I guess when the reader is ready for the book the book appears. I volunteer with my Certified Therapy Whippet, she will be 10 this year, and we have been doing this for the past 6 years. We volunteer at 4 facilities in Santa Rosa and have seen a lot. Kitchen Table Wisdom was wonderful to read and very helpful. Thank you for sharing. Your book will always be with me. I plan on getting more for my children and just passed KTW to my daughter in law.

I'm sure you get this request often, but it has been a long time since you wrote/published a book. I just re-read My Grandfather's Blessings and got so much from it and different things this time around, as happens each time I re-read it. I am so curious about how the past 10 years of your work has informed your thoughts and your life. Have you any plans to share this in the form of a new book?

With best regards.

A minister quoted you and I was led to Kitchen Table Wisdom
at a time when I was weakened by Crohns. After reading this book and My Grandfather's Wisdom, and learning that you are living with the same disease, I became empowered. Whenever the disease starts to get the best of me, I reread Kitchen Table Wisdom. And, whenever I meet someone who is having a hard time healing, I recommend your works.
Do you plan to do any workshops for the general public in the Houston area?
Thank you, Diane

I learned about your book Kitchen Table Wisdom from a man who was supervising me and some other volunteers. He recently sent the link to your article from Spring 1996 published in Noetic Sciences Review about being of service. After reading this, I googled your name so that I could learn a little more about you and what you do. Learning about you has helped me feel like I can handle the difficulties in my life. Thank you.

I heard you speak some years ago at a Hospice sponsored event in Escondido, CA. I have read your books as well. You are one of my heroes and as such your picture is on my home office wall with pictures of Thomas Merton, Pema Chodron, the Dalai Lama, Gangaji, Howard Zinn and my grandparents
Thank you for the work that you do. Sometimes when the world seems particularly dark I can gaze upon my wall and remember that their are people like you who are attempting to heal it just by being who they are.
Thanks - I am a scleroderma patient who was in school to be a hospice nurse .....now I face a different life but want it to be one that spreads the type of wisdoms found in your writings.

Dear Rachel,
I have read your Kitchen Table Wisdom this year as a morning devotional discipline. It has been so refreshing to meet with you each morning. You seem like a compassionate and wise friend. I plan to be at the ACPE Conference in Salt Lake City next year and hope to meet you. I am the Director of Spiritual Care at a hospital in Arizona. I plan to give your book as a gift this Christmas to all our staff of chaplains and integrative medicine therapists. Powerful humanity simply expressed. Thank you

Dearest Rachel,
I am so inspired by your work and your writings! I am a craniosacral therapist and attending a graduate program for holistic health and health coaching. Peoples' stories have become my passion. I hope to someday attend one of your workshops.

I am currently reading a chapter at a time of My Grandfather's Blessings to my two daughters (9 and 11) as bedtime stories. They are enraptured with it! It is life-changing material for each of us.

Thank you so much for your beautiful work!

Thank you for helping me open myself up to recieve the blessings all around me. Thank you for for sharing your blessings with strangers on the journey.

Dear Rachel,
I first found Kitchen Table Wisdom about 7 years ago when I had just migrated to Australia and was having trouble adjusting to living far from relatives and any support. The book gave me hope and began a kind of a friendship. I bought several copies and gave them to people who I though might benefit from reading them, among them a friend who had just lost a 6 wk old baby, another who had just got divorced, another who suffers from alcoholism, my father who at the time was diagnosed with Body-Lewis decease etc.

When I found you had written My Grandfathers Blessings I did the same with that.

I have just reacently read 'KTW' again, this is my third time, and I'm in the middle of reading 'MGB' again. This time around I have read them very slowly, a chapter every moring. They are like little prayers. I feel at ease and totally accepted. This is a great contrast to how my life is right now. In my 'real' life I feel judged, alone and sometimes without hope. Your have reminded me that in darkness we may find light.

I'm glad you were born.

Dear Rachel,
I´ve felt truly and profoundly accompanied by your kind words and messages, for the last ten years. Your book (ktw) reached me in a very unexpected way, the mistery... I´ve felt deeply relieved and supported finding myself, my very own feelings and thoughts about life, in your words, expressed as I could recognize them (I recognized many of them, for the very first time, in your words), and written in the very best way of all... what a happiness you´re around! tHaNkS a LoT! receive the warmest embrace, a caress, lots of smiles,
Beatriz

Peace and Blessings to you for you work is a Light for so many.

Today I gave both your books to a dear friend. I have read and reread them countless times and they both are such a blessing to me. In the past ten years I have given the pair away to countless friends and everyone expresses how they love Dr. Remen and her words touch places deep within their hearts. We are all hoping that perphaps another book will appear by Dr. Remen. I have never read anything that makes me feel as peaceful and trusting of life as do your two books.

