For our January 25 online book club we'll discuss EVOLVING INTO WHOLENESS: A JOURNEY OF COMPASSION, by Dianne Waltner (2021). Dianne will be joining us on our Zoom call! You need not have attended a previous discussion to join us for this one. We'll discuss the book until about 8:30, followed by open conversation.

The Zoom link to the discussion is posted on the right, visible to those who RSVP. PLEASE NOTE: THIS LINK DISAPPEARS AT THE MEETUP START TIME, THAT IS, 7:00 PM. We'll be available from 6:50 on to help anyone who might need extra time to connect.
You will need a computer, laptop, smartphone or other device with internet access. It's pretty easy; if you're curious, check out https://zoom.us/. If you can't get on, call us at 303-300-2368.
We hope to "see" you there!

If you'd like to read ahead:
Feb. 22 -- The Home Place, J. Drew Lanham
Mar. 22 -- The Soul of an Octopus, Sy Montgomery
Apr. 26 -- The Day the World Stops Shopping, J.B. MacKinnon
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One woman's struggle to find inner peace - a profound story of transformation, redemption, healing, and hope.

In this powerful memoir, Dianne Waltner takes us on an emotional journey from bullied child to spiritual seeker, from hatchery worker to dedicated animal advocate, and from being alcohol dependent to gratefully sober. It's a story of personal transformation, of learning to live a life in alignment with one's deepest values and truths.

Dianne grew up in a rural Kansas farming community where her family operated a poultry hatchery. She viewed farmed animals as commodities, created by God for human use. But, as an introverted, highly sensitive child who was bullied and ostracized at her small school, Dianne always felt a sense of solidarity with the underdog.

These feelings eventually encouraged her to challenge the paradigm she was raised in and she began to open her heart to the understanding that animals are here with us, not for us. Embracing this compassion for animals eventually led her to veganism and a commitment to justice for nonhuman animals.

It was an emotionally painful journey, and she often struggled with depression, loneliness, and despair. Along the way, she began to turn frequently to alcohol to help her cope with the pain.

After losing her mother, Dianne became increasingly suicidal. But, with the help of a newfound feline friend, she was able to find her way out of despair. It took another long, difficult journey for her to finally extend the compassion she felt for animals to herself, and to love herself enough to stop drinking. Her story is one of moving through pain, finding courage, and discovering herself - a true hero's journey, complete with dark nights of the soul, an abiding love for all creation, and dedication to the cause.

"This profound story of transformation and wholeness is a must-read for all of us. For we all have our challenges, and this book gives us the inspiration and the realization that we have the power within us to live from our true hearts, no matter what our life experience has been. I highly recommend this book." - Judy Carman, Author of Homo Ahimsa: Who We Really Are and How We're Going to Save the World

"Dianne Waltner's total honesty in recounting her life is stunning and memorable. Because her family's business was a hatchery, she was expected to routinely discard male chicks to die, and to perform painful mutilations on the females. As a teen and adult, she was caught up in addictive behaviors regarding smoking, drinking alcohol, and overweight, as well as in the low self-esteem that resulted. But she doesn't give up; she keeps working to overcome these behaviors, ultimately conquering her smoking and alcoholism and, not stopping there, becoming vegan in the process. She now spends time promoting animal rights.
I expect that many readers will, like me, find her story inspirational, and regard her as an everyday hero." -- Kate Lawrence, author of The Practical Peacemaker: How Simple Living Makes Peace Possible