'In a world that is awash with success messaging, it is refreshing and inspirational to read such a beautifully written account on how to overcome and find acceptance in the dips and pitfalls of this life. Richard is spreading a vital, motivational, and hopeful message which will nestle into your soul vision and work its way into your heart, if you let it.'
-- Donna Ashworth, author of The Sunday Times No.1 bestseller Wild Hope
Richard Tyler gives us a fearless account of what it is like to truly be human! A soul journey of the heart that transports you into his ever fluent world. His engaging humour and true transparency is gut wrenching, heartbreaking, and courageous. No stone is left unturned but nor could it be when one has walked a path such as his. His creative honesty allows us to truly see inside of ourselves at the same time. To not be alone, an outsider, or a bystander. We walk, cry, laugh, and dance with him. Yet as he plays the game of life, we are left on the edge of our seats wondering outcomes. What will happen next? Where will he take us? A real story, a true story and yet everyones story in some way or another. He brings humanity together with one voice.
-- Nadine Benjamin, professional opera singer, leadership
As the old liturgy has it, in the midst of life we are in death. We all wish for ascent without its necessary companion descent. Richard Tyler shares his experience of both. One cannot come away from reading his account without a deeper consideration of lifes paradox: that there is no ascent without descent as well. What matters is not the venue for our appointments with descent; what matters is how we go through the fire, how we come to accept the unacceptable, and how the depth, dignity, and degradation of this journey is accompanied by grace, hope, and occasionally even love.
-- James Hollis, PhD, Jungian analyst, Washington, DC, and author
Richard beautifully encapsulates both the drama and mundanity of living with a cancer and its treatment. His book takes us through a sometimes brutal depiction of illness and treatment and how that felt like a descent following what he describes as a life of achievement and privilege.
The themes throughout the book are also ones we see every day in our centres from people with cancer the realisation that you can slow life down and leave space for small things that bring joy, like appreciating nature and the seasons. And the importance of finding hope, not just for yourself but for family, partners, and children.
While the book is about Richards descent from his former success to his new life as a person with cancer, I found it to be a hopeful read about how cancer, despite all its darkness, can bring with it new beginnings, a fresh perspective, and stronger relationships with those you love and who love you back.
-- Dame Laura Lee, Chief Executive, Maggies
There is no doubt that Ive lived through my own fair share of descent. As an Olympic boxing medalist, I knew what it was like to be pushed to achieve more, punch harder, and be stronger. But with all of that comes the fall the moments where our world crashes. Through his words, Richard has captured the essence of not only his own story, but the universal one that most of us were taught as we grew up: go faster, go harder, go bigger. He provides us with an important lesson we must support our future generations to not only climb higher, but to also find ways to be with our own crashing descent. Descent is an opportunity to learn, build awareness, and to adapt. Its not what happens to you, its how you choose to face it.
-- Anthony Ogogo, Olympic boxing medallist
Richard Tyler peels away the layers of his life to reveal the rawness and vulnerability that we all face as humans. As a triple amputee and having been pronounced dead not once, but twice, I have seen the effects of my own world coming to a crashing halt. But with enormous will, support, and a deep belief that we are limitless, I continue to thrive and win at life. Richard so elegantly reminds us through his use of haiku, that when we are stripped back to our nakedness, an extraordinary quality of resolve and determination is unleashed. This is not available to just a gifted few, it is available to us all.
-- Mark Ormrod, MBE, Invictus Games athlete, author, and motivational speaker
Richard writes in such a way that you feel as though you are a friend going on his journey with him. Not sure what to say or do to help, but youre alongside him. He writes candidly and there will be something in Richards writing that will resonate with everyone. It is one heck of a journey but you will be grateful to read it and grateful Richard has shared it.
-- Gail Porter, TV personality
