Cathy Trinh, the author of The Journey, has led a tragic and traumatic life. Her life was a hazy existence of drugs and alcohol abuse, emotional dependancy and self-abandonment. Yet it was her cancer experience that succeeded in leading to her healing. This is a glimsp into a very personal journey that reveals important insights into living for all of us.

Let’s start with the end lesson. Trinh advocates slowing down as a means to a happier life. “Slowing down doesn’t mean to stop living passionately, doing nothing or being lazy. Instead it is about releasing and letting go fo the hectic life”

I need to also start with my review perspective. I survived a simultaneous triple cancer diagnosis in 2014. So my view is one who has lived the cancer journey. This is my baggage that I took into reading this book.

Trinh simply starts by telling her life story. She describes what it was like growing up as an immigrant. She tells us of the hell she experienced through bad relationships, alcohol and drug abuse, and workaholism. Trinh also shares her struggle to keep to the 12 step program towards sobriety. All this so far is a very tragic and trauma filled narrative.

Then she got thyroid cancer. This is when it seems that her world really changed. This is when she integrated all her previous treatments, owned her reality, and truly implemented a healing path. In so doing, she gained perspectives and insights that are universally applicable.

Maybe not surprisingly, my own cancer path led to very much the same lessons that she outlines:

• Life is short; live slowly and embrace each Moment
• Learn what is and is not controllable in life;
• Understand when to let go and when to take action;
• Know your own personal sources of strength and hold them in your heart;
• Slow down, but increase motivation for change and take action.

From these truths, Trinh outlines a concept as a way towards spiritual living. She feels that the many coincidences, synchronicities, and spiritual alignments that happened in her life are “holy Moments.” To help people find those Moments (she capializes every occurrance of this word), she describes the copyrighted H.O.L.Y. Moments method.

Trinh states that categorizing your experiences into the four classifications can help people identify their important moments in their lives. These are:

• Holistic Moments – where you feel interconnected
• Organic Moments – relationships focussed
• Little Important Moments – appreciating those little occurrences that mean a lot
• Yearned Moments – ignition of your passions in life

In the closing pages of the book, Trinh talks about how this COVID pandemic is forcing many of us to slow down and appreciate life differently. We need to intentionally live life fully with the only thing we have, which is today.

I recommend reading this book because it describes a truly difficult journey to self-awareness and self-love. Trinh’s passion is felt throughout the story. A travel log from suffering to enlightenment and happiness.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

“THE JOURNEY: Mastering the Art of Slowing Down Into a Beautiful Existence”

By Cathy Trinh

ISBN: 978-1-9822-4684-6 (softcover); 978-1-9822-4686-0 (hardcover); 978-1-9822-4685-3 (e-book)

Available at the Balboa Press Online Bookstore, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.