Author Tallman candidly reflects on personal struggles and helpful strategies for improvement in this spirited guide, combining emotive memoir with expert exploration into the realms of depression and discovery. The book opens with her traumatic experience during the birth of her third child, during which trauma arose out of what had been planned by the author as a completely natural event. Having had two previous childbirths, she was determined to "do it right," as she had been taught in her Lamaze classes. Yet nothing went as expected: the pain was unbearable, she could not push powerfully enough, and as the agony increased, it seemed hope was lost. Yet, after hours of trying and crying that she had no more strength to keep pushing, the empathic doctor said, "Yes, you can!"—and her beautiful daughter was born. But as she sweetly cuddled the newborn, she shouted inwardly to God, asking why she had been made to suffer so.

As her husband drove her home, Tallman noted lovely flowers and heard birds singing cheerfully. Still, it would take a long period of dark thoughts, fears, loneliness, and a stay in the hospital for further treatment for her mental condition before she was able to gradually recover, regain hope, and share her story in outreach to others. The experience was not the only time she had been forced into the depths of depression. In fifth grade, a male teacher took excessive interest in her, leading to direct abuse. When she finally confessed this traumatizing experience to her mother, who then lay on her deathbed, her mother's immediate, open understanding and kindness in that crucial moment alerted Tallman to the level of courage that her mother had always possessed and given as an example. A brother's suicide also tormented Tallman and her family, requiring the acceptance of medical and psychological care. In later life, the author was drawn, remarkably and admirably, to generously assist others in battling similar complexes of grief and loss.

Tallman has become engaged in private practice as a certified grief counselor, participating in workshops and conveying positivity through her group facilitation. Her book features vibrant photographs of her family, whose many life stories are interwoven throughout her dynamic narrative. She expertly propounds several levels of aid: self-care, including self-affirmation and self-compassion, can be combined, as her work's title suggests, with an appreciation of the wonders of nature through one's five senses. Reliable professional help and detailed medical understanding will be required when one suffers from the many varied forms of depression. Meanwhile, education aids in the understanding of potential risks and social stigma, and can involve seeking input from professional sources, family, and friends. She concludes with the reminder that building resistance may take a long time but can be accomplished with diligence and positive thinking, appreciating and recording the affirming signals that nature offers through all our senses. Tallman's spirited encouragement, which provides substance for group discussion and personal consideration, empowers readers to attain improvement and achieve practical, positive outcomes.

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