PATTI SMITH is a life coach and retired attorney living in Southern Utah. Her memoir shares life lessons through inspiring stories about her son Christopher, who was born with Down syndrome. Patti is a self-admitted recovering perfectionist and overachiever who has dedicated her life to learning and personal transformation. When not writing, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her six exceptional children.
Although advised by her doctor to place her son in an institution because of his Down syndrome diagnosis, the author looked into her new baby’s beautiful eyes and knew she never could. She thought she would dedicate her life to teaching her child, but was delighted to discover how he would teach and change her.
More than a memoir, this book is a primer about the transformative power of acceptance, empathy and unconditional love. Through heartwarming, funny and inspirational true stories, the author shares insights gained as she learned to look at life through her son’s perspective. These stories illustrate how joy and valuable opportunities can emerge when letting go of fear and leaning into the unknown.
Using principles of personal improvement and transformation, the author draws universal and eye-opening life lessons from unexpected and profound experiences with her son, Christopher Higgins, whom she respectfully refers to as Professor Higgins, her master teacher.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
CURRICULUM
PREREQUISITES
Lesson 1 One Lucky Student
Lesson 2 Meeting Professor Higgins
Lesson 3 I Don’t Know What I Don’t Know
Lesson 4 Trisomy 21: There’s Much More Up Than Down
UNDERGRADUATE COURSES
Lesson 5 An Unintended Education:
Wake Up and Smell the Chocolate
Lesson 6 Tapping Out: Finding Happiness in Acceptance
Lesson 7 Joy in Surrendering: Who the [Bleep] is Dennis?
Lesson 8 Expectations and Badges: the Merit of Letting Go
MASTER’S COURSES
Lesson 9 The Chris Game-Learning to Enjoy the Ride
Lesson 10 Chris Presley-Living His Dreams in His Own Key
Lesson 11 ’Bye Bye Bye‘ To Limiting Beliefs
Lesson 12 Listening with Respect to Vulcan Ideas
Lesson 13 Patience is Unconditional Love
Lesson 14 Being the Star of the Show
Lesson 15 Recognizing Superheroes Among Us
Lesson 16 Liberation from Fantasy Fears
DOCTORATE COURSES
Lesson 17 On Being a Man
Lesson 18 Being Loyal to Santa
Lesson 19 A Shot of Whiskey with a Chaser of Forgiveness
Lesson 20 The Humanity Quotient:
Another Way to Measure Intelligence
Lesson 21 Love is the Ultimate Superpower
WORK/LIFE EXPERIENCE
Lesson 22 Creating a Win/Win is a Work of Heart
Lesson 23 Who Gets a Ventilator?
The Case for Professor Higgins
Lesson 24 Hopefully This is Not…THE END