Honestly, there were times when this book was really hard to read. Hard - because I know the author. We’d become really good friends, really fast and getting to know her and her heart before reading her full story was difficult because all I wanted to do was head over to her house and give her a huge long hug. The only challenge is that we live 1000’s of miles apart.
It’s hard to read what someone you care about has gone through and not feel something stirring in your heart. Maybe it’s because you wish you could’ve saved them from all the hurt and the pain. Maybe it’s because some of what you read resonates deeply with your own experiences that you can’t help but feel their pain.
The beauty of Robin’s journey is that she didnt roll over and accept her fate. NO. She sought the face of Jesus and found her Joy in all the messiness life threw at her. Throughout all the physical injuries, emotional, mental and physical pain and spiritual challenges, she found her joy.
This is a book that will put things back into perspective for you, no matter what you’re facing. It’s a book that will direct you to a place that is better than what you’re going through - whether it happened in your past or you’re going through it right now. It’s a book of hope and one that will refill your joy bucket because it will encourage you to find the light at the end of the tunnel.
This is totally my opinion: I believe that vulnerability is a strength when you’re doing it because you are:
1) sharing it with the intention of seeking advice or help
2) sharing because your intention is to help others.
She has done both. She mustered up the strength and sought the help she needed to get through what she went through (And there’s alot to process as you read it). This was my absolute favourite part of the book:
‘But I remembered back to one of my lower moments, when I was still having PTSD nightmares and fearing my head injury wasn’t going to heal, unable to eat away the pain with sugar and salt like I wanted to. The “Choose Joy” post I saw on social media landed a whole lot differently that day. I sort of wanted to smack the person who posted it. Sort of. It’s a matter of perspective, is it not? On that day, I was feeling sorry for myself, I scoffed and thought, “Choose joy. I’m trying, but what right do I have? My life’s a train wreck. I’m a joy coach living a secret nightmare. I’m a fraud… And that’s when it dawned on me. It was because I was entrenched in hurt, because my life was messy and I still wanted joy to be a reality anyway…these were the reasons I should not only keep choosing joy but continue encouraging others to choose it also. God was using it all to equip me to be the joy coach who walked the walk and talked the talk. My messy life didn’t make me a fraud; it made me an expert. And so does yours.”’
What a beautiful encouragement - You’re going through the mess - yes. But find the perspective. Who are you called to impact. Your experience means that you’re now equipped to help someone else through that exact same mess. Life has labeled it 'lived experience' and if you can move past the label, I know that you can find your message in the mess.
I love that she included journal questions after every chapter. It does not only help you reflect on what you’ve read, but it helps raise awareness around your own thought patterns, your own decisions as well as your actions. Whats your next move going to be?
Who do you want to be? The person who rolls over and accepts what life throws at them only to become bitter and resentful? Or do you want to be the person that dusts yourself off, puts on a beautiful smile and says, “Thanks for that lesson life. Now, who needs me?” I hope you choose the latter.
There’s joy to be found in every situation you face. You just need to find it.
Robin, thanks for being such a blessing in my life. I love you friend.
To get in touch with Robin, visit: https://joytotheworldcoaching.com/ or visit her blog: https://joytotheworldcoaching.com/joybites/
If you want to buy the book - you can get your copy here.
Leave your thoughts once you've had a chance to read it and I'll make sure to share them with Robin. x
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