The Hole In My Soul

The book you are about to read will hopefully prevent you from falling into the same traps as I did. At first I thought traps were invented just for me to fall into but they lie in wait for us all. Sometimes I thought I would never get out of them alive. This book tells you about my life and part of my sister’s, who I know suffered as I did. So trust me, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. I will take you through my journey from past to present and hopefully you will find the light too. I had a lot of inspiration from my sister and my partner David. They have helped me turn my life around, for that I am eternally grateful. In the beginning you may think there is nothing unusual about my life, that ‘shit happens’. I can only tell you my side of the story and how it was for me.

DescriptionHe was born with a hole in his soul.A hole that rendered him vulnerable and weak. A hole that made him constantly search for the unattainable. A search that would prove deadly and leave him, early in his life, emotionally, financially and physically crippled.With better understanding, an earlier diagnosis and different treatment perhaps his and many other souls could have been saved.Hole in my Soul is a collection of short poetic stories that tell of the devastating effects and consequences of his illness. It asks questions of society and its leaders, so corrupted by large corporations, that it treats disease, conflict and poverty with such ignorance and disdain.Hole in my Soul is a rallying call that exposes the ills of modern society and encourages readers to rise up and pressurise for a change in priorities that will better serve the global community.About the AuthorSimon Russell was born in 1959 in South London.The youngest of four children in a middle class family he was privately educated and until his illness overwhelmed him in his early thirties he had a highly paid and rewarding career as managing director of several well known brands, a wonderful home and a loving and supportive family.Inexplicably and piece by piece over an agonising and frightening 15 year period this all evaporated. In the latter stages the pace quickened with periods of mania, madness and hospitalisation.He has now turned to writing in an effort to rebuild his own life and to draw attention to the issues of mental illness. In particular to improve public understanding, to encourage early diagnosis and to increase funding into research so as to identify more successful treatment.Simon would welcome any comments on his work.

From Queen Latifa to Count Basie, Madonna to Monk, Hole in Our Soul: The Loss of Beauty and Meaning in American Popular Music traces popular music back to its roots in jazz, blues, country, and gospel through the rise in rock 'n' roll and the emergence of heavy metal, punk, and rap. Yet despite the vigor and balance of these musical origins, Martha Bayles argues, something has gone seriously wrong, both with the sound of popular music and the sensibility it expresses. Bayles defends the tough, affirmative spirit of Afro-American music against the strain of artistic modernism she calls 'perverse.' She describes how perverse modernism was grafted onto popular music in the late 1960s, and argues that the result has been a cult of brutality and obscenity that is profoundly anti-musical. Unlike other recent critics of popular music, Bayles does not blame the problem on commerce. She argues that culture shapes the market and not the other way around. Finding censorship of popular music "both a practical and a constitutional impossibility," Bayles insists that "an informed shift in public tastes may be our only hope of reversing the current malignant mood."

Enables individuals to find a deeper sense of self by nurturing their souls, focusing on relationships, spiritual and personal growth, healing, and living out God's purpose for their lives. Original.

In Un-Democratic Acts: New Departures for Dialogues in Society and Schools, the focus is on ideals of democracy and democratic leadership to promote passionate debate, critical thinking, and change. Each chapter utilizes the unique voice and experiences of the author to tackle topics that are often taboo and/or politicized for ratings or votes but seldom for progress and change. Rather than continuing the circular course of back and forth arguments whose beginning and end points are the same, the authors utilize their voice to invoke change and focus on solutions. While each chapter takes on a life of its own, the collective work embodies the purpose and challenge that today’s leadership faces from a variety of perspectives. Most importantly these concepts are intended to create dissonance and divergence, a moving away from the typical and usual ways of doing, to break down the status quo thinking that dominates the related fields of academia and schooling. Do we accept the status quo and work to find our niche within the system? Or, do we hold ourselves and others accountable to truly honor the founding principles of freedom and equality for all as professed in the United States Constitution? In Un-Democratic Acts: New Departures for Dialogues in Society and Schools, the editors create a space in which imagining the possibility of a democratic and just society where all individuals are truly respected and treated fairly is the American way.

If you’re living a perfect, charmed life . . . well, then this book isn’t for you. But if, like the rest of us, you are at times broken, confused, lonely, or scared—if you’re struggling with problems that you think “good Christians” don’t have—then welcome, girlfriend, and pull up a chair! This quirky, friendly, and gut-honest devotional comes straight from the heart of Ellen Miller (CEO, marketing executive, mom, and unapologetic “glorious mess”). Despite the serious struggles she’s faced, Ellen today lives a life of profound joy, and The One Year Book of Inspiration for Girlfriends contains 365 days’ worth of the principles and philosophies that have gotten her there. There’s no subject she’s afraid to tackle! Her quick, daily doses of encouragement will make you laugh, give you something to look forward to, help you to stay (somewhat!) sane . . . and remind you that you’re never alone.

Brings together the words of welfare mothers, activists and advocates, as well as scholars in a poignant and powerful challenge to the impoverishment of women.

We all have life experiences that unveil the core of our souls and reveal the transparency of our hearts by way of actions, words, and deeds. The good news is that even after wicked actions, the heart can be made clean and our spirits can be renewed and righteous. In a guide for Christians inspired by prayer and the Holy Spirit, Karen Aletha Franklin shares testimonies and insights that reflect on the basics of life and the simplicity of God’s Word in down-to-earth language. With frankness and love, Karen Aletha relates the reality that humanity’s struggles, issues, and victories are more common than we think, and that the spirit of God is the candle that not only reveals the secrets of the heart but also heals and saves the sinful soul through the work of the cross. Through it all, Karen Aletha guides Christians to move on to perfection in Christ Jesus and build the kingdom of God—one soul, one family, and one nation at a time. I Didn’t Even Know That Was There is an inspirational guide that leads Christians down a powerful path to healing the heart, soul, and spirit and ultimately finding perfection in Christ Jesus.