How to Live the Life Unexpected: 12 Weeks of Practical and Emotional Support for Childless Women by Jody Day
Living The Life Unexpected: 12 Weeks To Your Plan B For A Meaningful And Fulfilling Future Without Children
A book review by Bing
Have you ever imagined your life with children, only to find out that it's not going to happen? Have you ever felt alone, misunderstood or judged for being childless by circumstance? Have you ever wondered how to create a fulfilling and meaningful life without children?
Living The Life Unexpected: 12 Weeks To Your Plan B For A Meaningful And Fulfilling Future Without C
If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you might want to read Living The Life Unexpected: 12 Weeks To Your Plan B For A Meaningful And Fulfilling Future Without Children by Jody Day. This book is a practical and emotional guide for women who are childless not by choice, but by circumstance. It helps them to cope with their grief, reclaim their energy and reinvent themselves positively and purposefully.
In this review, I will tell you what the book is about, who is it for, what are the main themes and exercises in each chapter, what are the benefits and challenges of the book, what other readers have said about it, and finally, I will give you my recommendation.
The author's story
Jody Day is the founder of Gateway Women, a global friendship and support network for childless women. She is also a trainee psychotherapist, a former fellow in Social Innovation at Cambridge Judge Business School, Cambridge University, and a TEDx speaker.
Jody Day would have liked to have had children, but it didn't work out that way. At the age of 44 she realized that her quest to be a mother was at an end. She presumed that she was through the toughest part, but over the next couple of years she was hit by waves of grief, despair and isolation.
She felt like she didn't belong anywhere. She felt like she had failed as a woman. She felt like she had no purpose or direction in life. She felt like she had nothing to look forward to.
She tried to find help and support, but she couldn't find any resources that addressed her specific situation. She felt like she was invisible and alone.
Eventually, she found her way and created Gateway Women, helping many thousands of women worldwide who share her experience. She also wrote this book to share her story and her wisdom with other childless women who are struggling to find their place in a world that expects them to be mothers.
The 12-week program
The book is divided into 12 chapters, each corresponding to a week in a 12-week program that Jody Day has designed to help childless women heal from their loss, regain their energy and reinvent themselves positively and purposefully.
The program is based on Jody's own experience as well as her work with Gateway Women. It combines information and insights to aid understanding, stories from childless women themselves, and action exercises clearly developed from Jody's hands-on work.
The 12 chapters cover the following topics:
Week 1: Acknowledging the Reality of Your Situation
Week 2: Working Through Your Grief
Week 3: Dealing with Anger and Depression
Week 4: Healing Your Heart
Week 5: Letting Go of Your Old Dreams
Week 6: Rediscovering Your Identity
Week 7: Reclaiming Your Power and Creativity
Week 8: Finding Your Tribe
Week 9: Creating a New Meaning and Purpose
Week 10: Exploring Your Options for a Fulfilling Future
Week 11: Making a Plan B for Your Life
Week 12: Celebrating Your Journey and Looking Ahead
The benefits of the book
The book has many benefits for childless women who are looking for guidance, support and inspiration to create a new life for themselves. Some of the benefits are:
The book addresses the taboo of childlessness and validates the feelings and experiences of childless women.
The book helps childless women to understand the causes and consequences of their situation, and to recognize that they are not alone or abnormal.
The book provides a safe and supportive space for childless women to work through their grief, anger, depression, guilt, shame and loneliness.
The book helps childless women to heal their hearts, let go of their old dreams, and embrace their new reality.
The book empowers childless women to rediscover their identity, reclaim their power and creativity, and find their tribe.
The book inspires childless women to create a new meaning and purpose for their lives, explore their options for a fulfilling future, and make a plan B that suits them.
The book celebrates the journey and achievements of childless women, and encourages them to look ahead with hope and optimism.
The challenges of the book
The book is not a magic pill that will make all the pain and problems go away. It is a challenging and demanding process that requires commitment, courage and honesty from the reader. Some of the challenges are:
The book may trigger strong emotions and memories that are difficult to face or process.
The book may challenge some beliefs or assumptions that the reader has about themselves, their lives or their society.
The book may require the reader to make some changes or decisions that are uncomfortable or scary.
The book may not resonate with every reader's situation or personality.
The book may not provide all the answers or solutions that the reader is looking for.
The testimonials
The book has received many positive reviews and testimonials from readers who have found it helpful, inspiring and life-changing. Here are some examples:
"This is without doubt one of the most important books I have ever read. It is a game-changer for anyone who is involuntarily childless. Jody Day writes with compassion, intelligence and insight about one of the most painful and taboo topics in our society. She offers practical advice, emotional support and a clear roadmap for creating a meaningful and fulfilling life without children. She also gives voice to the millions of women who share this experience but often feel invisible and alone. This book is a must-read for anyone who is childless by circumstance, as well as for their friends, family, partners and professionals who work with them."
"I wish I had read this book years ago. It would have saved me so much time, energy and money on trying to fix myself or find a solution to my childlessness. It would have also spared me from feeling so isolated, misunderstood and hopeless. This book has helped me to accept my situation, heal my wounds, and embrace my new life. It has also given me a sense of belonging, community and empowerment. I am so grateful to Jody Day for writing this book and creating Gateway Women. She is a true pioneer, leader and friend."
"This book is a masterpiece. It is not only a brilliant guide for living a happy and meaningful life without children, but also a profound exploration of what it means to be human in a complex and changing world. Jody Day writes with wisdom, humor and grace about the challenges and opportunities that childlessness brings. She also shares her own story and those of other childless women with honesty, vulnerability and courage. This book is not only informative and practical, but also inspiring and uplifting. It is a gift to all women, whether they have children or not."
Conclusion
Living The Life Unexpected: 12 Weeks To Your Plan B For A Meaningful And Fulfilling Future Without Children is a book that can help childless women to heal from their loss, regain their energy and reinvent themselves positively and purposefully. It is written by Jody Day, the founder of Gateway Women, a global friendship and support network for childless women. It is based on her own experience as well as her work with thousands of other women who share her situation.
The book provides a practical and emotional 12-week program that covers various aspects of coping with and creating a new life without children. It combines information and insights to aid understanding, stories from childless women themselves, and action exercises clearly developed from Jody's hands-on work.
The book has many benefits for childless women who are looking for guidance, support and inspiration to create a new life for themselves. It also has some challenges that require commitment, courage and honesty from the reader. The book has received many positive reviews and testimonials from readers who have found it helpful, inspiring and life-changing.
I recommend this book to anyone who is childless by circumstance, as well as to their friends, family, partners and professionals who work with them. It is a book that can help you to live the life unexpected with hope, meaning and fulfillment.
FAQs
Here are some common questions and answers about the book:
Q: Where can I buy the book?
A: You can buy the book online from Amazon or other online retailers. You can also order it from your local bookstore or library.
Q: How much does the book cost?
A: The book costs $16.67 for the paperback edition and $9.99 for the Kindle edition on Amazon.
Q: Do I need to read the book in 12 weeks?
A: No, you can read the book at your own pace and in your own way. You can skip or repeat chapters as you wish. You can also use the book as a reference or a companion for your journey.
Q: Do I need to do the exercises in the book?
A: The exercises are optional but highly recommended. They are designed to help you apply the concepts and insights from the book to your own situation and to take action towards your goals.
Q: Can I join Gateway Women?
A: Yes, you can join Gateway Women for free by visiting their website at www.gateway-women.com. You can also find them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. You can connect with other childless women online or in person through their events, workshops, retreats and meetups.
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