Butterfly Awakens: A Memoir of Transformation Through Grief by Meg Nocero is much more than a memoir; it's a life-affirming memoir that reveals the journey, pain, and trials the author faced as she dealt with the loss of her mother, who succumbed to cancer. This is the catalyst that prompted Meg to do a deep dive into her own soul to find out who she was and what she wanted out of life. But it wasn't an easy path. She suffered physically, psychologically, and emotionally, starting with being bullied at school when she was in the fifth grade. Later, as an adult, while focusing on her mother, she also learned to focus on herself, eventually turning into the butterfly she was meant to be.

Nocero brings you into her story with her amazing way with words, spirituality, and imagery, causing you to connect with her experiences even though yours may be somewhat different. You'll struggle with her during her role as an attorney, and understand that this was only one cog in the machinery that propelled her toward her personal truth, which was partially prompted by the vision of a lighthouse at the passing of her mother. She turns her successful journey into a calling to help lead others to find purpose, path, and light. What really stands out to me is the author's insight, and how she conveys what she's learned with power and grace. This book isn't a one-sided memoir of a person's life. It's a guide that will help you come to a fuller understanding and appreciation of the potential and value you have inside. Each chapter has thoughtful content we can relate to, and golden nuggets of practicality and wisdom, sometimes through anecdotes, sometimes through quotations. I especially like her advice to choose faith over fear. If you're having trouble finding happiness and healing, Butterfly Awakens: A Memoir of Transformation Through Grief by Meg Nocero could be the motivation you need to do some self-exploration.

Butterfly Awakens: A Memoir of Transformation through Grief by Meg Nocero is a poignant story of loss, grief, healing, and personal transformation. The author is a middle-aged Italian-American woman who felt helpless as she watched her mother struggle and die of breast cancer. While the loss was painful for her, she had other challenges, including a difficult and toxic work environment, depression, anxiety, and a nervous disorder. This memoir tells the story of her journey toward healing and transformation, a tale of resilience and grit that has strong emotional moments and lessons to guide readers on their own journey as they follow the same process of transformation we see in butterflies.

The author takes readers on an emotional ride that starts with the early formative years of her life, when she became acutely aware of how others despised her physical appearance. This was an experience that led her to be closeted, both literally and metaphorically, struggling with low self-esteem. Her mother had been a champion for her, encouraging her on the path of forgiveness and “letting go.” So, her death left a huge vacuum in Meg's life. This memoir is her spiritual odyssey, a journey toward spiritual growth and moral transformation that is packed with allegories and compelling symbolism. It is filled with insightful passages, intelligent reflections about life, reality, and personal development. Meg Nocero lifts the veil and allows readers to see her vulnerable fragility, allowing her humanity to come across powerfully. But the path she describes in Butterfly Awakens gives hope to readers that change is possible, that they can get better, healed, fulfilled, and empowered. One of the books I would highly recommend for book clubs.