Spectacles of Hope (Paperback)

What if you could flip a switch in your head, enabling positive thoughts to take charge over negative thinking? This modern-day parable tells the tale of an ordinary fellow named Ralph Gouda who is plagued with thoughts of what he should have said, would have done, and could have been. These thoughts personified as Coulda, Woulda, and Shoulda keep Ralph in bondage to negative thinking...until he meets two extraordinary people who help him change his perspective, take control over his thoughts, and live a victorious life. If you’ve ever struggled with fear, doubt, or regret, this little book is for you. Thought-provoking questions at the end of each chapter make Spectacles of Hope: Defeating Your Shouldas, Wouldas,and Couldas the ideal book for a small group or book club.

Mary Dolan Flaherty listened to the Shouldas, Wouldas, and Couldas in her head for years before she took control and decided to change her negative thoughts to positive ones. Instead of whining that she "shoulda written a book," she did. Mary believes that everyone has a dream but because of various reasons, many don't pursue their desires. She encourages people through her writing and speaking engagements with transparency and self-deprecating humor, and by looking at life through the lens of a positive self-image. She tells her audiences, "If you believe it, you can become it." She doesn't like the word "can't," and won't allow anyone to "should" on her by telling her what she ought to do. Spectacles of Hope is Mary's first published work of allegorical fiction. She is currently working on her first full length coming-of-age novel. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and can be found on a hiking trail when she's not writing.