Hi Rachel, (Dr.Remen)
I just came to your blog by way of another..The biggest smile came to my heart and water in my eyes. I have always talked about your writing to medical Dr,s etc While I was rasing my son and nursing 4 eldely relatives to there last days your writing was as near to me as my nursing baby Thank you Ilove you for your courage to tell stories. Artist ag

Hello Dr. Remen,

I am currently a RN-BSN nursing student at Eastern University and have taken a hollistic course and am now ending in Capstone. In both courses we were introduced to your mission and philosophy with integrative medicine. My cousin is also diagnosed with Crohn's disease and presently going through a very difficult time with extreme weight loss, managment of abcesses and possibility of a colostomy at age 43. I know you have personally experienced this and am wondering if there is any direction you could point me in to help him move through this that it does not take his life.
Thank you so much for your work and time.
sincerely,
Tamara Fisher

Dear Rahael:

I recall a while back hearing the name of the book I now hold, "My Grandfather's Blessings". I had no idea you had written it, having read "Kitchen Table Wisdom" a short while ago, MGB "appeared" in the right place at the right time. The cover, with wire rimmed glasses nearly had me in tears--they look like my grandfather's. I loved KTW and am currently reading MGB and loving it too. Bravo!

I would feel priveledged in speaking with you.
I use to live in Marin.

I really want help.
I use to live in Marin.
Thank u, Pj 954 290 2267

I am in the middle of reading Kitchen Table Wisdom for the 2nd tim. First time about 10 yrs. ago or more. I'm in a different place spiritually than earlier, and I find more meaning this time. I've decided to give this book to my daughter-in-law whom I think may benefit from your wisdom, at least I hope so.

Thank you for such a meaningful book. One chapter I especially want my son to read about finding meaning and satisfaction in a job even though not using what I think are his gifts. He is a van driver for Fred Hutch, here in Seattle. He refers to it as 'driving in circles', which is boring. I have suggested to him that there may be a reason why he is in that job. Because he is friendly and warm in his encounters with people, he may be bringing something positive into the lives of the people he is driving around, a lot of cancer patients going from one facility to another. I believ he is doing that, but I also think he doesn't realize how important and meaningful that may be for people in need. Thank you again, and blessings on you and your work.

d.

Dear Rachel,
in march my husband died and my littel children (3 and 6 years) and I tried to find our way in an new future. Your books helped me very much. Thank you for positive thinking.
Su

Dear Rachel, I just read Kitchen Table Wisdom. It has helped me come to grips and accept some of the challenge of Crohn's disease -easing some of my frustrations. Thank you for that gift. You are inspiring me to move forward and enjoy each day more throughly.
Maria

Dear Rachel,
I have loved reading your books, My Gradfather's blessings and Kitchen Table Wisdom. they have been wonderful GIFTS and have inspired me in my own work of music. Thank you for being courageous and following your heart. Your journey is a gift to the rest of us.
Cathy Hardy

On Monday I had the good fortune to be in the audience as you addressed the NHPCO conference and spoke about mystery - I found myself feeling as if I had entered a sacred space and was in the presence of a truly wise soul. I am so grateful for your sharing of stories and the willingness you have to step out of the comfort zone and challenge us all to be believing mirrors to our patients, colleagues and peers...I have long sought a mentor to help me stay true to the calling of compassionate end of life care, and I left the auditorium that day believing I have found one. Namaste. Ann

Dear Rachel,
Of course, I'm taken with your words and insight, they're wonderful, but what's important from my point of view is this accessibility. I read lots of wonderful things from lots of gifted people, but rarely do we get to share. You are my sister and friend not my parent. Please forgive me if I am being presumptious, but I sincerely I hope that's the case. Thank you for this opportunity to connect.

I have read and re-read MY GRANDFATHER'S BLESSINGS, and given it as gifts to many people. Your words have impacted my life so deeply, that I feel as if you were able to read the core of my soul. I am so thankful for feeling blessed by your wisdom and compassion. May you be blessed in return with the heartfelt appreciation of everyone whose lives you have touched.

I am grateful for your contribution to me personally, as well as to the many lives you have touched. I found a recent interview & podcast with you on Speaking of Faith, and it was interesting how my listening and heart continue to open more deeply. To become a truly generous listener is a spiritual practice.

I have read your books, every night for the last 5 years. Everything you say in them, each page, each chapter, has helped me in one way or another. I have even been teaching English with your book so more people can understand life! Now, my father died 45 days ago, and your books are the only thing that brought me back from my anguish and sadness. All I can say is thank you for existing and for your friendship.
Rosario