Opening Little Boxes

Description

"Opening Little Boxes explores a range of reflections from characters across generations, and from their pets. While those who speak through this book are fictional, we may recognise ourselves or those close to us in them as they come to terms with this enormous disruption to life as we knew it." - Rt Hon Helen Clark, Former Prime Minister of New Zealand "A gem to read, especially in the lockdown era. Reading, I got to inhabit the consciousness of seven beautiful members of a family and experienced how it is to be an insecure young child, a caring dog, an anxious mother, and even a wise grandmother. This jewel of a book is a meditation-grounding and heartwarming, opening to a rainbow of feelings and thoughts full of love." - Tony Fernando MD, psychiatrist and award-winning author of journal articles on mindfulness and compassion in medicine

"During this COVID pandemic, we tend to think big-The disease is threatening the whole world. The numbers of people who are infected or who have died are huge and becoming larger every day. Once we start to think in numbers, we run the risk of forgetting the story of the individual who couldn't hold his loved one while she was dying, or who couldn't travel to her family. Opening Little Boxes is a gem that complements the big-number news. We need to keep thinking about the individual, even in a pandemic. This book helps us do so." - Johannes (Hans) JM van Delden, Former chair of the International Bioethics Committee of UNESCO, Professor of medical ethics, Utrecht, the Netherlands ; "The lovely little book celebrates, in a beautifully simple style, the joys that come from our different perspectives on the world and one another. A perfect read, full of love and realism, for this strange and life-changing time." - John Read PhD, Professor of Clinical Psychology, University of East London; "Opening Little Boxes is a creative collaboration and an act of generosity and love that offers support for children and adults everywhere who are navigating the confines of being locked down due to the Pandemic." - Christine Dveirin, ordained Ridhwan teacher of the Diamond Approach, leading groups in New Zealand and Hawai'i; "This book shows us how to grow a wonderful lotus out of the mud of our challenging times. The authors speak from and to all hearts-unifying, nourishing, healing, and inspiring." - Thich Chan Phap Ung, Senior Monastic, Plum Village, Thich Nhat Hanh's community in France; "As a professor of Medical Anthropology it is extremely gratifying to see how health professionals manage to bring together their different expertise, blend them with the right amount of tenderness, and show the general public that they intend to try to cure without forgetting to care. That's the reason this book is fun and useful to read. Because Len, the dog, is right when he says (or barks...) that lockdown is not easy. As a psychiatrist, I would add that we must prepare ourselves to face some long lasting psychological consequences. I hope that Len - in his canine wisdom!-will agree with me ..." - Julio Machado Vaz, MD, PhD, Professor of Medical Anthropology, Porto, Portugal