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Praise for
Mindfulness for Warriors
“The pain of trauma that first responders suffer from is finally being recognized, and Mindfulness for Warriors shows the path to healing. Kim Colegrove shares her heart-wrenching story of the loss of her husband to suicide, why it happened, and effective keys to recovery through mindfulness meditation. Mindfulness for Warriors is a welcome guide not only for first-responders and their loved ones, but anyone who suffers from trauma.”
—Rev. Connie L. Habash, LMFT, author of Awakening from Anxiety: A Spiritual Guide to Living a More Calm, Confident, and Courageous Life
“This is a book that will save lives. Mindfulness for Warriors is a work of major importance that offers practical approaches to self-care and serenity for our first responders. Our military veterans, firefighters, police, dispatchers, paramedics, doctors, and nurses are at the front lines of our society and a vital part of every community. Kim Colegrove’s marvelous book is an essential read for these brave people.”
—Louise Harmon, author of Happiness from A to Z
“Mindfulness for Warriors is an outstanding book I will be giving to a lot of people. My father was a Marine who came back from war and became a fireman. I loved how brave Dad was, but I also sensed, behind his tough exterior, he was hiding a lot of pain. He was a stoic who forged on doing his very important work but at a high personal cost. He and so many like him serve our communities and deal with extreme stress on a daily basis, often without any way to process the pain and PTSD they are suffering. Kim Colegrove’s book is an invaluable tool to help the helpers. Her mindfulness practices and meditation techniques offer much respite, relief, and calm to anyone who picks up this book.”
—Becca Anderson, author of Prayers for Hard Times and Real Life Mindfulness
“Kim Colegrove survived unspeakable grief, and, rather than becoming bitter and broken herself, she honed a fierce and relentless compassion that seeks well-being for those who protect and serve. This book, and the PauseFirst Project, offer accessible tools for everyday use. In its pages, you will find solid strategies and proven practices for coping with stress and trauma in work and in life. Mindfulness for Warriors is a must-read for veterans, first responders, and all who walk the way of the warrior.”
—Rev. Roxanne Pendleton, MDiv, CYT 200, advisor, Trauma Informed Care, and author of Laughing Again: A Survivor’s Guide to Healing Depression
“While many of us might not consider ourselves warriors. In truth, we are. Especially if, as the author writes, ‘your life or work involves helping, saving, and rescuing others….’ From time to time, we become rescuers for our kids, partners, friends, family, or co-workers. This groundbreaking book, therefore, is a must-read since it touches all of us. It not only documents the lives of others who needed help, but it also provides very grounding solutions for dealing with and overcoming life’s challenges.”
—Allen Klein, author of Embracing Life After Loss
“Kim Colegrove has one audacious goal—to save the first responders who put their own lives on the line for others every day. Through candid memoir, insightful interviews, and informed advice, Mindfulness for Warriors offers practical tools for first responders and the people who love them. Colegrove artfully blends her account of the heart-wrenching loss of her husband with her wisdom from decades of meditation practice and her hope to find a solution to the trauma dynamic that rips first responders from the world. Colegrove’s firsthand experience watching lives change for the better authorizes her to make this bold claim: mindfulness can save lives. She’s seen it and tells us how it’s done. Hers is a message you won’t want to miss.”
—Nita Sweeney, meditation teacher, writing coach, and award-winning author of Depression Hates a Moving Target
Mindfulness
for Warriors
Mindfulness
for Warriors
Empowering
First Responders
to Reduce Stress and
Build Resilience
Kim Colegrove
Coral Gables
Copyright © 2020 Kim Colegrove
Published by Mango Publishing Group, a division of Mango Media Inc.
Cover, Layout & Design: Morgane Leoni
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Mindfulness for Warriors: Empowering First Responders to Reduce Stress and Build Resilience
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication number: 2019948834
ISBN: (print) 978-1-64250-174-2, (ebook) 978-1-64250-175-9
BISAC category code SEL024000, SELF-HELP / Self-Management / Stress Management
Printed in the United States of America
This book is dedicated to
David M. Colegrove
Contents