of some Buddhism. But, I am intrigued by what you’ve said and the positive comments here and want to give it another go. Self compassion has always been such a challenge. Maybe this will help. Perhaps a 3 person book club?
Yes to a 3 person book club! I even found on my second read that some of the practices spoke more to me now than they had on the first read. And some experiences for me just in the last year have started me on a journey with self compassion, so I feel you on it taking a long time to break through. I'm so interested to know what you discover from a second read, and if you feel some new things unlock.
I wish I could like this post a thousand times! 💖 Reading 'How to be sick' was a revelation for me. It's like she was reading my mind. Every word she wrote felt like a soothing, guiding hand.
Darling Vōx you have expressed so eloquently the same ways this book has also helped me. I also carry with me the pocket companion of the book. Thank you 🥰
Ohhhh it's so lovely to hear how much it helped you too, Catherine. It's truly such a compassionate and amazing book. Not very many others have stuck with me as much as this one, especially as far as every day practices. 💖
Agreed. Same for me 💖
this book was transformative for me as a sick person as well, i've read it many times, it opened me up to a new way of thinking and treating myself. i'm glad you're spreading the word!
It truly felt like it saved my life. I’m so happy to hear it helped you as well ❤️🩹
Another person who loves this book. I came across it must be 14yrs-ish ago and it sits on my bedside table for comfort on really bad nights (though I often forget it is there!). I already did some buddhist practice and meditation before I read it but you can definitely come at it with no pre-existing experience other than that of your own illness. Tonglen was and is the thing I found most useful from the book as I’d not come across it before, breathing in the suffering of all beings and breathing out compassion. It’s tough to start with but it really does help. I have her other two books as well but they didn’t speak to me in the same way as this book.
This is so wonderful to hear, Alison. I do really love how accessible she makes the buddhist practices. Like you mention, you can come with no experience and still benefit powerfully.
I absolutely loved reading this, thank you so much for sharing. It is comforting and inspiring to read your words when I'm up against the frustration of uncertainty. The feelings of release that you described started arriving in my own body as I read your piece, how beautiful that you created that. x
Sophie! My heart is bursting! I feel honored I could share a little of that peace with you.
This is so well said I will just +1! My favorite post of yours so far, and much needed this week. Thank you.
Thank you sweet Lisa ☺️❤️🩹
Thank you for this. I've put a copy on hold at my local library.
I took a pain management course and one of the practices they suggested was to find a part of your body that feels good and focus your attention on that. It helps the pain to fade into the background. I tried it once during a very uncomfortable MRI and actually fell asleep.
I offer this suggestion as a little thank you for the book recommendation...
Looking forward to hearing what you think about the book, Barbara. Thank you for sharing this practice as well. I'll have to try this out!
I finished reading my library copy today and it's every bit as good as you said! I feel so seen and supported. And there are so many good practices to experiment with.
I'm ordering a copy from my local bookstore so I can highlight it and write in the margins and dog-ear the pages and carry it with me.
Thanks so much for the recommendation!
Oh my gosh, this comment makes my heart sing. I'm so grateful this post and the book found you at the right time! Thank you so much for sharing.
Thank you for these important words, ahhh I picked this book up a very long time ago and found it so hard to read. It brought up so much. I kept it on my bookshelves for all this time and now I will be reading it again, hopefully more resourced & accepting. What a gift to read these words and feel the wisdom in a way that's accessible and personal. Less intimidating!
I totally feel you. My partner had a similar experience when reading this book, there was a lot of resistance. It's not an easy subject at all! I don't know what it was for me, but the timing was truly cosmic in that I was somehow open to it. I hope you can approach it lightly and with compassion for yourself if it's still hard to read. That's the most important part.
🙏thank you Vox
I needed to read this. Thank you for writing it 🙏
Thank you Evelyn. I'm so happy it found you at the right time.
Great essay! This reminds me of a book I read many years ago with the title "The Healing Power of Illness"
Thank you Jeff!
This post unlocked something in me yesterday - the part about adding to suffering by also suffering in your mind helped free me of some heavy issues that I've been carrying twice - once in my body and secondly in my head. I can't change the situation, but I can change how I approach it. Thanks for writing this, and I'm glad you've found some ease in illness x
I feel so much gratitude that this could help unlock something. That's how I felt when I first read the book, like it cracked me wide open! Sending you all my love, Alys.
This is so helpful, thank you! Interestingly, the way you describe dukkha brought me back to when I gave birth and wasn’t able to get pain meds (don’t ask) and had been in a 9-month flare up. I had to learn to just surrender to the pain and go with it rather than trying to resist it. I’ve applied that lesson since.
Also the self-compassion, I regularly talk to my inner child who is in pain and discomfort soothingly as if she were my own baby.
Wow! Childbirth is definitely the ultimate dukkha scenario. It’s so amazing how we intuitively tap into these practices in the times of great need. That’s beautiful. Also, honestly, learning how to talk to my inner child changed my life so profoundly. Such a blessing 💞💞💞
I really appreciate your vulnerability in this piece. I have this book in my cart now. Thank you for sharing the ways you feel pain and peace, and how they coexist within you now. I will take this to heart.
Thank you so much Mara! Let me know what you think of the book. Can’t wait to hear what you think. Let’s have a two person book club ☺️❤️🩹
I read this long ago - in the early 2000s when my health first when sideways in a BIG way. I remember having a hard time with it, despite my openness and practice of some Buddhism. But, I am intrigued by what you’ve said and the positive comments here and want to give it another go. Self compassion has always been such a challenge. Maybe this will help. Perhaps a 3 person book club?
Yes to a 3 person book club! I even found on my second read that some of the practices spoke more to me now than they had on the first read. And some experiences for me just in the last year have started me on a journey with self compassion, so I feel you on it taking a long time to break through. I'm so interested to know what you discover from a second read, and if you feel some new things unlock.
Profound and Powerful. I found the same book a few years ago and clearly need to reread it.
Thank you Brian! It’s totally worth a reread. I was struck by many new concepts that hadn’t hit for me the first time around.
I experience that as well. The first read is a sniff, and the second read is a taste.
Joining others in agreement: this book was, and is, life-changing, and you can keep picking it up and finding new wisdom. Thanks for your writing!
I really needed this tonight. Thank you for sharing these practices.
I'm so happy it reached you at the right time. Sending so much love.
Received. I am very appreciative. Also I put the book in my shopping cart! Excited to get more of this medicine.
Insightful piece.
I too am perpetually healed by the neuro scientific applications of buddhist philosophies. And by books. So many book teachers.
Thank you Nessa! Book teachers are some of my favorites too!