healing through writing

Dr. Bond of rebeccasreads.com recommends GIFTS FROM THE BROKEN JAR as a beautifully written memoir which describes in detail how one woman put together the broken shards of her life after a devastating toss from a frightened horse.

Shortly after her fall, PJ discovered she could not remember from one moment to the next, & was unable to express her thoughts in words, or read or write. Words for her were like disappearing ink, first clear, & then slowly fading away.

The she started up an email correspondence with her best friend, & over the months & years, began to reverse the damage so much so that GIFTS FROM THE BROKEN JAR is the result.

Very well done!

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easy to read, hard to forget

Wonderful book. Not every one suffers from brain injury, but we all find ourself suffering from one or more of the maladies like anger, aurguments, jealousy, unhappiness, ingratitude, unfulfilled expectations, lethargy and boredom, grumpiness, dissatisfaction with the way things are, disappointments with family and relatives, feeling down and out because we might have had to let go of a job /career for staying home and raising kids, feeling annoyed and used up because of the endless chores and errands involved in running a household. The book " gifts from the broken jar " can help us see the transient nature of everything and remind us to focus on the brighter, positive side of life. While recovering and healing from a non-apparent brain injury the author stumbles upon many truths of life that we all wonder about from time to time. From her interaction with kids, husband, mother and friends the author derives fresh meaning in the ordinery, simple words, gestures and events and from her experience we can see clearly that life is not about having it all, but it is about being thankful for what we have been given and deriving meaning and nurturing from it.Once we begin doing that, the maladies listed above might just free us from thier grip.

A book so inspiring, strong and clear that I would read it again and recommend for injured and non-injured brains alike.



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A testimony of strength, of finding joy in life and adapting

Gifts From The Broken Jar: Rediscovering Hope, Beauty, And Joy by P.J. Long is a memoir that encompasses how one's life can change on every level in a single instant. Psychotherapist and author P. J. Long experienced such a cataclysm when an accident caused permanent brain damage. For the first few months afterward, she was unable to reason clearly, hold a conversation, or take care of herself; she was a stranger to herself. The passage of time brought incomplete healing, as she was unable to perform the simplest tasks without complete silence, and still experienced severe difficulty attempting to function or communicate. But in picking up a pen and putting feelings on paper, she was gradually able to learn how to reach out. Her testimony and reflections upon life, as she works to repair the breakage in her own mind, come through with unparalleled power and honesty. "I realized that what is initially most troubling for brain injury patients is their diminished ability to function", she writes candidly. "'Not doing the things I used to do' translates pretty quickly into 'not being the person I used to be.'" Gifts from the Broken Jar is a testimony of strength, of finding joy in life and adapting to change. Highly recommended.


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