Presentation and book signing by author Amanda Murphy, RN. The Gift is for You: The Healing Power of Canine Companions, Connect, and Courage - An inspiring account of one woman's heroic journey beyond the effects of trauma. Neglected as an infant, abandoned as a toddler, and "rescued" into an abusive adoptive home, the author takes the reader on a winding path of recovery, supported by canine and human partners and by the study of holism. In addition to heartwarming anecdotes about dogs' roles in her healing, the author explores universal themes, including identity, belonging, forgiveness, and the search for meaning. Refreshments served.
*If you are wrestling with the Key Life Questions — Who am I? and What am I here for? —The Gift is for You is a treasure. With unflinching honesty, Amanda exposes her vulnerability and what some might have deemed a "lost life." Not for Amanda. Her gutsiness, constant curiosity, and ability to reveal herself inspire us and give us hope. Thanks, Amanda, for sharing your pathos, your humor, and your wonderful dog and human allies – testimonies to the resilience of the human spirit.
Millie Grenough, LCSW, MAT, MSW, author of ten books, including Oasis in the Overwhelm
*This is an incredible testimony of true holistic transition and triumph.
- Ardythe Phillips, RN, BSN, HNB- BC, HTCP, HSMI, CCM
*I was so moved by the arc of Amanda's heartfelt memoir. As a dog lover, I was equally moved by the wisdom, insights, and magic she weaves throughout these pages. Amanda perfectly captures these "souls with fur" as more than companions, but true healers in their own right.
- Brian Luke Seaward, Ph.D., author of Stand Like Mountain, Flow Like Water, and Stressed is Desserts Spelled Backward.