Publisher Description

Intimidated in his family, at school and at work, Guy, the "Silent Good Boy" avoided attracting attention - but his nightmares caught up with him. Scared by his sexuality, alone, he desperately sought love to give meaning to his life. While his passion for the arts sends him to study in Europe, mysterious and unexpected memories emerged... Through sixty years of incredible adventures spanning three continents, at times humorous, tender and even shocking, Canadian-born artist Guy Giard reveals the secret of how he healed himself from repressed memories of childhood sexual abuse, PTSD, low self-esteem and suicidal ideation. In this page-turner of an autobiography, you'll be amazed at the extent to which realms as varied as music, art, journaling, humanitarian clowning, and Vipassana meditation restored Mr. Giard's love and gave him a new purpose in life. This inspiring book could transform your life! Foreword by Patch Adams, MDWith an interview with Patch Adams
We have had the privilege to have Guy on several of our clown trips. He is a big, softhearted soul whose radiant smile has brought much glee and stimulation for the trips. He and I have spoken often, and I truly feel his passion for living radiantly, using clowning as a tool to help midwife a loving world. To hear of his own transformation to bring a loving soul will inspire others to try it on. Let him sparkle your environment. -Patch Adams, MD, physician, comedian, social activist, clown, author, and founder of the Gesundheit! InstituteTo Guy. Never forget that you have a gift. A gift of resilience. And for those who don't have that and are still suffering, it is your life's purpose to heal others. Keep open to the gifts the universe gives you. With love. Thank you.-Judy Carter, comedian, motivational speaker, and authorThis book by Guy Giard is not only well written, but also a very useful reference that promotes hope in the therapeutic process of integrating the trauma experienced by victims of assault suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This book can also be an interesting read for therapists treating victims of aggression.-Marjolaine Gosselin, PHD, retired psychologist5,0 on 5 stars on Amazon for the French dedition: Such an inspiring book. This book by Guy Giard is quite unique and such a delight to read. It exposes raw emotions and it is written in such a beautiful way but without leaving the complex agony of going through such hardship. I can really relate to some of his emotions and I applaud him for writing this book.I highly recommend this book as it is so deep and so amazing on such different levels of human emotions. Powerful words for such an incredible story of life not always being what you think it will be... I really loved reading this book. ♥-Maude D. Guy Giard, who was born in the francophone province of Quebec, Canada, has lived for a number of years in Europe and has traveled to three continents. He's a Certified Humor Professional (CHP), Certified Laughter Yoga Leader, and holds a Bachelors of Visual Art from Concordia University in Montreal, with advanced study from the Netherlands national art academy. He has received grants from the Canadian Arts Council and from the Conseil des arts et lettres du Québec An author, speaker and life coach, Mr. Giard has been exhibiting his artwork for over four decades, and performing as a musician for over thirty years. Under the name Uku the Clown, he has also provided humanitarian aid around the world in collaboration with Patch Adams, M.D., and gives lectures and workshops focused on healing from abuse and creating an extraordinary life. You can experience most of the events described in this book via his website.

Author Biography

Guy Giard, who was born in the francophone province of Quebec, Canada, has lived for a number of years in Europe and has traveled to three continents. He's a Certified Humor Professional (CHP), Certified Laughter Yoga Leader, and holds a Bachelors of Visual Art from Concordia University in Montreal, with advanced study from the Netherlands national art academy. He has received grants from the Canadian Arts Council and from the Conseil des arts et lettres du QuébecAn author, speaker and life coach, Mr. Giard has been exhibiting his artwork for over four decades, and performing as a musician for over thirty years. Under the name Uku the Clown, he has also provided humanitarian aid around the world in collaboration with Patch Adams, M.D., and gives lectures and workshops focused on healing from abuse and creating an extraordinary life. You can experience most of the events described in this book online, through exhibitions, musical compositions, concerts and interviews via his website.This is his first book in English. French and Spanish translations have already been published. Mr. Giard is available as a life coach and gives conferences and workshops (in French or English) on sexual abuse and his path to healing, connecting to our true self and living our purpose, the loving art of humanitarian clowning, creativity, music and art. For more information and to subscribe to his newsletter, Hunter Doherty "Patch" Adams (born May 28, 1945) is an American physician, comedian, social activist, clown, and author. He founded the Gesundheit! Institute in 1971. Each year he also organizes volunteers from around the world to travel to various countries where they dress as clowns to bring humor to orphans, patients, and other people. Hunter Doherty "Patch" Adams (born May 28, 1945) is an American physician, comedian, social activist, clown, and author. He founded the Gesundheit! Institute in 1971. Each year he also organizes volunteers from around the world to travel to various countries where they dress as clowns to bring humor to orphans, patients, and other people.

Review

We have had the privilege to have Guy on several of our clown trips. He is a big, softhearted soul whose radiant smile has brought much glee and stimulation for the trips. He and I have spoken often, and I truly feel his passion for living radiantly, using clowning as a tool to help midwife a loving world. To hear of his own transformation to bring a loving soul will inspire others to try it on. Let him sparkle your environment. -Patch Adams, MD, physician, comedian, social activist, clown, author, and founder of the Gesundheit! Institute
To Guy. Never forget that you have a gift. A gift of resilience. And for those who don't have that and are still suffering, it is your life's purpose to heal others. Keep open to the gifts the universe gives you. With love. Thank you.-Judy Carter, comedian, motivational speaker, and author
This book by Guy Giard is not only well written, but also a very useful reference that promotes hope in the therapeutic process of integrating the trauma experienced by victims of assault suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). This book can also be an interesting read for therapists treating victims of aggression.-Marjolaine Gosselin, PHD, retired psychologist
5,0 on 5 stars on Amazon for the French dedition: Such an inspiring book. This book by Guy Giard is quite unique and such a delight to read. It exposes raw emotions and it is written in such a beautiful way but without leaving the complex agony of going through such hardship. I can really relate to some of his emotions and I applaud him for writing this book.I highly recommend this book as it is so deep and so amazing on such different levels of human emotions. Powerful words for such an incredible story of life not always being what you think it will be... I really loved reading this book. ♥-Maude D.
What I liked about reading your book was the idea that you wrote about your past and what happened to you, but at the same time you didn't write about it as a victim. You wrote as the person who got through it, as a warrior, a fighter, telling your story and not feeling sorry for yourself. I really liked when you wrote about music, and I was also listening to the music. The music is really important because every time there was an important event there was a music attached to it, and it's funny because I do that in my life too. If I listen to old songs I remember what state I was in when I was listening to that music so I felt like I was really with you in this whole novel, I was really with you the whole time. I think I read it in three days. I came back from work and the first thing on my mind was that I had to finish the book. I really wanted to finish it. And then when you go to do your meditation, I was there, like I was there with you the whole time. So your way of telling things too, we feel like we're really included, like we're really part of your story. I would definitely recommend this book to people who have challenges so that they realize that you can get through it; that yes you can tell your story but at the same time you are not your story. Even if you were abused in your past, it doesn't mean that you have to be abused today. You can free yourself from that in the process. That's what I see in this book, it's like a story of liberation, a story of healing. It's more a story of healing than of being a victim, and that's why I would recommend it to someone who needs to heal.-Dominique L.

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