Your Legacy of Love: Realize the Gift in Goodbye

Gemini Adams
Live Consciously Publishing (2009)
ISBN 9780615193755
Reviewed by Val Spencer for Reader Views (11/09)

 

The premise of this insightful and emotion-evoking “manual” of sorts is to put the reader in the quite possibly reality-based position of making something deeply memorable — a veritable treasure — a “legacy” of sorts — to leave behind for his or her children, family and friends in the event the unforeseen, the unpredictable and the unthinkable actually happens — in the event those very loved ones are forced to survive without you — their mother, their father, their friend — anyone for whom they care deeply and who is an integral part of their lives. This book is not to take the place of a last will and testament, which is about the legal distribution of material things you leave behind after your death — your “financial assets.” It is a roadmap through the grieving process, left for your loved ones by the one they love. Its intent is to in some small way “lighten the load” of the oppressive loneliness they will feel in your absence and provide a sense of an “ongoing” emotional connection with you — to remind them of your love and support for them, even though your physical presence can no longer be seen with the naked eye.

 The author, Gemini Adams, in preparation and to gain a firm foundation for writing this book, asked the question: “If one of your parents died, what would you prefer: to inherit their wealth, or a letter saying how much they loved you?” She posed the question to a cross-section of those involved with the grief process — those who have lost a loved one, grief recovery professionals, etc., and followed this research up with an international survey. And, “the winner is” ... 90% of those surveyed would prefer the love letter — “emotional assets” won out over “financial assets” time and time again.
 
“Your Legacy of Love” by Gemini Adams provides suggestions on how to leave your loved ones with a continuing emotional bond with you long after your departure from your earthly body ... to remind them of your love, of your life lessons and treasured memories of times shared between the two of you — birthdays, holidays, those times that become “Lonely Landmarks,” as the author refers to them, in your physical absence. Ms. Adams refers to “parenting by proxy” which is an eloquent and effective description of her book. And, there is an urgency about doing this, as one never knows when a conversation, a hug, an “I love you” may be the last.

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