What do you think?
The Shoebox Effect: Transforming Pain Into Fortitude and Purpose
Many of us have one--a place where we store mementos that remind us of an earlier period in our lives--either happy or sad. Those ties to our past are commonly found in a similar place, hidden in a shoebox buried at the back of a closet shelf. It's called The Shoebox Effect --where you "forget", intentionally or unintentionally, about the contents of the box and what they represent. Marcie Keithley's shoebox contained a secret, one she kept for decades, one released when her shoebox was unexpectedly revealed in a moment of grief. A flood of memories and emotions were unleashed when the lid was knocked off. No longer able to deny what she had sequestered away in her closet and in her spirit, the revelation created challenges for Marcie, but it also did something positively unexpected. Releasing the truth began a cascade that resulted in a freedom Marcie did not know was possible. The dramatic story of this long-kept secret, which has been reported globally on major networks and in newspapers across America, will intrigue and enthrall you. But Marcie Keithley doesn't just make her story all about her. Now known as The Shoebox Sherpa, she helps people unpack their own shoeboxes, and teaches us how to face our truths, heal our pasts, and find the freedom we deeply desire. Be prepared to consider Marcie's question to all of us, "What's in your shoebox?"
Marcie J. Keithley
Marcie J Keithley
11/12/2019
196
Binding Paperback
0.51lbs
8.50h x 5.50w x 0.42d
9781949856170
About the Author
Keithley, Marcie - Marcie J Keithley is a national speaker, coach, co-founder of Indiana Adoptee Network Inc. and vice-president of H.E.A.R (Hoosiers for Equal Access to Records). She is also a lover of words, a keeper of memories, and the author of The ShoeBox Effect, as well as the coauthor of Fran
Marcie J. Keithley
Marcie J Keithley
11/12/2019
196
Binding Paperback
0.51lbs
8.50h x 5.50w x 0.42d
9781949856170
About the Author
Keithley, Marcie - Marcie J Keithley is a national speaker, coach, co-founder of Indiana Adoptee Network Inc. and vice-president of H.E.A.R (Hoosiers for Equal Access to Records). She is also a lover of words, a keeper of memories, and the author of The ShoeBox Effect, as well as the coauthor of Fran
- GenresNonfiction
196 pages, Paperback
Published November 12, 2019
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
October 13, 2020
Genre - Non-Fiction (Memoir)
Pages - 178
The Shoebox effect is a memoir of the author, a strong woman who had her own painful memories of an unfortunate incident tucked away in a shoebox, but another heart-wrenching incident brings that shoebox to her notice. She opens it, revisits her pain, and then with her own struggles, she gains freedom from it. Now, she is helping others with opening their shoebox, visiting their memories, and getting freedom from the pain, through her book and her own network.
The title goes with the book because it revolves around the shoebox effect. This effect implies that we all have our own kinds of shoeboxes filled with memories, that can be painful or happy, and it is lying around either in our house or in our hearts and mind. If it is full of pain, then no matter what you do or how much time passes away, you will not heal. What can truly heal you is getting back to the box and opening it, and this book will help you to do so.
The language is very easy to read. The book is very emotional, and you feel the author’s pain throughout. However, in the end, when the author wins, you feel empowered yourself and proud of her. The best part is the points to remember section with small exercises at the end of each chapter that makes the book practical and engaging.
I loved reading it, it kept me hooked, I cried and felt proud and empowered. I was touched by the transparency of the author, how she would take accountability for her life, the good and the bad. Therefore, if you are looking for an emotional yet inspiring book, this one is for you. It will liberate you from your own shoebox.
Pages - 178
The Shoebox effect is a memoir of the author, a strong woman who had her own painful memories of an unfortunate incident tucked away in a shoebox, but another heart-wrenching incident brings that shoebox to her notice. She opens it, revisits her pain, and then with her own struggles, she gains freedom from it. Now, she is helping others with opening their shoebox, visiting their memories, and getting freedom from the pain, through her book and her own network.
The title goes with the book because it revolves around the shoebox effect. This effect implies that we all have our own kinds of shoeboxes filled with memories, that can be painful or happy, and it is lying around either in our house or in our hearts and mind. If it is full of pain, then no matter what you do or how much time passes away, you will not heal. What can truly heal you is getting back to the box and opening it, and this book will help you to do so.
