BOOK TOUR: Finding My Sunshine - A Memoir by Shannon Leith McGuire

"What if that someone was you?"

Synopsis -

Shannon had been so quick to blame others for her anger. She knew she was drowning in darkness and pain; being born with a learning disability made her feel defeated by life. She tried drinking heavily in order to quiet the demons. After being kicked out of college, Shannon took a leap of faith and started working in a nursing home. That's when her angels appeared and the miracle began. The insight and wisdom she gained from those elderly new friends led her on an inspiring journey of discovery and self-acceptance. Each of us has our own path. Some of us just need angels to help us find it. This is her story.

Review - 

In Finding my Sunshine, author Shannon Leith McGuire shares her difficult and dark journey - one filled with a challenging learning disability, bullying, self hatred, anger, destructive behavior and more - to finding peace, health, family and a career she loves. It's not an easy story to read and is a very honest look at how difficult and chaotic her life was.  I salute the bravery in both facing the challenge of writing it and then sharing it openly with the world.  I salute her taking responsibility for her actions as well. And I salute her facing her decision to return to school to get her degree. It had to take great courage.

Outside of her story there runs the parallel of what she sees and experiences while working in a nursing home.  It is heartbreaking.  The pressure imposed by management on what the staff is supposed to achieve during their shift does not encourage them to set aside time to really get to know the residents and connect with them on a personal basis. McGuire was one of the exceptions.  She became friends with many, recognized how interesting their stories were and was grateful for how much support they gave her in return. How we all hope someone like this author will be by our loved ones side when put into care.

I did have one issue with this book.  I am not a religious person per se and absolutely 100% disagreed with what a minister said to McGuire on the subject of dying. It is the author's story so including it is fine. However, I think all authors should be clear in their book synopsis if religion is a big part of their book. It helps attract the right readers and book reviewers, ones that are looking for stories to read just like this one. 

Buy the Book: Amazon

Meet the Author - 
Read a fab author interview HERE! 

Shannon was raised in a small town in Eastern Montana, where you leave your car keys in the ignition and your front door unlocked all the time. The kind of place where sunsets and sunrises can be seen for miles on the horizon. Where the spring crickets and frogs resting in the irrigation ditches helped transition the days into a calm resting night. Where the winters can get so cold, air can freeze. It was only after she was academically suspended by the college she was attending, that she became a Certified Nurses Aide (CNA). She did her training in Billings, Montana and it was there she learned how to take care of others and bonded with the geriatric population. For over five years, Shannon worked in the same nursing home where she received her training. The work was hard, but it grounded her and helped her find balance in what had become a deeply unbalanced life. It was not until she was a CNA, at one of the hospitals that she had a dream-three nights in a row-that she was going to become a nurse. She currently resides in Tampa, Florida, where you may hear her laughing with her husband of over 10 years, scuba diving in the ocean, taking walks with their rescued pit-bull dog- Darby, or dancing together to life's music.

connect with the author: website

Comments

  1. Thank you so much for taking the time to read my memior! It means the world to me!! -take care-SLM

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My pleasure and kudos on the courage to bare all and and share your story. It takes serious courage.

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