LOVE WARRIOR BY GLENNON DOYLE MELTON
This is a memoir of the author’s life. She writes about growing up and wanting to fit in. She describes the first time she stares down at her thighs as a pre-teen and is uncomfortable with her body. She talks about these insecurities and flashbacks from school as if they just happened yesterday. She pretends to fit in with all the makeup, clothes, and parties through college and her early 20s. But they lead her into a downward spiral of bulimia and alcoholism as she desperately tries to escape her pain.
She goes through an abortion and then finds herself pregnant again. But this time, it’s different. Lying on the bathroom floor, she decides to take the pregnancy test as an invitation from God. An invitation that He trusts her enough bring a child into the world. She gets married and has her first baby, followed by two more children.
On the outside, it looks like she “has it all,” but on the inside, she grapples with feeling like her life is in shambles. If people ask her what’s wrong, she continues to say “it’s okay, I’m fine, really.” She admits a lack of connection with her husband. She starts to hole up in her closet and finds freedom in writing her true feelings on her blog – feelings she can’t verbally express to her husband face-to-face. One day in a counseling session, her husband confesses to being unfaithful throughout their marriage. It sends her into another downward spiral. She hits the bottom-est bottom there ever was. She questions the fundamentals of her identity – “Is my marriage a sham? Is my life a sham?” She is angry, hurt, and all the emotions that ever existed all at once.
But this time, she learns to face the pain. In a winding and messy path, she becomes reacquainted with her true self, which is buried miles beneath all the years of pretending. It’s underneath all the lies from society that is piled on top of her about what a successful life is supposed to look like. Her path to healing is full of false starts and stops. She learns to connect her mind and body through yoga (even learning to breathe again) and attempts to rebuild a life on her own terms.
I don’t think my description of the book can do it justice. Numerous times throughout the book, tears would well up in my eyes because the story was deeply touching. Glennon is able to capture into words the most gut wrenching feelings of isolation, loss, and hurt that is so core to the human experience.
The book is about what happens when we get stuck in the most stuck places of all, and how we manage to crawl out of those dark places. There are certainly very beautiful moments as she rediscovers herself and what unconditional love feels like. Because there is a God that loves us for every ounce of who we are. Whether or not we feel like we deserve it.
I loved the book and it made me feel like I’m not alone in how I feel, even in my darkest, most selfish feelings. Because paying attention to our needs can actually nurture our souls and lead us to a more beautiful authentic life.
If any of the story sounds interesting, Love Warrior may be worth a read for you during the holiday season. You can get it online, at a bookstore, or your local library, which is how I picked up the book.
If you’ve read any other good books lately, I would love to hear about them too!
Lots of love,
Kat
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links, but of course, I would recommend this book regardless. I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
