Almost Home: Embracing the Magical Connection Between Positive Humor & Spirituality

Rating:
Summary: Introduction to humor as therapy
Review: "Almost Home: Embracing the Magical Connection Between Positive Humor & Spirituality" is the autobiographical journey of Jacki Kwan as she learns to bring laughter into her own life as well as the lives of others. In the text Jacki shows how she has learned to use laughter to help heal (physically as well as emotionally) and inspire. It is consistently clear throughout the text that she encourages the use of positive humor to connect to your deeper spiritual self as well as to help others connect with themself.

Jacki works with a theraputic humor program and has helped create such programs at various locations. If you are interested in using humor for therapy the appendices contain useful information and resources.

An enjoyable book that reminds the reader of the importance of laughter in our lives, it is a recommended read.

Rating:
Summary: Introduction to humor as therapy
Review: "Almost Home: Embracing the Magical Connection Between Positive Humor & Spirituality" is the autobiographical journey of Jacki Kwan as she learns to bring laughter into her own life as well as the lives of others. In the text Jacki shows how she has learned to use laughter to help heal (physically as well as emotionally) and inspire. It is consistently clear throughout the text that she encourages the use of positive humor to connect to your deeper spiritual self as well as to help others connect with themself.

Jacki works with a theraputic humor program and has helped create such programs at various locations. If you are interested in using humor for therapy the appendices contain useful information and resources.

An enjoyable book that reminds the reader of the importance of laughter in our lives, it is a recommended read.

Rating:
Summary: Home Run
Review: Almost Home is at once an autobiography, self-help guide, instruction manual, and a great big hug. By sharing her own story with readers, Jacki invites them to join in her joy and mirth, which have changed her life and the lives of those around her.

While recounting her many paths "home" (a term which she defines in several different ways), we learn about her personal and professional histories, both of which are intertwined. Throughout the tales, the author's indelible stamps of herself (little smileys, drawings, etc.) make the book extremely "human".

While warm and fuzzy, the book provides practical appendices containing instructions for creating and implementing your own therapeutic humor program, should you choose to do so. All in all, it's a light, quick read that leaves the reader grinning long after the last page has been turned.

I guess, then, this book truly covers--ahem--all the bases. ;-)

Rating:
Summary: Reconnecting from the inside...out
Review: Almost Home picks you up and takes you on a spiritual journey of both revelation and vulnerability. Jacki reaches down to your very core and shares her most intimate feelings and experiences, in the hope it may make our journey `home' a little easier.

This book holds the key to unlock the secrets deep within us. Jacki shows us how, through facing her own challenges, to acknowledge our fears, inhibitions and any preprogrammed beliefs we may have about ourselves.

Almost Home has a delightfully different approach to fulfilling our lives with all that is valuable...health, happiness, love, compassion, selflessness and the ability to laugh and bring great joy not only to others, but to ourselves also.

Laughter has the ability to pierce through the darkest of times. Jacki lovingly reminds us, throughout her book, never to miss an opportunity to lift someone's spirits, if only for a moment, for that moment may last a lifetime. What wonderful words to take on our journey......THANK YOU Jacki!

Rating:
Summary: Reconnecting from the inside...out
Review: Almost Home picks you up and takes you on a spiritual journey of both revelation and vulnerability. Jacki reaches down to your very core and shares her most intimate feelings and experiences, in the hope it may make our journey 'home' a little easier.

This book holds the key to unlock the secrets deep within us. Jacki shows us how, through facing her own challenges, to acknowledge our fears, inhibitions and any preprogrammed beliefs we may have about ourselves.

Almost Home has a delightfully different approach to fulfilling our lives with all that is valuable...health, happiness, love, compassion, selflessness and the ability to laugh and bring great joy not only to others, but to ourselves also.

Laughter has the ability to pierce through the darkest of times. Jacki lovingly reminds us, throughout her book, never to miss an opportunity to lift someone's spirits, if only for a moment, for that moment may last a lifetime. What wonderful words to take on our journey......THANK YOU Jacki!

Rating:
Summary: Smiles & Grins
Review: Jacki Kwan's story touched my family's life. Her book Almost Home discusses how one can be impacted by what life dishes out. Jacki Kwan revealed her spirit by sharing her life's work - Humor Therapy.

Recently our family had to make the difficult decision of placing my grandmother into a nursing home. Considering that my grandmother was so full of life just a few months ago before her stroke, it was unimaginable that we were faced with such a decision. Prior to my grandmother's stroke, she was a book keeper and mother of two daughters. Now she can no longer feed herself or hold a meaningful conversation.

As a result of Jacki sharing her story, our family has developed a whole new way of communicating. Instead of using words, we use smiles and grins.

Rating:
Summary: A Heart-Felt Journey of Triumph of the Spirit
Review: This book is an amazingly quick read AND loaded with so much depth and messages from the heart of the author. It is amazing how powerful our spirits are. Kwan is so courageous to share her challenges as she learns how her precious spirit, which was so squashed as a child, can heal herself as well as others. For anyone who wants to figure out how your spirit can soar, this book is a must read! Bravo!!

Rating:
Summary: Laughter Therapy--Just What We Need!
Review: This is a wonderful book written by a lady who has always wanted to heal the world one "ha" at a time, but who now realizes that the "ah's" are just as important! In describing how she provides humor, gentle attention, and laughter to seniors in a nursing home, I couldn't help but think how lucky those folks are to have Jacki (aka "Elfinya") in their lives! I couldn't help but remember the final weeks of my own mother's life. The doctors led me to expect no more than a few days before my mother's imminent demise. I spent every day and night with her.Though she suffered from advanced dementia and showed no outward response, I caressed her, spoke to her and played recordings of old, familiar melodies from her childhood. Well, the medical staff were astonished when my mom's "end-of-life expectancy" was exceeded by many weeks! After reading this wonderful book, I realized that even though my mom's body and mind were compromised, her "spirit" was alive and well! That is the message of this book--the gentle, humorous attention administered by "Elfina" to those lucky seniors can indeed rekindle the "spark",the unique and special "spirit" that is so often lost in the cold, clinical, lonely environment of a nursing home or hospital. This is a treasure of a book, and I urge everyone to read it!

Rating:
Summary: Laughter Therapy--Just What We Need!
Review: This is a wonderful book written by a lady who has always wanted to heal the world one "ha" at a time, but who now realizes that the "ah's" are just as important! In describing how she provides humor, gentle attention, and laughter to seniors in a nursing home, I couldn't help but think how lucky those folks are to have Jacki (aka "Elfinya") in their lives! I couldn't help but remember the final weeks of my own mother's life. The doctors led me to expect no more than a few days before my mother's imminent demise. I spent every day and night with her.Though she suffered from advanced dementia and showed no outward response, I caressed her, spoke to her and played recordings of old, familiar melodies from her childhood. Well, the medical staff were astonished when my mom's "end-of-life expectancy" was exceeded by many weeks! After reading this wonderful book, I realized that even though my mom's body and mind were compromised, her "spirit" was alive and well! That is the message of this book--the gentle, humorous attention administered by "Elfina" to those lucky seniors can indeed rekindle the "spark",the unique and special "spirit" that is so often lost in the cold, clinical, lonely environment of a nursing home or hospital. This is a treasure of a book, and I urge everyone to read it!