RISE Book Club Reflections: When Memoir Meets Practical Healing

Over the past weeks, I have had the privilege of connecting with book clubs across the United States as they read RISE: Living Life Over Cancer. The conversations, reflections, and thoughtful reviews have meant a great deal to me.

What stands out most is that every group, despite its different perspectives, has found something that resonates with it. Some connect deeply with the personal journey. Others lean into the practices, the tools, and the guiding principles. And many find themselves somewhere in between, reflecting, questioning, and engaging in rich conversation.

One theme that continues to surface is the book's dual nature. Readers often note the blending of memoir and guide. For some, this creates a unique and meaningful experience. For others, it invites discussion about how those two elements weave together.

I want to share that this was very much intentional.

I am not writing from a place of theory alone. I am living this experience in real time. The uncertainty, the joy, the fear, and the hope come with a stage IV, non-curative diagnosis. Alongside that, I bring over three decades of experience as an educator. I have always believed in offering practical tools, reflection, and guidance.

Those closest to me while I was writing, my "ten angels," encouraged me not to choose one voice over the other. They wanted both: the vulnerable human experience and the grounded practices that help navigate it.

So RISE became both.

What has been most meaningful is that, regardless of where readers land on that duality, they are still taking something with them. A moment. A perspective. A practice. A conversation that lingers after the final page.

That, to me, is the heart of why I wrote RISE.

If you are curious, I invite you to explore the reviews on Goodreads and see how readers are engaging in their own words. There is also a growing community. Now, over 870 readers are participating in the current giveaway. This is both exciting and humbling. Consider participating, too.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/238609623-rise

If you have read RISE, I would be grateful if you could leave a review and share your experience. I ask not for promotion, but for connection. Your voice may help another reader find what they need.

https://www.goodreads.com/author/dashboard?ref=nav_profile_authordash

If you are interested in starting a book club with RISE, please reach out. I am happy to provide a facilitation guide to help your group have meaningful discussions.

Thank you for walking this journey with me.

Warmly,

Betty Jean 💚

Home, Presence, and Trusting the Journey

Walking Hebbs Farm overlooking Fancy Lake.

I am back home, embracing the gentle, spring-like temperatures of Nova Scotia. My heart is full from the snuggles and smiles of Callan, who already loves to smile, tell his stories, and move his body with joy. It is so special to watch him become aware of his world. Like his mom and dad, he is focused and taking it all in.

Tavis has returned as my loyal sidekick, and we have stepped back into one of our greatest joys, early morning walks on the farm. Something is grounding about these quiet moments, surrounded by nature, that brings me right back to myself.

This week, I return for my three-month scans and tests. Many experience what is often called "scan anxiety." I continue to move, express gratitude today for the sun peeking through the clouds, and hold onto hope. These practices help me stay present.

We all face moments in life where uncertainty comes before knowing. In those moments, I believe it is so important to return to the present. That is where peace lives.

I place my worries in my faith, trusting that this journey will unfold as it is meant to, with my angels watching over me.

These past three years have taught me that this path, like life itself, will always have its ups and downs. I have learned to adjust my sails, and I will continue to do so.

And in doing so, I will keep choosing to live fully in each moment I am given.

Ending with Gratitude

Every ending carries a beginning.

On my last full day in Tamarindo, I watched the sun rise over the beach, and it was a quiet, beautiful reminder that every ending carries a beginning.

Today, I had my final massage on Tamarindo Beach; listening to the waves, feeling the warmth of the sun, and taking in the beauty of this place that gave us three beautiful months.

What I didn't expect was to open Goodreads and find such thoughtful reflections waiting there. Messages from readers and book clubs engaging deeply with RISE in both Canada and the US.

A few words that stayed with me:

"A curriculum for living with illness."

"A helpful companion for anyone navigating chronic illness."

"After the meeting, several of us signed up for a mindfulness class."

It feels like a quiet confirmation. The conversations are happening. The book is finding its way into new spaces and communities.

As we prepare to leave Costa Rica, I carry this with me: peace, connection, and the reminder that when we share our stories, they ripple farther than we ever imagine.

Pura Vida 💛