The Soloist by Steve Lopez

Our book of the month is The Soloist.

I found this incredibly insightful:

"...Making a diagnosis isn't as important as making a connection, Ragin says. If Nathaniel is going to get better, it won't be because of a correct diagnosis and textbook treatment program, but because he develops enough trust in me and others to pursue his own recovery..." (page 52-53, emphasis added).

How profound is this??? In order to change someone's life, to help them heal, whatever they need, we need to develop TRUST! We need to make a CONNECTION!

When I think about Visiting Teaching or Home Teaching, this falls right in line. We aren't there to make a diagnosis, change them, or even to fix their problems. We are there to make CONNECTIONS so that we can develop TRUST! When this happens, they can fix themselves, make their own changes. It's the RELATIONSHIP that matters most!

The Soloist is about a man who is mentally ill, and Steve Lopez, the author, sets out to be his friend. During the course of this friendship, Steve is told by Dr. Mark Ragin, the author of A Road to Recovery, "You literally have changed his chemistry by being his friend" (page 196, emphasis added).

It seems entirely possible, and I truly believe that we can help others through struggles, even mental illnesses, by simply being their friend. This is such a powerful concept! For me, it's a life-changing concept!

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

That is the book I'm reading right now. I highly recommend it. Especially if you are in a book club or are a reader. Fun! Fun! It's my turn to choose the book next week, and this is the book I'm choosing. (Thanks to Kellie Dickes for the suggestion!)