Summary
Still Standing: A Mother's Raw Journey from the Shadows of Loss to the Dawning of Hope is a memoir by Denny Meek. In this book, she takes us through a spiritual journey in her life as a Christian, and a mother who not only lost one child to a heart disease, but also her two teens who took their own life. This book tackles topics such as suicide, domestic violence, anorexia nervosa, akathisia, CPTSD, and a lifelong grief of losing one’s children.
Review
I almost couldn’t bear the thought of the immense suffering that Denny Meek endured as a mother and wife. Life can be so cruel and unfair and this book not only showed her grueling journey, but also how she was able to surpass them. The sad thing is that surpassing them seems to be something that she just had to do and had no choice but to overcome, and I guess that applies to all of us. Often, we don’t have a choice, but to move on. I’m glad that Denny had the courage to relive and express the many moments that she had to endure in the past. It would’ve been so tormenting. I believe that writing or expressing one’s thoughts can be healing, but as a mother, I feel so disheartened to know that even writing about such experiences never takes the pain away.
Being a mother is the greatest responsibility that anyone can ever have. At times, you feel honored, but then there are times when you question yourself about whether you’ve done your best because in your mind, whatever happens to your children is your responsibility. And in this scary world, people can either be your support system or the reason you fall apart. People tend to be short-sighted and judgmental. They always share their opinion as if they know the entire story. I admit that I can be like that at times, but often, I realize my mistakes and tell myself that nobody has the right to criticize anyone unless you have walked in their shoes. Or heck, nobody has the right to criticize anyone. PERIOD.
I’m giving this book 5 out of 5 stars. This was such a devastating read, but it was well-depicted and beautifully written. There were historical events and research facts, as well as philosophies during the latter part that could be beneficial to readers. In fact, the entire book could raise awareness and touch the hearts of readers who also lost a child, or readers who have suffered from domestic violence, mental issues, or other health issues.
https://www.amazon.com/Still-Standing-Mothers-Journey-Shadows-ebook/dp/B08MQDVL5S/ref
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