Author Speaks About Moving Beyond Grief During Book Revue Huntington Event

December 7, 2016; Huntington, NY/Commack, NY - Dr. Meryl Ain of Commack, known as “The Comfort Coach,” recently discussed the challenges that families with lost loved ones face during the holiday season while offering empowering strategies for transforming grief into positive and comforting acts during a book launch for her newly released book, My Living Memories Project Journal, held at Book Revue in Huntington, NY, where she personally greeted and signed copies of the new book.

My Living Memories Project Journal is a unique workbook created to help people capture the memories and passions of their loved ones, which can include everything from their hobbies and favorite foods to their accomplishments, traditions and favorite charities. The book provides a cathartic experience for those who have suffered loss as well a beloved recorded treasure that will be cherished by future generations to come.

My Living Memories Project Journal is the companion how-to workbook to the award-winning 2014 book, The Living Memories Project: Legacies That Last, which won a Silver Medal in the 2014 Living Now Book Awards. The “project” entailed interviews with 32 people, including such celebrities as Jack Klugman and Lynda Bird Johnson Robb.

Dr. Ain coauthored the first book along with her husband, Stewart Ain, and her brother, Arthur Fischman. The authors learned from those they interviewed how they coped with and transformed their grief into positive action, creative endeavors and living legacies. The Living Memories Project website and Facebook community has garnered thousands of visitors and followers.

“As I healed and comforted myself through research and writing, I developed ideas and approaches to help others overcome their losses by inspiring them to keep memories of their loved ones alive,” Dr. Ain said.

Dr. Ain has made it her mission to provide others with the perspective, tools and skills for leading fulfilling and productive lives after loss. She has shared her expertise on TV, radio as well as in numerous workshops, panels, group events and public speaking engagements.

My Living Memories Project Journal, published by Little Miami Publishing Company, includes inspirational quotes, soothing artwork, meaningful questions and activities to help foster optimistic thinking, positive projects and resilience. Integral to the new book is the questionnaire that Dr. Ain developed as a vehicle for empowering people to capture memories of their loved ones and foster comfort, healing and hope to those coping with grief. The journal is also an appropriate and useful tool for professionals who work with the bereaved.

“Some of our most successful My Living Memories Project programs were when we conducted workshops and invited participants to show and share their memories of loved ones using a questionnaire,” said Dr. Ain. “Because the exercise was so well received, I decided to expand it into a workbook to help people focus on how their loved ones lived rather than how they died, and to celebrate the lives of those who are no longer here. As we are now in the winter holiday season, it is an appropriate time to not only be thankful for those who enrich our lives today but to remember the blessings of those whom we are missing.”

Quotes and questions in My Living Memories Project Journal range from the humorous to the sublime. They run the gamut from reflecting on food and vacation memories to pondering the enduring legacy of a loved one. Also included are tips to help those who are grieving get through the holidays and other events, as well as advice for helping children manage grief.

Dr. Ain brings her experience with loss to this endeavor as well as her many years of expertise as a teacher, school administrator and educational leader. She received her Ed.D. from Hofstra University, her M.A. from Columbia University Teachers College, and her B.A. from Queens College. Her articles about education, families, parenting, grief, loss and remembrance have appeared in The Huffington Post, MariaShriver.com, The New York Jewish Week, The New York Times, and Newsday.

For additional information about Dr. Ain, her books and The My Living Memories Project, please visit http://thelivingmemoriesproject.com/ Both books can be purchased at the Book Revue and are available on Amazon.

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PHOTO CAPTIONS:
7602: Dr. Meryl Ain of Commack (center) holds up copies of her books along with with husband Stewart Ain (right) and Maryann Stech (left), whose story is included in Dr. Ain’s first book, “The Living Memories Project: Legacies that Last,” and is quoted in the “My Living Memories Project Journal” during a recent author event at Book Revue in Huntington, NY. Photo Credit: Courtesy Corbett Public Relations

7612: Dr. Meryl Ain of Commack speaks about challenges that families grieving recent or past lost loved ones face during the holiday season during a recent author event held at Book Revue in Huntington, NY. Photo Credit: Courtesy Corbett Public Relations

7622: Dr. Meryl Ain of Commack speaks about challenges that families grieving recent or past lost loved ones face during the holiday season during a recent author event held at Book Revue in Huntington, NY. Photo Credit: Courtesy Corbett Public Relations

7648: Dr. Meryl Ain of Commack signs copies of her new work, “My Living Memories Project Journal,” created to help people capture the memories and passions of their loved ones – everything from their hobbies and favorite foods to their accomplishments, traditions and favorite charities – during a recent author event held at Book Revue in Huntington, NY. Photo Credit: Courtesy Corbett Public Relations