The Light in 9/11: Shocked by Kindness, Healed by Love

by Lisa Luckett

2019 WINNER-- NYC BIG BOOK AWARD -- Inspiration 2020 DISTINGUISHED FAVORITE-- INDEPENDENT BOOK AWARD -- Inspiration Within weeks of 9/11, Lisa Luckett vowed that shewould make something good come from the nightmare of the death of her husband and all the others in the devastating event that changed our world forever.With a warrior’s will, Lisa reframed her pain into afast track for personal growth and positive changefor herself and for her young family.The Light in 9/11: Shocked by Kindness, Healed by Love is the story of her inspiring journey that came from having an open mind, perseverance, and a different perspective. What she discovered ishow the power of kindness can make the world a better place.With three small children and a country brought to its knees with shock and horror, Lisa Luckett chose a different path to navigate the devastation and find answers in the chaos. With courage and fortitude, she leaned into the struggle and broke free of traditional rules to emerge from the wreckage into the light.For her, 9/11 became the catalyst to confront a lifetime of confusion. That confrontation led to profound breakthroughs and understanding showing her a beautiful future.Lisa’s relatable story and pragmatic voice will resonate with readers facing today’s fearful, changing times. It shows how calm minds and voices of reason can find the lessons, the wisdom,and the beacons of light that exist within any trauma.

228 pages, Paperback

Published July 20, 2018

Reviews

[Kirsti · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

I'm always a bit skeptical when someone tries a power phrase or modern fad to give me a kick up the behind to 'change' my life, but I do appreciate that other people can do it, and do it well. This book is about how 9/11 was the worst experience and yet opened the author to the possiblity of kindness and love from strangers. By accepting that love, as well from some members of her friends and family, Lisa was able to build a life she couldn't have imagined would come from this. It was nice.

Not everyone would be able to do it, but Lisa manages. She admits her flaws and weaknesses at time, but strives to improve herself. It is very uplifting and a hopeful message. Much of what she goes through she reaches conclusions through her therapist, which I'm sure works for her. I KNOW this is something that actually works, but I'm terrified of voicing my thoughts aloud to another human being, so it just isn't something I can imagine doing.

I did take away from this an inner sense of peace,and a quiet kind of sadness for the loss to Lisa and her family. It is a well written book and takes you on an emotional ride. Four stars!

[Literary Redhead · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Light in 9/11: Shocked by Kindness, Healed by Love” by Lisa Luckett is the author’s inspirational account of living through shocking trauma and illness and choosing hope as her response. The author’s husband was killed in the terrorist attack on 9/11 when she was the mother of three young children. She was later diagnosed with breast cancer and as she faced both challenges she sought a spiritual path to wholeness. Today, she is an activist for kindness who emphasizes compassion and forgiveness. Highly recommended!

Pub Date 01 Aug 2018  

Thanks to Cozmeena Enlightened Publishing and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are fully mine.

#TheLightIn911 #NetGalley

[Patti Emminger · Rating 5 out of 5]

A light in the darkness, for sure!

Lisa Luckett tru!y "shines" in her successful mission to equip us with the knowledge and tools we need to use life's darker experiences to focus on the light within our world! She teaches and guides by her own example that there IS so much good in our world and on ourselves, despite what we are led to believe. This book is so inspirational and her story so riveting! One of those rare books I will need to read again to digest it more slowly and deeply.

[Mary Kampfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please don’t make the mistake of thinking you are not brave enough to read this book. You are, and this book will make you even braver. Like many, I have said many times that I will “never forget” 9/11. But because the event was so unfathomable, I have kept the sheer pain of it at arm’s length. Lisa Luckett, who lost her beloved husband Ted on 9/11, had no such luxury. What she has done with her pain and her strength is a remarkable achievement. This book was nothing that I expected, and everything I needed. As mothers, as fathers, as caregivers, or in any nurturing role, we are often told that we “can’t take care of others unless we take care of ourselves.” To me that was always a trite saying, and one that I never understood. But now I do. This is less a story about 9/11 and Lisa Luckett and more of a permission to let go of negative influences, accept help from your “village,” and be the person you were meant to be – a force for goodness, and a source of inspiration and solace. We all have it in us. We just need to get rid of distractions and find it. “The Light in 9/11” is, I believe, the one that Lisa Luckett followed to find the right path after a horrible tragedy. That she is sharing her very personal story, and is inspiring others to find their own light, is nothing short of phenomenal.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lisa's husband was one of the many victims of 9/11, this memoir deals mostly with her journey after his death.
I found the details of her childhood and relationship with her parents fascinating as she came to realise, through therapy, how much this had affected the person she became.

Her father was a taciturn alcholic and her mother rather dismissive of her feelings and prone to re-writing history. After this tragedy struck she was determined to change things with her children and worked to see everything and everyone in the best light possible (while excluding toxic people/family from her life). A very interesting statement from her therapist was " Therapy affects two generations back and three generations forward".
Some of her striving to make things better were a bit too "spiritual" for me but then it doesn't need to appeal to me. People should do whatever works for them and she also points out that everyone grieves in a different way - you cannot have expectations of what someone should go through.
All in all some interesting observations and points made.
Thank you to #Netgalley and #Cozmeena Enlightened Publishing for #TheLightIn9/11, most appreciated!