Maryanne Totten

Becoming one's authentic self takes a lifetime. Reading other people's stories can help you achieve this sooner. Communication between persons is difficult and even more difficult when families are involved. Living separate lives with silence and secrets even if you are bound by the bonds of family can lead to anxiety, depression, and general unhappiness. This is not a "how to" book, but a book with stories and experiences in Mary Anne's life. These give insight into living in a family with alcoholism who keep secrets and silence without expressing emotions, which can impair one's self-esteem and confidence.

Mary Anne achieved a medical degree and practiced medicine for over forty years, and in retirement became an interfaith spiritual chaplain. She was able to reach inner peace and reconciliation with her mother with whom she had an emotional estrangement. Her experience gives insight into how to hang in with difficult circumstances. Mary Anne broke through the wall of non-communication and the demons of alcoholism to write her memoir, Silos, Secrets, and Silence. These are stories of hard work, perseverance, courage and determination on the road to forgiveness.