About the Book
"Why Live?" is a story of vulnerability and transformation. In the face of depression and trauma, Faolan Sugarman-Lash learns to love his life despite his pain. In this book, he shares his mistakes, lessons, stories, and advice for how to overcome mental health challenges by experiencing each part of life fully and finding meaning. He offers the full spectrum of his life experience from relationships to travel and from trauma to spirituality. This book is a manifestation of Faolan's vision for a vulnerable, open, and courageous world. If you have ever wondered why you're here, this is the book for you. WHY LIVE?
INTRODUCTION
"Do you think trees wonder why they're alive?" - me
If you have ever wondered why you're alive or, like me, wanted to die, then this book is for you. This mission is for you. As long as there is one person who doesn't want to live, and when I say "live" I mean Thoreau-marrow-sucking-YARP living, then this book matters, this effort matters, we matter, because we are here to LIVE, not simply exist.
The dream: Each of us living as our true selves, wanting and experiencing every second of our lives, beauty, pain, mediocrity, and wonder included. Truth be told, we're a long way from this utopia. I don't want to prattle off statistics to you about high suicide, depression, and addiction rates. I don't want to even accept that people do kill themselves, whether it be slowly, day-by-day, moment-to-moment slippage or all at once. I don't want to talk about any of this because it hurts. It hurts to feel the pain of knowing people don't want to live and to have known that pain myself. It hurts to write about the pain and to stand up for healing it...
But it is necessary work for me because in my pain lies my purpose. We are all intimate with the existential pain of being alive and thus we all have a source to draw from. Deep inside our pain, we hold unique truths that only we can offer the world. We have our own stories to share using our own art forms, and maybe that's what it means to be human.
Hundreds of people have shared their life stories with me, and I have never been bored. Each of us carries a whole human soul ripe with spectrums of emotions, thoughts, goals, expectations, and traumas. Because we're autonomous beings, we all face the same question: "Why Live?"
This question comes in two forms. When I'm experiencing depression, it haunts me. When I'm fully present to life with joy and gratitude, it piques my curiosity and becomes a beacon on the horizon. In my story you will see how this question transforms from darkness into light.
This book is a tale of suffering and trauma, of failure and mistakes, and of healing, love, and hope. This book is my answer to the question that has brought me tears of pain and tears of joy.
In my story, I hope that you may see your own. As I was lost, so you may be. As I found my answer, you will assuredly find yours. Do not lose hope. May you find your answer mirrored in the pages of my story and may you live as only you can, as you.
Let curiosity guide you to ever-present light. Welcome, and enjoy. This is: Why Live?
About the Author :
Faolan Sugarman-Lash is on a mission to revolutionize mental and spiritual health by reimagining what gives life meaning. Faolan is a newly published author and when not writing, works directly with clients as a professional life coach. Trained by the Coaches Training Institute, he accompanies clients through their healing and creation journeys. Faolan is a world traveler and an avid supporter of the arts. You can almost always find him outside with a good book or on a hike. To stay up to date with his adventures or to learn more, follow Faolan on Instagram (@Faolan) or subscribe to his newsletter at Faolan.com.
Review :
"At age 82, I was not sure how well a 24-year-old could answer the question, "Why Live?" By the time I'd read a few chapters of this wonderfully well-written work, my caution was replaced by admiration and trust. In his few years on earth, Faolan Sugarman-Lash has explored life so deeply and well that seekers of all ages can learn from him-whether they are members of his generation who face a very uncertain future, or members of mine who have more past than future. Faolan has powerful real-life stories to tell, and he tells them well. From those stories, he extracts insights that I found helpful and affirming, even though his life experiences are different from mine. If "Why Live?" is a question that has crossed your mind, I believe you will find this book helpful. I also believe that this first book will not be Faolan's last."
-Parker J. Palmer (author of "On the Brink of Everything," "Let Your Life Speak," and "The Courage to Teach")
"Why Live?" is an inspiring and relatable read for anyone who has ever felt like they are surviving, rather than truly living. The questions posed (and sometimes even answered) by this book are heart stirringly familiar as the author himself struggles to learn what his purpose is and whether or not he is living up to his potential. Written in an informal - yet almost lyrical, way - as a reader, you feel like part of a broader conversation about what it means to live at all.
This book is an easy read, and one I actively looked forward to; I felt lighter and more empowered with every chapter as Sugarman-Lash encouraged me to formulate my own answer to the book's namesake question. Part self-help, part memoir, "Why Live?" is a beautiful representation of the human condition and a reminder that we must choose to utilize our own innate strength every day.
-Shelby
"Why Live?" tackles the deep, pivotal questions that encapsulate the realities of struggling aånd striving to live our best lives. It's a wonderful story of adventure and heartbreak that weaves together words of wisdom, honest reflections, and a rollercoaster of emotions. Faolan shows the power of authentic vulnerability and how doing the intentional work to learn from ourselves exposes the true beauty of the mythical and magical mess we call life. An eye-opening must read!
-Seamus
What does it mean to be yourself? In this spiritual memoir, Sugarman-Lash shares his journey of battling inner demons and answering the question "why live?" Though the experiences are his, they are really all of ours - our journey with searching, falling, rising, and experiencing life. Reading this book will help you enter the flow of your own life and ask questions to discover your truth. Sugarman-Lash reminds us that there is so much beauty to be found in the ordinary moments. Chock-full of life lessons, this book will help you more fully experience your brief and beautiful time here. Read it!
-Gavin
