Olivia Ames HoblitzelleTen Thousand Joys & Ten Thousand Sorrows: A Couple's Journey Through Alzheimer's

One of the most profoundly moving books written about the 'journey' Olivia and Hob, her husband, diagnosed with Alzheimers, would ever be asked to make. A must read. The spiritual integrity and practices that underline the couple's approach to dealing with the devastating effect of the syndrome is a courageous example for us all. A caveat: the title here was forced upon the author by the publisher on its second edition - it trivializes the book and does it no favours, nor is it particularly relevant. The statement Ten Thousand etc etc is a Buddhist thing (perfectly fine for a treatise on Buddhism). The original title is powerful and contains within itself the indicator of the profound love between this couple. The original title The Majesty of Your Loving should have been preserved. Majesty - the light of majesty is in everyone, or we would not recognize it; it is the divine light which gives our essence its Being. However, not all of us live to the majesty of that light, nor to the light of Majesty. We do, however, recognize majesty: the dignity, integrity, humour and repose which extend from a person out of whose presence flows an innate authority. The love between Olivia and Hob is majestic, and we are humbled by its presence as we read.

As a professional in mental health as well as a nurse working with people who are in the process of dying, I found the Buddhist perspective on the journey to care for a beloved family member with Alzheimer's intriguing. But as a caregiver of a man with Lewy Body dementia, I found it a life-saver!I'm well-versed in Buddhist tradition and have read much about the Buddhist approach to dying, but Olivia Hoblitzelle tells us of one couple's heartfelt journey to companion each other to the end of (his) life, using Buddhist practices as their anchor or port in a storm of change and confusion. I loved, loved, loved this book and have read it to my dear friend who is in crossing into late stages of this disease, as well as shared it with friends who are caring for various family members: parents, spouses, and in one case, a son with early onset dementia.Her compassion is inspiring, and yet equally so is her impatience and compassion fatigue. Her struggles to make Hob's passage into and beyond an unknown terrain a traverse of love (no matter what) are as authentic and heartbreaking as her attempts to keep the threads of her own (separate) life gathered together so she would have something of her own once his journey had ended. These are the very real issues managed by everyday caregivers. She has a way of inviting the reader into his/her own story by compellingly recounting hers.A beautiful book, absolutely beautiful.

If I could give this 10 or more stars I would do it. This book was recommended to me as my husband is dealing with memory loss and is 90 years old. Even though the book deals with Alzheimer's I still connected with Olivia's emotional journey. I have been care giving for my husband for about 6 years. I started to meditate regularly three years ago and that is what I mostly connected with in the book. She and her husband both meditator's come from a beautiful place in dealing with life and death which is the same outlook my husband and I have. I found myself understanding more when I get angry and feel "is this what my life will be about" I had never read a book with someone dying with Alzheimer's so if my husband does move into that diagnosis I feel I will be more educated on the journey.

Olivia Ames Hoblitzelle has given us a remarkable and beautifully written account of her and her husband's mindful journey through Alzheimer's Disease. I believe that her story is not only for those affected by this awful disease, however. I found much of interest and also comfort here regarding the universal theme of death and dying.Hoblitzelle and her husband were students and teachers of Buddhism and Mindfulness Meditation and she brings that radiantly clear and fearless view of death to bear here, but no matter your spiritual tradition, this is one of the most compassionate, unflagging, and hopeful accounts of a journey to the other side that I have read, and having lost both of my parents to cancer, I have read many, representing many traditions. In spite of the subject matter, Ten Thousand Joys & Ten Thousand Sorrows is never maudlin or morose, but offers an honest, unflinching guide to a "good dying".If you or anyone you know is facing death, or has already crossed that threshold - okay, so that's everyone - this beautiful book will help.

I was grateful to get this book.

Beautifully written a heartfelt taleA good companion

This is truly a story of two people, even though only one person wrote it. She was able to capture so much of her husband even as she gradually lost him to Alzheimer's. His "diminishment" is what he called it - the tiny piece by piece loss of a brilliant human mind. She honors him in her writing, and she honors herself as she writes honestly of the strain and heartbreak of being the witness to everything both of them lose, slowly, gradually, permanently. This book is very much a keeper - one I'll reopen frequently.

I have read this excellent book; this copy is for a friend.

A must buy if, like me, you have a father/relative that suffers from Alzheimer. Very soothing and also hands on! Highly recommended.

This book was very inspiring for me as a close member of the family has been diagnosed and this helped me to anticipate what might come up and how to deal with in.

Haven't read the book yet, but the quality of the cover and the pages is just bad. Going forward, i would prefer buying an imported version rather than a locally printed one. Disappointed with the overall quality.