How To Handle Change - Illness
Wendy Collier
language
(Angel Books, July 6, 2011)
George is stuck in the hospital with an illness and doesnât know what to do. He luckily gets a visit from the Self-Esteem Angel and Angel Aain.An uplifting conversation takes place where they talk about a variety of things. Some of these include: how to deal with the fears, anxieties and worries; ideas to deal with the boredom; how illness changes life; why learning to cry is important; how fear keeps you from getting better; ways to heal and get strength into your body; and more.George commits to passing on these lessons to other children in the hospital. He learns how sharing these lessons can lead to helping millions of children.Read some excerpts:âI told him that his friends would still be there when he was well again. I told him that having an illness does change a personâs life in many ways,â explained Aain. âHis day-to-day routine will be different. Depending on how long heâs sick, he might have to make some adjustments in his life.ââŚAain said proudly, âI told him he had to make sure that he didnât do anything that could set him back or try to do too many things when he started to get better.ââŚâSo, I need to listen to my Mom when she says I canât do things, yet,â George said as he made a face.The Angel chuckled and said, âYes, this is a time when you do need to listen to your Mom when she says itâs too soon to do things.âThe Angel continued, âYour Mom will be more cautious and protective of you, which is expected Mom behavior. But, with this type of illness it is better to be cautious and not get worse.âGeorge rolled his eyes as he said, âWell, my Mom will be happy to hear that!â The Self-Esteem Angel laughed and said, âSometimes itâs hard to admit our parents are right.ââŚThe Angel nodded in agreement and said, âThatâs what I call a âgood distractionâ. Itâs important for us to identify what those are in our lives. It helps us deal with all the different kinds of change that can happen. It also keeps our mind off our symptoms and pain.ââSo, a âgood distractionâ can be something like watching a funny movie,â said George.âExactly,â affirmed the Angel.âThere are a whole bunch of funny movies here at the hospital that I can watch,â said George.âMost hospitals have a variety of activities and special events that are fun and positive to help children take their mind off their illness. There are also many resources like books and support groups, so explore and find out what these are.ââŚâWell, George, teaching lessons on how to handle life is my purpose,â said the Self-Esteem Angel. âItâs a powerful way to build confidence and self-esteem.ââWhat does self-esteem have to do with being sick?â asked George.The Self-Esteem Angel explained, âWhen you have positive self-esteem, you like and respect all parts of who you are. You will realize how important it is to take better care of your health and well-being.âThe Angel continued, âFeeling confident that you can deal with an illness, keeps you from focusing on your fears, anxieties and worries about whatâs happening. This gives your body a better chance to heal by keeping your mind and heart focused on the positives.ââMost people donât realize that holding on to fearful thoughts takes a lot of energy. This reduces the amount of healing energy their body has available to use.ââYour body needs large amounts of energy for it to rebuild cells. That is why most healing happensâŚâAges 5 - 12âOne of the best features of the books is their accessibility and realistic nature. Collier writes about situations common to kids; moving, fitting in, losing a pet, or just coming to terms with losing friends. Theyâre also incredibly useful books for parents and teachers; kind of a reminder of what it was like to be a child facing one of lifeâs obstacles. The stories are always engaging and interesting, and more importantly there are vital, practical messages to help.â Mark Weber, Red Deer Express