Wishing You Well: Prayers and Poems for Comfort, Healing, and Recovery - Hardcover

My medication made me lethargic and severely impacted my thinking process and memory - and there were many other unpleasant side effects to cope with. One of the prescriptions that was supposed to "help my nerve endings heal" was actually an antidepressant. When I quit using it, cold turkey (not knowing it was an antidepressant), I sank into a depression.

Three years later, I still couldn't ride my bicycle because the weight of a bicycle helmet was overwhelming. Sometimes the road to wellness can be a long one - one that requires more than physical stamina to complete the journey.

I have arranged the chapters in WISHING YOU WELL in an order that has personal significance for me. I found that when accident or illness strikes, we first need comfort - from whatever source; hopefully, from relatives and friends. But in those "3 AM" moments (see p.19), when we feel most alone, often it is faith that helps pull us through despair. Once we are strengthened by faith, we are fortified to move on toward rebuilding our lives.

But oh those initial steps are so difficult! It's then that giving up seems to be the easier path. May the selections in "Courage" offer a stepping-stone to start you on your road to discovering hope. For hope buoys our spirits, brings us optimism, and encourages us to go on so that the process of healing can begin.

As we improve, it's natural to reflect on the impact of the accident or illness has had on our lives. It's a time of great contemplation. Shortly after my accident, it seemed that all I could do was bemoan "all I had lost." Rather than focusing on loss, I started to feel gratitude for how much I still had.

Gratitude sets the stage for inspiration. For me, the period of great physical inactivity led to a surprising burst of mental activity that eventually resulted in my writing career. I seriously doubt that the "pre-accident June" would have slowed down enough to take on the writing projects I enjoy today.

We never know what curves life will throw us. I hope the prayers, poems, and blessings in this book will bring you comfort, faith, courage, hope, healing, reflection, gratitude, and inspiration on your personal journey of recovery. -June Cotner