http://www.ncreview.com/ 1259-602 http://www.ncreview.com/self-help/learning-to-laugh-when-you-feel-like-crying After a traumatic loss, it may seem that all joy has gone out of life, leaving only grief and sorrow. Allen Klein has been there, and knows that you can learn to laugh again. His book is a collection of mini-chapters that can easily be dipped into or read cover to cover. Wonderful inspirational quotes head each chapter, and as you progress through the book, you are gently carried along the path from loss to learning, letting go, living and eventually to laughter - what he calls “the five stages of living after loss.” Each quote is followed by a few succinct paragraphs in which Klein offers wise and practical advice drawn from the insights he gained in coping with his own loss and as a hospice volunteer. Never Pollyanna-ish, Klein acknowledges the reality of your pain while showing you the way to the light: “Because of the intense loss you are experiencing, you may feel that you have also lost your sense of humor. You haven’t lost it. It is just misplaced. You can, and will, find it again. Keep looking. Today, tell yourself that you will find one little thing of hope, one little thing that amuses you, one little thing to smile or laugh about. If you can do that, you have taken a big step in your healing process.” This book is a blessing. I can’t think of a more compassionate gift for someone who is grieving. ]]> Tue, 08 Feb 2011 02:11:12 -0800