Courtney Filigenzi's Blog

February 16, 2022

Recipient of the Prestigious Gold Mom's Choice Award!

I am honored to announce that "Let My Colors Go" has earned the prestigious Mom's Choice Award! Having been rigorously evaluated by a panel of MCA evaluators, LMCG has been deemed to be among the best books for families.

Help a young child express their emotions during a sudden life change as you follow a young boy experiencing a range of emotions express himself through color. Some days he's sad, some days he's happy, and some days he's scared or angry. The young boy comes to realize that these "ups and downs" are perfectly normal for his situation, and he can let his colors go! Drawing and journaling pages are included to encourage children to express themselves in a thoughtful, positive manner.
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Published on February 16, 2022 07:26

January 12, 2022

Courageous Conversations-Giving Children a Way to Express Themselves

Courageous conversations with children are important, especially during life changing events. Families facing a sudden illness, a job loss, the loss of a loved one, a divorce or a sudden move can face a range of feelings, leaving the youngest members in the house confused and overwhelmed.

"Let My Colors Go" can help. Newly released on KindleUnlimited and in paperback, this small but powerful book follows a young boy who uses color to express a range of emotions as his family undergoes a sudden life change. Some days he's sad, some days he's happy and other days he's scared or angry. The boy comes to realize that these "ups and downs" are perfectly normal for his situation.

Beautifully illustrated by Shennen Bersani, LMCG assures children of families facing a sudden life change that they are not alone. Importantly, it helps them understand that it's okay to let their feelings go. Drawing and journaling pages are included to encourage children to express themselves in a thoughtful and positive manner.

LMCG is based on the sold-out, award-winning books "Let My Colors Out" and "My Cancer Days" and aims to broaden the audience of children helped by its pages from only children facing their parent's or their own cancer diagnoses, to children facing a multitude of life-changing events. Families and counselors that have experienced the healing power of the first two books contacted me, desperately seeking more copies, that were, unfortunately, no longer available. Requests were also made, asking for a book like LMCO and MCD, that were less event specific, so more children could relate to its words. And now, after a year of effort and love, Let My Colors Go is available! Check it out at Amazon!
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Published on January 12, 2022 07:11

January 7, 2022

"Let My Colors Go" Book Release!

I am thrilled to announce that "Let My Colors Go" is now available on Amazon!

Based on the now sold-out, award-winning books "Let My Colors Out" and "My Cancer Days", "Let My Colors Go" helps all children express and identify their emotions when a major life change occurs. Whether it's a cancer diagnosis, a parent's job loss or divorce, whether it's having to move to a new home, or the death of someone they love, LMCG can give children the words they need to express their feelings and come a step closer to healing.

In LMCG, a young boy uses color to express a range of emotions. Some days he's sad, some days he's happy, and other days he's scared or angry. The boy comes to realize that these "ups and downs" are perfectly normal for his situation.

Shennen Bersani beautifully illustrated LMCG, which includes drawing and journaling pages to encourage children to express themselves in a thoughtful and positive manner.
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Published on January 07, 2022 07:24 Tags: book-release, death, divorce, emotional-health, illness, mental-health, school-counselors

October 17, 2013

Didn't Win, but I Feel Honored None-the-Less!

I entered "Clover Doves" in the 2013 Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Competition. I didn't win, but I did receive the following comment and that's award enough for me!

"The writing is soulful and literate in style, painting a compelling word portrait that is given a humanist depth in the way the author portrays Emma's journey as set against the environment and complications that inform the shaping of these characters' lives and destinies. The cast of everyday people portrayed in this novel is, individually and collectively, certainly strong enough to carry the narrative, successfully engaging the reader's interest in wanting to know what will happen next. The author's choice of incident is well honed in the way individual scenes reveal character through action and dialogue; a heartfelt and engaging read." -Judge, Writer’s Digest 21st Annual Self-Published Book Awards

Thank you for your kind comment and your constructive advice, Judge 74!
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Published on October 17, 2013 13:09 Tags: competition, metaphysical, paranormal, writer-s-digest

August 11, 2013

"Who Am I and Why Am I Here?" The Lessons Ms. Helen Taught Me

“Who am I and why am I here?” It’s a question a lot of us ask ourselves throughout our lives and sometimes we find an answer. Once in awhile, that answer can be momentous and eye-opening, giving us new found confidence and opening our eyes to the meaning of our past and a pathway to our future. Sometimes, the answer’s meaning is fleeting- a transient ghost of who we are at that point in our lives when we have yet to find our way.

