Finding Beauty, Grace and Meaning When Things Fall Apart
Written by Rebecca Winn | Book Review by Marlene Caraballo ~
I fell in love with this book — slowly, at first; deeply, by the final chapter.
One Hundred Daffodils is a beautifully written memoir about a midlife woman going through a tumultuous period of fear, pain, and betrayal. All the while, she takes us into her garden and onto a path of awakening, self-discovery, and, eventually, starting over.
From the time that her husband of 25 years asks for a divorce, Rebecca Winn takes us on an honest journey of how she came to — and through — that moment in her life. She artfully weaves us through the powerful reckoning of who she was, who she is, and who she is becoming.
Struggling to move forward and then encountering even more heartbreak, Winn continues to rally. Each time she works her way back up for air, she grows closer to her authentic self. As she opens her mind and heart, finding guidance and comfort amongst the flora and fauna surrounding her.
Who among us hasn’t wondered about life’s meaning, our identity, and our purpose on this earth? Winn shows us that, sometimes, the hardest emotional traumas provide the most fertile ground for answers and personal growth.
Above all, the common thread we all hang onto is hope. Winn writes how the beautiful flowers in her garden represent hope for continual rebirth; so, too, do we get the message.
One Hundred Daffodils is an engaging and inspiring read, proving it’s never too late to grow more self-aware; to learn and evolve; to hope and to love ourselves, more; and, perhaps, to start over.
