The Men In and Out of Her Life

John Ortberg, in his book, Everybody’s Normal Till You Get To Know Them, writes, “The irony of the masks is that although we wear them to make other people think well of us, they are drawn to us only when we take them off.” This book, though in novel form, is the reflection of someone that took years of her life to peal back the pain, hurt, dysfunction and self- condemnation only to discover freedom, fulfillment and purpose after she was willing to face the very scariest places of her history. It is a compelling narrative of the journey of a woman desperately seeking to make sense of her negative circumstances that continued to repeat themselves. Everybody’s Normal Till You Get To Know ThemAs she began to be able to notice the lives around her, she realized that she was not the only one struggling with this cycle of confusion and self-destruction. From her experiences, she sees that the women in our culture are in deep trouble. She sees the need of women finding their voices and learning how to express themselves when they’re hurting, afraid and ashamed. She is hopeful that one person’s story can make a difference. “From our pain, comes our calling.” This is where the inspiration comes from for the author to write so freely and boldly about her life. She is no longer hiding and running from “what people might think about her,” nor is she hiding behind any mask. She speaks freely and boldly in hopes that others will recognize their need to be free from the b*****e of their past. She, today, speaks her mind and is not ashamed to be transparent. She gives words for those who know something is wrong in their lives but cannot make sense of their repetitious cycles of self-harm. This book is emotional, inspirational and transforming. You will not be the same after you’ve read it. Steve Atkinson, M.A. Atkinson Family Counseling