Letters to Sam: A Grandfather's Lessons on Love, Loss, and the Gifts of Life

I've been wanting to read this book forevah, but I have too many books and too little time so I have to pick and choose...not to mention I try to find the best deal I can on any said book since I do read so many books...it can get costly {$$cha-ching$$}. 

Yes, I probably should visit my public library more often but if a book has something to teach me then I turn into a page bending, note taking, underlining book readin' fool and I don't think Bess Haile {The Library Queen, I refer to her as this with the utmost respect} would appreciate me muckin' up her books.  


Daniel Gottlieb starting writing letters to his grandson, Sam, when he was born not knowing he would later be diagnosed with autism.  But boy, does he have something to teach his grandson on his different-ness.

Photo obtained from author's website

 "I wanted to teach him what I've learned about fighting against the kind of adversity that I face almost daily and that I fear he will face in his life. And I wanted to tell him how peace comes to us when we simply stop fighting."  
Let me first tell you a bit about Dr. Daniel Gottlieb.  He's an amazing man who happens to be a quadriplegia.  He is a practicing psychologist and family therapist, a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer, a radio host, written several books, and is a father and grandfather.  Whew! Despite being a quadriplegia he has forged ahead in life fighting his fears, insecurities, and losses all the while dishing up his personal wisdom to help others.
  
..."And I wanted him to understand that as he gets older, giving love may be even more important than receiving it."

The author touches on most subjects {Family, Different-ness, Your Body, Mind and Spirit, What's Ahead for You, Your Place in the World, Afterword}delivering common sense, humor and wisdom in each of his letters to Sam.  This book touched my heart making me want to write letters to my son.  I may have to settle with a blog from the Not So-Mother of the Year.

Dr. Dan Dottlieb
Photo obtained from author's website

Some of the Letters to Sam and the lesson:
*Reclaiming Your Wisdom - So your job is simple this: trust your instincts, remember your secret pact, and reclaim the wisdom you have always had.
*Your Perfection - Your different-ness and my different-ness are just facts.  Sometimes what we do with our minds turns those facts into pain, and sometimes we can just treat them as facts, acknowledging them but not feeling them.  But the more feel your different-ness, the more lonely you will feel. 
*The Journey Inside - The journey inside could be the most courageous journey of all...as we embark we must have faith that we will be okay on the other side.
*Losing Your Binky - Each stage of growth involves loss.  Without it, you can't have the gain.  So when you feel the pain of loss, please don't grab at something to take away the pain.  Just have faith that pain like everything else is transitional...on the other side of the pain, you will learn something about who you are.  

"All are stories about what it means to be human."

Now YOU just have to read this book.  This book has much to teach the reader.  I can't wait to read his newest book, The Wisdom of Sam: Observations on Life from an Uncommon Child.  


Note:  Dr. Daniel Gottlieb recently suffered a fall from his wheelchair and is currently in rehab trying to regain his strength and the use of his left arm.  I am wishing him the very best.   

Dr. Dan at rehab - photo from author's website