Book Title

Synopsis

Whether you are grieving the loss of someone dear, or dealing with traumatic events such as the loss of home, job or an illness, for example, you will find comfort in these pages. Grief is a complicated personal process. These writings explore its many faces and confirm our power to heal.

This book is a curated collection of articles, written by Cathy which have been published in several Media between 2023 and 2025:

• the Vancouver Island e-newsletter of the Canadian Association of Retired Persons in 2023
• the e-newsletter of the Anglican Diocese of British Columbia (Anglican Diocese of Islands and Inlets) in 2023
• the Victoria Times Colonist newspaper 2024-present and
• https://grieftalk.substack.com 2024-present

In them she shares grief in its many common and nuanced aspects, illustrating each one with her own real-life experience as well as that of many other grievers. Each article takes the reader on a little journey through grief, ending with an uplifting sense of hope and peace.

Book Reviews

“Cathy, you are able to articulate such wisdom and insight. I have always been a take action person too but often grief says not this time. Thank you for your writing.”

Book Title

Synopsis

Under the story arc of the hero’s journey, Cathy talks about a series of life challenges from her husband’s stroke in 2015 through his death in 2019. These led her into the hero’s journey through grief to self-reliance. Did she slay the dragon, called Grief, or tame it? What treasures did she find in the dragon’s cave?

“This is not the most tragic story; it is not the easiest story. It is MY story.” – Cathy M. Carphin

“It is a story that must be told.” – Lois Gray

Book Reviews

“I couldn’t put this book down. In one evening I entered a memoir full of great tenderness and joy and pain. It was such a brave journey to write this book after an equally brave journey through love and caregiving and loss. In the final chapters, the positivity and sharing of lessons learned is a generous gift to those who are walking the same path.”

“I was just going to scan your book before dinner. Cathy, I couldn’t put it down! I knew a lot already but there was so much more that I didn’t know. I had to tell you directly; an email or text just wouldn’t do. I recommend your book. Cathy, I think there is something of value for all who see it and pick it up just for a quick look and like me can’t put it down until I have read it all.”

“Loved Cathy’s book, Please Don’t Give Me Something More to Worry About … Her approach to grief is both honest and encouraging. Her use of the hero’s journey drew me in. I was pulled along through meeting the dragon, and encouraged as I encountered wizards along the way. Cathy affirms us all by her acknowledgment. We are not alone in our grief journey. My favorite chapter was chapter 11 “I Had a Dream”. My favourite line: “I never thought The Wall could simply disintegrate. That is what counselling helps us do.” The book is a well written resource for all of us, as we all grieve at some point.”

See Moira’s review on GoodReads.com
More About Moira at lettersaboutlife.com/about

“Thanks for this book, Cathy.”