Title: Messages from My Heart
Author: Carolyn Bourns
Publisher: Balboa Press
ISBN: 9781982216481
Pages: 182
Genre: Self-Help
Reviewed by: Rae C. Bernard
Hollywood Book Reviews
Our lives are full of surprises from realizing that our love is being taken for granted, or discovering that we’re experiencing a sickness far greater than a common cold. We then do our best to cope with all of these new and sometimes scary changes; but what’s our reward for hanging in there and sticking it out through the tough times? Mental health and peace of mind are what the majority of us strive for and take great pride in our attempts to obtain it. Unfortunately, life’s struggles make it challenging on remaining focused on being our true and natural selves. What do you do to maintain a level of peace in your life?
In Messages from My Heart, author Carolyn Bourns shares her life with an audience of open-minded individuals as she demonstrates a definition of being vulnerable. At the beginning of the book, she introduces and discusses the relationship she has with her husband and children, something most would consider the standard structure of a family. Although dealing with one son going through drug and alcohol recovery, she began to understand her pattern when coming out of denial that her husband was seeking alcohol as a remedy to stresses in his life. This was a pattern witnessing men in her family from previous generations all suffering from some form of substance and/or alcohol abuse. Once she began to awaken from her slumber of denial, she began her journey to clarity and all the good it would bring. A separation to divorce has led her to the start of a fulfilling and adventurous life. Taking advantage of singlehood, it inspired her to create a program to aid children who don’t get proper after-school care because their parents work late. From there, stepping out of her shell to embrace meditation and the peace it comes with laying out in nature, has done wonders for her. Finally, building connections and relationships through these conferences and retreats have granted her a multitude of opportunities to explore the world.
Traveling has changed her perspective, allowed her to learn plenty of new things, and given her permission to find herself through it all. Some moments would make you feel as if she shed her old skin and grew an entirely new look. One thing stood out the most is after every closing chapter, you’re introduced to a poem or quote by an inspiring individual, which helps tie what she’s learned together for better understanding. With her developed gift of psychometry, she can sense a hint of one’s future from touching an inanimate object belonging to an individual, an amazing gift, indeed. The pictures shared would make any reader feel a special bond with the author and it is honorable in letting people into your life, even remotely.
I enjoyed learning about Carolyn and the way she fought to sustain a level of peace and happiness in her life; it’s inspirational enough that any reader would feel the need to reflect on their current life status. I did feel for her when she was suffering those pains that doctors had claimed were inoperable, as that’s just no way anyone should carry out through life. All those times she spent meditating and absorbing nature only proved that as humans, we are connected to nature in some shape or form. By witnessing this from her, it encourages me to take more time out of my busy life schedule and spend some time at the park or a garden, as Mother Nature is always readily available to nurture us. While I’m still young, reading this book is letting me know that life is short for everyone, traveling should be something everyone gets the chance to experience. With the relationships she’s built with amazing individuals throughout her explorations, she felt she was surrounded by good energy that only gave instead of taking away from her. Everyone should do some soul searching to figure out what they need to change in their life that would enable them to be much happier and at peace.
Messages from My Heart is a well-written book that shares details about one’s life, while uplifting and encouraging others to take life by the horns and accomplish things out of love and say good-bye to fears.