I came across this beautiful book My Darling Girl by Henny Flynn just after losing my Mum. The title caught my eye, because these were the words my Mum often used to call me. Once I started reading the touching words, quietly crying over every one of them, I thought it was just written for us. At this time when I am caught up in a turmoil of grief, it is one of the books that bring me a little bit of comfort. As if my Mum was whispering these words to me.

Here is what the author has to say about the book:

I had lost myself.

I was hiding grief and stress and I was trying to fill the gap they left with work and quick-fix distractions. It all, inevitably, caught up with me and it was through becoming ill that I finally found myself again.

There followed a time of immense personal change. It wasn’t easy and there were many moments when it felt like an impossible task. I had tried before… The difference this time was I opened up to receiving support - including from my own inner voice.

And the result was a series of love letters.

Each one arrived on the pages of my journal just when I needed it most.

While I knew the words were there to support me, I had a sense they were written to all the girls and women we have ever been. So I shared them with others. And was touched to find they resonated with them too.

And so, here we are. That very first letter has become a book.

These are reflections on our deepest thoughts; our hopes and our fears. On how it is to change, to want something, to want to move on from something. They’re an exploration of how it is to connect with our self… to learn to love our self just as we truly are - perfect in our imperfections.

I have come to understand that we all hold our own wisdom; that no-one else has our answers. I’ve also come to understand that we hear and see what we most need in the moment we need it most.

Throughout my life there have been books that have sustained me.

And I hope these words bring something of that sustenance for you, and for the darling girls in your life, too.

Henny Flynn