About this journey...
How do you Choose Joy?
Grief is one of the most difficult of human emotions. There are so many things we grieve: such as loss of a loved one, divorce, job loss, finances, etc... No matter the reason for grief, it can be scary and unforgiving to our mind and heart. We have a tendency to want to put things that hurt deeply in a box in a safe place in order to avoid the pain that accompanies our loss.
After the loss of my two eldest children, even just the involuntary act of breathing took effort. Not knowing how to continue without them consumed me. The ‘seven stages of grief’ that professional counselors advise us of in order to better deal with our loss are very real.
I wanted to skip right to the seventh, which is acceptance and hope. My mind was numb, my heart broken and my body was in agony; a physical pain like none I’d experienced before. I begged God to just turn back time and give my children to me. I needed them to continue living… And of course, this was impossible, and I kept on living or rather, surviving.
It has been twenty years since the accident that took them.
People have always told me how strong I am and are amazed at how happy my life is. What is the secret? How is it even possible after such an unimaginable loss? It is simple really, I choose joy! I practice and cultivate joy everyday. Simple? Yes simple, but not easy. It does not come overnight, and it takes time, effort, and courage.
But it is possible! In the pages of this book you will learn my story and how I found my joy, and began to live my life, my very best life!
Join me in my discovery, and you will understand and learn how you too can not only survive, but live your life with joy.
Always Choosing Joy,
Drea
About the author
Andrea "Drea" Brown
Choosing joy isn’t just an action, it’s a movement. A path of life I had to choose to survive, and begin living once again. In April of 2000, I experienced unimaginable loss when my eldest two children died in a tragic accident. Yet, my journey of self reliance didn’t start, or end there. For many years, I've felt my story could reach people. It wasn't until I founded Ranch House Craft Supplies with my two daughters that the platform I needed for my story rose unexpectedly.
This book is a labor of love, tears, and of course, joy. I hope reading it helps you as writing it helped me.