A compassionate journal to face loss, write through what hurts, and find your way back to hope.
We created this space to walk beside you, tenderly, in the moments when the pain feels too heavy to carry alone. This journal invites you to write, breathe, recognize your feelings, and embrace life — one step at a time.
A safe space for what you feel
you don't have to be okay to begin
Grief doesn't always arrive with clear words. Sometimes it feels like silence, exhaustion, fear, guilt, or a sadness we can't explain. In these pages, we invite you to pause, listen to your heart, and write without judgment. This journal doesn't ask you to be okay. It walks beside you as you learn to care for yourself with love.
page by page
In this journal you will discover how to…
i
Care for yourself
Discover small, loving gestures to hold yourself steady when your strength runs low.
ii
Handle pain and sadness
Find gentle ways to sit with sorrow without letting it sweep you away, at your own pace.
iii
Recognize your feelings
Give names to the emotions that arrive unannounced so you can listen to them with calm.
iv
Forgive yourself and others
Slowly release the weight of guilt and open space for reconciliation and peace.
v
Reflect and find gratitude
Turn your gaze toward what still holds your life together, and let yourself be thankful.
vi
Create joy for the future
Imagine, tenderly, the tomorrow you wish to live in — and sketch its very first lines.
about the book
An intimate path from pain toward hope
Embracing Life was born from a deeply human need: to find a safe and loving way to process the losses lived through the pandemic. Through writing exercises, reflections, and art, this journal offers an intimate path to look at pain with compassion and begin to transform it into hope.
Format
Workbook and journal
Language
English
Themes
Grief, loss, self-care, reflection, gratitude, and hope
The works of Guilloume live within these pages as silent companions. Walk slowly: each stroke holds an emotion.
“The silence of a sadness that deserves to be heard.”
StillnessGuilloume · graphite on paper
“The solitude of a path that can still open toward hope.”
The PathGuilloume · graphite on paper
“A face that holds pain, memory, and transformation.”
MemoryGuilloume · graphite on paper
Hover over each piece to hear what it holds.
with an open heart
Words from those who found hope
“
The whole world changed at the start of 2020, and many of us still face uncertainty, wondering how long — or whether — life will ever reach a sense of normalcy. Each of us has faced different challenges, but one thing that connects us is the grief and loss we have collectively experienced. Embracing Life provides an avenue for safely exploring and processing the countless losses endured throughout this pandemic.
Elisa DeVargas, PhDLicensed Clinical PsychologistUniversity of New Mexico, Health Sciences Center“
This invaluable workbook with beautiful illustrations underscores the central message of valuing oneself during this journey, with the ultimate goal of recovering that joyful voice and inner spirit to overcome anxieties and release personal pain, doubt, and guilt. This is a precious and essential gift for us all!
Francisco S. Davila, PhDEducator, author“
This book really helped me. I loved the privacy, because I could express and release my feelings knowing that no one else would read them.
Marilyn GallegosAlbuquerque, NM
the voices behind the book
About the authors
“We are two women united by the wish to accompany others on their path of healing. We believe that writing, feeling, and looking inward can open a door toward peace.”
Coralee Quintana
Author · Psychology & child development
Mother of three daughters who inspired her to write, Coralee studied psychology with a focus on child development at the University of New Mexico and earned a dual master's in international management and Latin American studies.
She devoted her early years to early-childhood and early-intervention programs for at-risk families, and taught parenting classes. Today she supports family businesses and nonprofits as a commercial real estate broker in California and New Mexico. After the hardship of the pandemic, she shares her words of comfort with the world.
Born and raised in Medellín, Colombia, Gladys earned her degree in psychology with a concentration in learning disabilities. She was a teacher and counselor, and directed a preschool for children with special needs.
In 1985 she moved to the United States, built a family with her husband Guilloume, and earned a master's in family studies from the University of New Mexico. As a social worker in Albuquerque, she taught families self-sufficiency skills. Today she is a certified life coach who leads workshops across the United States and Colombia, helping people heal and find peace, love, and joy. She has completed more than 40 marathons.
Guilloume is a master of “bolismo”, an emotional style that uses simple forms, textures, and movement to express human feelings — from the most complex to the most simple.
Born in Colombia in 1957, he gave himself to art from a very young age and completed his studies at the Institute of Fine Arts in 1981. He works in oil, watercolor, pastel, pencil, ink, bronze, and stone. His work breathes humanity, joy, sorrow, fear, and hope.
He keeps his studio and gallery in Sandia Park, near Santa Fe, New Mexico, where his serene figures continue to invite contemplation.
gently, step by step
Frequently asked questions
Who is this book for?
For anyone moving through a loss or a difficult season who wants a safe space to feel, write, and heal. You don't need any writing experience or to have your emotions “figured out.” You only need the wish to care for yourself.
Do I need to have experienced a pandemic loss?
No. Although it was born from the losses lived through the pandemic, this journal accompanies any grief: the passing of a loved one, a separation, the loss of health, of a job, or of a season of life. Pain deserves a place, whatever its origin.
Is this a religious book?
No. It is a spiritual and deeply human space, respectful of all beliefs. It walks beside you with compassion and hope, without imposing any religion.
How does the journal work?
It combines reflections, writing exercises, and art. You move at your own pace and in complete privacy: you write for yourself, knowing no one else will read your words. Each page invites you to recognize an emotion and to care for yourself with love.
What language and format is it available in?
It is written entirely in English, as a workbook and journal. You can find it on Amazon. A Spanish edition, Abrazando la vida, is also available for those who prefer it.
Can I give it to someone who is hurting?
Yes, and it is a beautiful gesture. Many people give it as a hug in the form of a book to someone going through a hard moment. It's a gentle way to say “you are not alone.”
one step at a time
Begin your journey with a hug
You don't have to make sense of everything you feel today. You only need a safe place to begin. Embracing Life was created to walk beside you with calm, compassion, and hope.
We are here, with you. If you'd like to share your story or receive an encouraging word from time to time, leave us a message. We'll read it with care.
We use essential cookies to keep this site working securely. We don't use advertising or tracking cookies. Learn more in our Cookie Policy.
