By Brianna Rodriguez

A review of local author and clinical social worker, Joan Hoey’s new, inspirational self-help book filled with stories about Hoey, her clients and family. 

If you haven’t read Purposeful Destiny by Joan Hoey, you should. It is extremely relatable especially for college students – at a time when everyone is expecting us to have all the answers about our future.

Hoey stresses in her book the importance of having patience and letting some things happen in their own time. The book includes stories about Hoey, her clients and family, and how they overcame obstacles, while being guided by unusual circumstances and synchronistic happenings.

Hoey has more than 20 years of clinical experience as a private practitioner and has been a Connecticut resident for years, which is where a majority of her book takes place.

Purposeful Destiny goes through some of the obstacles Hoey, her family, and a few clients have to face over the years. Certain situations the characters find themselves in seem as though things will not get better, but once he or she also start to rely on his or her faith – regardless of what that may be – the characters are able to move toward each of their destinies.

I had the pleasure to speak with the new author about the preparation that went into this book.

“I’ve been thinking about writing this book for a very long time. At least eight years I would say, you know,” Hoey said. “It was hard because I was attempting to write between clients at first and it’s a very busy practice. Then I just decided to close the office and take a sabbatical to write.”

Like most people when writing, Hoey said the book started out as a way to just get the stories out, but knew she wanted the book to inspire people. She said a lot of people find themselves in the same situations over and over again but do not understand why or see how they can get past it.

This book was written to inspire and give people the hope they may need in order to see there are always options.

Although faith is a major part of the book, Hoey stresses it does not matter what exactly the reader follows.

“I wanted to make it clear it’s not about religion necessarily, but rather about faith and whether someone believes in it,” Hoey said.

I know some of you are probably thinking, “this book probably has nothing to offer me because I am only in my twenties,” and to those people I say false!

Hoey’s goal was to reach anybody that felt as though he or she is stuck in life. She explains that at some point in life everyone will feel helpless and as though he or she cannot find a way out of a rut.

As college students we can definitely relate to feeling as though things will never get better. These four years at the university not only gives us an education but also give us plenty of life experience.

We are subjected to a bunch of different people and different situations, and forced to figure out the best way to deal with each situation thrown our way.

This idea is what Hoey’s book touches upon. Like in any situation sometimes we can only overcome obstacles when we stop trying to force things, take a step back, and look to outside sources for help.

When asked what advice she would give her college-self, Hoey responded by saying, “Listen to your heart and watch for the guidance. Definitely take chances and do not do what other people think you should.”

With societal expectations increasing as we get older it is good to remind yourself sometimes that life just happens and, in those moments, you have to just go with the flow and know everything happens for a reason.