Melody Beattie is a renowned author of best-selling self-help literature in the United States. Her specialised area of expertise is co-dependency. She gives the reader plenty to absorb and retain in her instructive life stories, personal reflections, exercises and self-help tests.

Melody’s book is one of daily meditations. The author integrates her own life experiences and recovery reflections inspiring readers to understand our own recovery process if we are struggling with issues of co-dependency.

A co-dependent person is one who, quite simply has let another person’s behaviour affect them and who is obsessed with controlling that person’s behaviour.

Their lives can become unmanageable as a result of being in a committed relationship with a person who has a chemical dependency. The life they lead eventually forms a pattern that is not healthy and stems from the reaction to someone else’s alcohol or drug abuse problem.

There are 366 daily meditations to read on a daily basis and the help and inspiration that the reader can get is extremely rewarding. She reminds us that problems are made to be solved, and the best thing we can do is to take responsibility for our own pain and self-care. We are guided through every day of the week and are encouraged to remember that each day is an opportunity for growth and renewal.

Melody Beattie also has other bestsellers which cover this topic. ‘Codependent No More’ gives an insight into how to stop controlling others and start caring for yourself. ‘Beyond Codependency’ gives many personal stories and examples in helping us achieve positive, healthy relationships in our daily lives.

I’m glad to say I’m a lucky owner of this wonderful book and I have the pleasure to join Melody in my own personal recovery on a day-to-day basis, and depending on whether it be first thing when I wake up, or just before I switch off my bedside lamp, the meditation that I read on the day in question, will always give me just the starting boost I so need in going forward in my life.