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A Joyful Life

One Woman's Story of Triumph Over Trauma to Build a Life of Hope and Gratitude

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1 of 1 copy available
1 of 1 copy available
A Joyful Life is the astonishing memoir of Rosemary Kariuki, one of Australia's most beloved Local Heroes. Long before she was advocating for refugee and migrant women just like herself, Rosemary was a survivor like no other.

As a child, she survived the first of many predators in her home. As a teen, she survived the first of three infant losses. In her twenties, she survived years of domestic violence. In her thirties, she survived political unrest and tribal clashes that brought a hammer crashing down on her head.

But what makes Rosemary's journey so remarkable is not just how she survived, but also how she came to find joy: an infectious joy that she has gone on to share with countless others. From her tough childhood in Kenya, taking care of her fifteen siblings, to becoming the 2021 Australian of the Year – Local Hero through her work as a multicultural community liaison officer for the police in western Sydney, Rosemary's story is a memoir that will inspire all Australians.

Raw, direct and filled with Rosemary's warmth and humour, A Joyful Life shows how in the face of incredible hardship, kindness to ourselves and to others can allow us to regain our internal strength and ultimately become the writer of our own life story.
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    • Books+Publishing

      January 31, 2023
      During the summer break, I had the pleasure of reading A Joyful Life by Rosemary Kariuki in one day. As a woman of colour who has experienced trauma, I was worried about how I would respond to another woman of colour’s experience. Yet, on every page, I was simply inspired by the story of Kariuki, a Kenyan woman who arrived alone in Australia in 1999. Throughout A Joyful Life, Kariuki channels her pain into empowerment: 'When you have information, you have the power of choice … With independence, you can do almost anything you want. This could be going after a particular career, leaving an abusive relationship, or in my case, leaving a war-torn country to seek a safer life.' The importance of information and choice for her fellow Black women and women of colour continues as Kariuki outlines her community work, such as the African Women’s Dinner Dance, which she founded 15 years ago, and the African Village Market, a program that assisted migrants and refugees to start their own businesses. Kariuki uses her survivor story of sexual abuse, rape and domestic violence to highlight how marginalised women can heal and cultivate lives of hope and gratitude. With her parting advice to readers, Kariuki’s autobiography transcends the genre, becoming a practical and personal guide on finding joy in adversity: 'When in doubt—pray, meditate, journal or simply talk to your higher self … First, start with gratitude ... Second, ask for the things you need ... Third, look for the miracles.'

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  • English

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