Rarely do we come across a book that truly teaches us about ourselves as humans, through the waves that life tosses us amongst. Luckily for us, I'm happy to share a book that does just that - Lisa Overman's new memoir, Healing Through Love: The Journey of Rediscovering Joy. In her book, Overman shares a lifetime of experiences (as memoirs do), but then departs from the standard path of memoir into deep intercultural insight.

Partly this is because Overman has lived and taught overseas. We know that worldview brings with it vastly different perspectives than those that haven't been an expat yet. Her experiences may be different than ours, but she's a genius at relating personal stories into global lessons for all of us. As well, Overman takes the parts of life that are difficult - death, grief, and loss - and, through hard work and much thought and love, transforms them into something beautiful. 

This is a book you'll cherish, fold page corners over to remember certain passages, and take inspiration from - I know I did. Highly recommended. 

We were lucky enough to chat with Overman, and ask her about her book, inspiration, healing through love, travel, intercultural living, and more. Here's what she had to say...

Photo by Jason Greenway on Liberty Bridge in Budapest

Please tell us about your new book, Healing Through Love: The Journey of Rediscovering Joy...
My book Healing Through Love is geared to inspire healing in others. It's the journey of my own healing as I faced multiple losses, grief, moments of transformation, and ultimately healing.

What inspired you to write this book? 
As I grieved the loss of a relationship and faced my mother's diagnosis of cancer, I began to write to cope with my pain. Writing was a type of therapy for me. It was a raw, gut-wrenching process that allowed me to heal. I wanted to share my experiences, my losses, and the grief I felt. I knew in my heart that sharing my pain, my grief, and my healing would inspire others to reach for their own. 

Honeymoon Island Sunset in Florida

Besides learning from your story, what do you hope people take away from reading your book, and healing through love? 
It is my hope that people will be inspired to begin their own process of healing. Through seeing another live through and heal experiences similar to our own we gain courage to face our own pain, our own challenges. Helping others heal loss and grief is the reason I wrote the book. It's my purpose, to help others heal. 

What role has traveled played in your life? How have you incorporated intercultural living into healing, living with joy, and where you are today? 
Travel has inspired me to take risks. It helped me to heal, to embrace life and find real joy again. Travel has helped me become the person I am today. My experiences learning to assimilate into life in other countries have brought both great joy and challenge to my life. I feel I'm my best self when I'm traveling and experiencing life in other cultures. When I travel I'm open, I'm learning, and I'm creating new experiences.

Lisa on the beach in Vik, Iceland

What's up next for you?  
I'm working on an in-depth, funny, and adventurous travelogue book about my experiences living and working in Budapest, Hungary.

A sheep in Southern Iceland

Is there anything else you'd like to share?  
I feel grateful to have reached this point in my life and my healing. I want to inspire others to heal and find peace with their losses.

Find Lisa online at: https://www.facebook.com/healingthroughlovelisaoverman

All photos courtesy and copyright Lisa Overman, except where noted