To Love and Let Go

A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Gratitude

De: Rachel Brathen

Narrado por: Rachel Brathen

“Rachel beautifully illustrates that loving fiercely and grieving deeply are often two halves of the same whole. Her story will break you down and lift you up.” —Glennon Doyle, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Love Warrior and founder of Together Rising

While on her way to teach a yoga retreat in March 2014, Rachel Brathen collapses at an airport, brought to her knees by excruciating stomach pains. She is rushed to the hospital on the tiny island of Bonaire, and hours later forced to undergo surgery. When she wakes up from anesthesia, her boyfriend is weeping at her bedside. While Rachel was struck down with seemingly mysterious pain, her best friend, Andrea, sustained fatal injuries as a result of a car accident. Rachel and Andrea had a magical friendship. Though they looked nothing alike—one girl tall, blond, and Swedish, the other short, brunette, and Colombian—everyone called them gemelas: twins.

Over the three years following Andrea’s death, at what might appear from the outside to be the happiest time—with her engagement to the man she loves and a blossoming career that takes her all over the world—Rachel faces a series of trials that have the potential to define her life. Unresolved grief and trauma from her childhood make the weight of her sadness unbearable. At each turn, she is confronted again and again with a choice: Will she lose it all, succumb to grief, and grasp for control that’s beyond her reach? Or can she move through the loss and let go?

When Rachel and her husband conceive a child, pregnancy becomes a time to heal and an opportunity to be reborn herself. As she recounts this transformative period, Rachel shares her hard-won wisdom about life and death, love and fear, what it means to be a mother and a daughter, and how to become someone who walks through the fire of adversity with the never-ending practice of loving hard and letting go.

So amazing

I have followed Rachel since probably 2013 and felt so close to her from the very beginning! She inspires me and when she lost her best friend, I felt it. I honestly cried for her that day. To read the other pieces of her story between was heart touching. I feel like I know her! I’m trying to get to Chicago for the book signing! P.S. I read the book in 2 days.

captivating story, devoured this

She has a remarkably powerful gift with words... and healing. Her story needs to be heard, because ALL of our stories need to be heard. Grief, loss, sorrow, love... it's all worth experiencing fully, and she shows us how she did just that. A journey worth following.

incredible

so glad Rachel read this herself, it made it even more real. this book will have you in tears but boy is it good. I related so much to her family traumas. she opened my eyes to a whole new way of life with meditation and finding your peace. Letting GO. I would love to meet her one day..but for now I have her book! definetely recommend . thank you Rachel.

amazing story of love, loss and healing! READ IT!!

amazing story of loss, love and healing! Read it!I will read it over and over

The most beautiful book I've read in life so far

I have no words, Rachel, thank you for sharing your heart. For sharing the experiences that broke open your heart and soul and in the process breaking open mine. I cried through most of this book. Tears of joy, sadness, and even anger. Your story of healing is something magical and magnificent and is important to be told, written onto paper and shared with the world. One day Lea Luna will read the words you wrote and fully understand the path of healing you walked to let go of the centuries of ancestral pain for her- all for her. Though she already knows, I'm sure of it. Little moon is something special and so are you. You are brave. You are pure light even in the darkest times. Thank you thank you thank you. Namaste.

Heartfelt narration of a beautiful story

I listened to this story in just a few days and had tears in my eyes on more than one occasion. I loved it and can only recommend it

Healing story

Thank you, Rachel, for sharing your heart with us. I recognize so much of me in your story. This was a truly healing experience.

Wow.

Left speechless and not wanting the book to end. What an incredible journey. Thank you.

LOVE LOVE LOVE

Thank you Rachel for sharing your heart in these pages.

I absolutely recommend this book and can’t wait to listen/read again.

Beautiful story

Rachel shares her story of love, grief and transition with the world and its truly inspiring. Thank you Rachel for you.