Ode to Hope and Despair

<p><strong style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)><u>Ode to Hope and Despair</u></strong><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> is a </span><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>collection of literary and visual art works</em><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> traveling </span><strong style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)><em>from darkness to light</em></strong><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> in a literal epitome of a journey from despair to hope to despair to hope in a looped circle which sometimes also manifests as a spiral. After all what is Despair if not Hope through the looking glass and what is Hope if not Despair reflected in a funhouse mirror?</span></p><p></p><p><strong style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Ode to Hope and Despair</strong><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> is both for those dealing with depression and for their loved ones - to provide hope to the former and insight to the latter. This book exists to help the former become more familiar with their own mind and help the latter better understand the mind of the former. Having learned many a valuable lesson on her ongoing journey IlanaKovalle enjoys nothing more than </span><strong style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)><em>helping others feel that they are not alone in their dark times</em></strong><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>. She also hopes that by sharing her experiences and feelings she might help someone else out there better understand their own. After all this book is not just about a life permeated by depression - it is also about the struggle to not be defined by that depression or even by that struggle. It is a </span><strong style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)><em>lesson in learning to accept all facets of oneself</em></strong><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> and watching how through that acceptance they begin to </span><strong style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)><em>transform into something once unimaginable</em></strong><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>.</span></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>This book is a journey but nobody said that the journey has to be linear. So here are a few options for </span><u style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>how to read </u><strong style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)><u>Ode to Hope and Despair</u></strong><u style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>:</u></p><p><strong style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Option A</strong><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> - flip through the pages find the illustration that speaks to you and read that piece </span><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>(good for anyone anytime).</em></p><p><strong style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Option B</strong><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> - focus on the lighter pages in the last third of the book</span><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> (can be good for lighter moods in general and also for lightening the mood if necessary).</em></p><p><strong style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Option C</strong><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> - explore the darker pages in the first third of the book </span><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>(can be good when in need of an emotional release trying to put feelings into words or looking for a sense of connection to know that you're not alone in this).</em></p><p><strong style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>Option D</strong><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)> - from cover to cover in a linear fashion to fully immerse in the transformation </span><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>(can be emotionally-taxing especially at the beginning).</em></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>www.IlanaKovalle.com</span></p><p></p><p></p><p><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>...and when I looked up</em></p><p><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>the hand that held me</em></p><p><em style=color: rgba(0 0 0 1)>was mine...</em></p>