Happily Broken: Discovering Happiness Through Pain and Suffering

by Clementine Bihiga

At the age of eight, bullets shot past her head as her mother and youngest siblings piled into a car. Not enough room left for the rest of the family, Clementine and her brothers walked beside the vehicle as bombs exploded beside them. Bodies fell to the ground. Dead. You were lucky if you survived without a wound of some kind. With no time to stop and mourn those you love, the exodus from war-torn Rwanda was a chaotic and terrifying experience. Especially for a child like Clementine Bihiga. Clementine wrote Happily Broken; Discovering Happiness through Pain and Suffering not to preach to people, but to come beside them as a friend who cares—as a friend who has traveled through the fire and come out on the other side. Free. Does she have scars? Of course, but she’s here to tell you that scars can be beautiful. Pain and suffering can be beautiful if embraced with a full heart and genuine faith. Why me? It’s something we’ve all said at some point, but what if we turned that into, “Why not me?” What if we could embrace trials and turn them into a redemptive part of our lives? What if we could not only appreciate the silver linings in our lives, but actually see them as beautiful? Clementine endured a life of many struggles. Family members have been murdered. Dreams have been broken. But Happily Broken is her testament that proves that you can take that brokenness and turn it into something radiant. Breaking refines and frees you. Crying is healthy and human, not something to suppress and hide from. In a culture filled with emotionally bottled up people, Clementine’s story refreshes us with hope and encouragement. Tragedies do not define us. It’s our reaction to them that makes us who we are today. You can choose a beautiful life, no matter how many difficulties you have faced and continue to face. You can be thankful for your brokenness. You can learn to value each shattered fragment of your life when you find out how those pieces can be used to mold you into something new, something that shines with the brilliance of a heart full of love and faith. Clementine has experienced it first hand and she would love to share with you how you can find beauty in the midst of storms. It’s true. It really is. You can be happily broken.

78 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 16, 2015

Reviews

[Charleen Tivnan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please read this very inspirational book!!! I had the pleasure of meeting the author and can tell you she is a beautiful and amazing spirit!!!

[Shadira · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a very inspiring look into the author's life and how she became 'Happily Broken'. I loved her incite into facing adversity and seeing the positive affects if we allow it. I think my favorite chapter was Breaking into a Whole. I love when she says, "I might as well create a life experience resume to clarify my qualifications and life experiences and hand it to the next tragic event that might hit me. As soon as it reads my resume, it will knock on the next door. I'm simply overqualified..." She is talking about how breaking qualifies you to go through other tough times. I would recommend it, especially if you are going through particularly tough times. Very interesting read.

Happily Broken is a very emotional book. Through all the hard times Clementine has gone through, she remains a positive person. We all can learn from this book. The reader cannot imagine what she went through as a child, yet she has become such an influence on so many. She is an inspiration to anyone reading the book. I highly recommend it.

It feels like Clementine is speaking directly to you with this book. While Clementine went through some unimaginable things in her life, how she copes and the strength that she finds to make it through her struggles is truly inspiring. Clementine’s positivity and zest for life is infectious!

appily Broken: Discovering Happiness through Pain and Suffering This riveting short-novel captured my attention from start to finish. My eyes were literally glued to book, and I truly enjoyed reading every single page. This book is great for all readers.

It is a story of about the authors’ life struggles and how she overcame them. I was amazed as how she was able to go through so much pain and suffering at such a young age and still manage to rise above it. She walks you through her time in Ruanda and her travels as a refugee and escaping death during the Genocide that took place in her native country of Ruanda.

The author goes into detail about culture shock. She came to America for a better life but realizes that life in America is not as easy as everyone portrays it back home in Ruanda. This book is great for children to teach them life lessons and how to overcome struggles we face daily as human beings.

The book is powerful and will help many people who are lost or in need of motivation and guidance. Help empower yourself and others and purchase a copy of this book today!

[Ana G · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short, essay-based memoir, chronicling the author's life as a survivor or the Rwandan massacre, and the obstacles and challenges that followed. I found it an accessible & engaging read, and her positive outlook throughout the many horrors she's lived through felt uplifting. It's a lesson in preserving hope and persevering in the fact of awfulness and stark setbacks.

[Dréya · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a quick read and a very inspirational true story. This wondeful spirited woman happens to be my coworker and I must admit she is everything described in this book. She is hungry for life, constantly doing things, great multi tasker and I can go on and on about her but reading this book helped me understand why she is the way she is. Give this book a try. You won't be disappointed!

[Trish · Rating 3 out of 5]

Clementine's story is touching and unbelievable, but I found myself wishing she gave a more detailed telling of said stories. I wanted more.

[Tina Wagner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am in awe of her generous spirit. Her energy set the tone for a wonderful retreat I attended. We laughed. We danced. We cried. I couldn’t wait to read her book. It did not disappoint.

[Chloe · Rating 1 out of 5]

homegirl needs an editor, and also some writing skills. also religious people freak me out tbh, I’m glad she was able to learn to cope with her trauma with religion, but her logic is something else

[Ruth E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was surprised at how much I liked this little book. She is a very uplifting writer.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very inspiring look into the author's life and how she became 'Happily Broken'. I loved her incite into facing adversity and seeing the positive affects if we allow it. I think my favorite chapter was Breaking into a Whole. I love when she says, "I might as well create a life experience resume to clarify my qualifications and life experiences and hand it to the next tragic event that might hit me. As soon as it reads my resume, it will knock on the next door. I'm simply overqualified..." She is talking about how breaking qualifies you to go through other tough times. I would recommend it, especially if you are going through particularly tough times. Very interesting read.

[Terri · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a gift from my sister who heard the author speak. I read this book in one sitting (it's not long, but it's emotionally devastating) - I couldn't put it down. The author has lived some of the most horrifying life events imaginable - genocide, assault, the death of a child - and somehow manages to remain upbeat and positive. Anyone who wants a first-hand account of an immigrant's experience or how to keep going after suffering pain or loss should check this book out.

[Kitt O'Malley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the honor of meeting Clementine Bihiga in person before I read her book. She radiates love and inspires in person, on stage, and in writing. She has not only survived horrific atrocities during the Rwandan genocide, she has come out filled with faith and inspires hope. She amazes me. Her book conveys her personality and empowering positive message perfectly.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect

Hi The author is my aunt and this book is wonderful!
I love the message. It's a very touching book

[Hélène · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quick read, humorous at times. Loved it!

[Shari Risoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful testimony.

[Melissa Cashbaugh · Rating 5 out of 5]

An Inspiring Read

This book was a privilege to read. It validated what I know about trials blessing us. We can choose to grow and be happy. Thank you Clementine Bihiga.