Years ago, I was a concierge at an assisted living facility. I sat at a huge cherry desk in a beautiful sitting area at the entrance of the building, greeting guests, answering phones and assisting residents in a variety of ways. One of our residents was named Helen. Helen was a beautiful soul. She only ever saw beauty. No matter who she talked to, she would compliment something about them. Helen may not have even known the person, but she’d greet them with a smile, touch their arm and say, “You know, you’re absolutely beautiful!” or “Look at your eyes, they’re stunning.” or “You are such a special person. Do you know that?”

No matter how bad your day may have been, when Helen shuffled your way, you’d know she’d leave you with a smile.

The thing that fascinated me most about Helen is that she had dementia. She had forgotten so much, yet the light in her soul still shined through. Her family members said she had always been that way, even though she had survived some very difficult times. Her family told me of her heartbreak and her fears. The things she lived through were downright devastating...yet there she was, contagiously happy, smiling and only seeing the beauty around her.

As her memory started to fade even more, she’d still smile and her beautiful eyes still glowed, but she’d repeatedly walk up to my desk and ask, “Who am I? Why am I here?”

Not wanting to insult me, she’d often add, “It’s absolutely gorgeous here, and I’m so happy to see you, but who am I? Why am I here?”

I’d answer her the way I was trained to, “You’re Ms. Helen and this is where you live,” but I would always add, “And we are so happy to have you here with us.”

She’d shake her head in understanding, pat my hand with a smile, thank me and walk away. Fifteen minutes later she’d be back, asking me the same questions again.

I eventually left the assistant living facility to have my first child, and I only returned a couple times to visit the faculty and residents. Eventually we moved out of state and back again. Time moved on. Eleven years have passed, and my heart and mind tell me that Ms. Helen has inevitably left this world, but her memory has not left mine.

Sometimes, when life gets tough, I ask myself, “Who am I and why am I here?” but when those words echo in my mind, it is not my voice I hear, but Helen’s, and I can’t help but smile.

Nobody truly knows why we are here, and people can only figure out who they are by living their life and finding their own way, but Helen taught me that no matter how bad things get, there is always something of beauty around us. In the dark, empty recesses of her mind, Helen had nothing to cling to, so she clung to beauty, sunshine and happiness. She had a choice. I choose to do the same.
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Published on August 11, 2013 08:26 Tags: inspirational, meaning-of-life

August 5, 2013

Turning Away From the Closed Doors of Our Past

Sometimes when situations change, people move on and doors close, we feel sad and confused. We often look for closure, answers and understanding but all three slip from our grasp like the winter wind- the cold bite is tangible, but we are left with nothing to hold on to.

Like ghosts, our memories haunt us. They fade in and out of our consciousness as the disembodied dreams of what could have been. A lot of times, those dreams were based on empty expectations and hopes- plans we formed in the recesses of our minds that were never based on reality. Reality is what it is, and a lot of times, it’s hard to accept. Why didn’t he love me more? Why didn’t she change? It could have been so much better if they weren’t who they really are. Why couldn’t they act the way I wanted them to?

The circumstances of our lives make us who we are, for good and for bad, and though some of us can grow and change, a lot of us won’t. This leads us to the question, do we need to? Sometimes, the answer may be yes, but if we’re merely trying to fit into the construct of someone else’s expectations of who we should be, we need to analyze the benefits of the change. If the change is something we long to see in ourselves, then surely we should make it, but we can’t learn to be who we truly are if we base our decisions solely on the desires of others.

Doors close for a reason. We may not know why or how and we may have envisioned a different path for ourselves or our loved ones, but everyone makes choices. These choices may be good or bad and the consequences of those decisions will always exist whether they are understood or not.

When a door closes, it’s okay to mourn. But at some point, you have to stop examining the door. You need to stop analyzing the grain and knots on the wood. You need to stop judging the splintered surface and the scattered notches and pull your hand off that cold, locked handle. You need to take a deep breath, and turn yourself around. Put your back to the door of what could have been and look, really look at what surrounds you. Be grateful for what is there, and then take a step forward. It can be difficult and scary to explore the possibilities of what can be, because the future is unknown, but nothing can be more frightening than wasting your life pawing and scratching at a door that is no longer meant to be opened. Nothing is scarier than blinding yourself in the darkness of your past when there is a possibility of light in your future.

So, with courage and hope, turn away from those closed doors, leave the ghosts of the past in the past and with your whole heart, move toward the spirit of your future.
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Published on August 05, 2013 09:02 Tags: encouragement-healing, moving-on, overcoming-disappointment