The language is very easy to read. The book is very emotional, and you feel the author’s pain throughout. However, in the end, when the author wins, you feel empowered yourself and proud of her. The best part is the points to remember section with small exercises at the end of each chapter that makes the book practical and engaging.
I loved reading it, it kept me hooked, I cried and felt proud and empowered. I was touched by the transparency of the author, how she would take accountability for her life, the good and the bad. Therefore, if you are looking for an emotional yet inspiring book, this one is for you. It will liberate you from your own shoebox.
May 15, 2020
A gripping story with a powerful purpose.
No one enters adulthood unscathed and Marcie is no exception to this. Her story will not only move you, but it will also inspire you to take a deep look within to discover what is lurking in your mental and emotional closet that is holding you back from living your best life. Step-by-step she will hold your hand through the process of letting go of the past and fiercely embracing what is possible!
- Bonnie Kelly: Speaker, Author, and Coach.
No one enters adulthood unscathed and Marcie is no exception to this. Her story will not only move you, but it will also inspire you to take a deep look within to discover what is lurking in your mental and emotional closet that is holding you back from living your best life. Step-by-step she will hold your hand through the process of letting go of the past and fiercely embracing what is possible!
- Bonnie Kelly: Speaker, Author, and Coach.
April 9, 2021
The Shoebox Effect by Marcie J. Keithley is an emotional read that will certainly have you reaching for the tissues. Marcie's very personal story is raw and unfiltered as she delves into the pain from her own past in order to guide the reader to acknowledging past hurts which are holding them back from living most fully in the present. To truly move forward, we must recognize past struggles, regrets, and grief, and finally process all that resides in our "shoebox" of memories.
While Marcie's story is extremely intimate, it is never self-indulgent, and seeks only to inspire a move toward attaining individual freedom and realization. This is a book that I can envisage referencing again and again.
Many thanks to author Marcie J. Keithley for gifting me a copy.
While Marcie's story is extremely intimate, it is never self-indulgent, and seeks only to inspire a move toward attaining individual freedom and realization. This is a book that I can envisage referencing again and again.
Many thanks to author Marcie J. Keithley for gifting me a copy.
September 4, 2020
When it came to The Shoebox Effect I must say that I'm not one that normally feels such raw emotions from a memoir but Marcie Keithley's book took me through so many of my own emotions, that I had to set the book aside to process my own thoughts. When a book can touch you on that level you know the author has written a phenomenal story.
This is a empowering and heartfelt story, I think one of the things that I learned from this book, is that we all have our very own shoeboxes filled with our own stories from the past, things we have sealed away and not wanted to faced in sometime.
Keithley's ability to help you to open your own shoebox and process all those past memories is extraordinary.
One of my favorite parts about this book is the little workshops that she has set-up on the side of the book. She asks you personal questions and you can fill them in as you read the book. I know that I will definitely be going back to reread mine and this book as well!
Keithley is a remarkable woman that not only shared her story but she is also a advocate to the adoption community.
Thank you Keithley for pouring your heart into this book and helping others along the way. I look forward to reading more by you in the future.
I highly recommend this book to anyone that needs to heal and open up their very own shoeboxes to start the process of healing.
This is a empowering and heartfelt story, I think one of the things that I learned from this book, is that we all have our very own shoeboxes filled with our own stories from the past, things we have sealed away and not wanted to faced in sometime.
Keithley's ability to help you to open your own shoebox and process all those past memories is extraordinary.
One of my favorite parts about this book is the little workshops that she has set-up on the side of the book. She asks you personal questions and you can fill them in as you read the book. I know that I will definitely be going back to reread mine and this book as well!
Keithley is a remarkable woman that not only shared her story but she is also a advocate to the adoption community.
Thank you Keithley for pouring your heart into this book and helping others along the way. I look forward to reading more by you in the future.
I highly recommend this book to anyone that needs to heal and open up their very own shoeboxes to start the process of healing.
January 2, 2022
Wow...this is a powerful book! It is a memoir and is written with raw and sometimes painful truths. Marcie Keithley has some things from her past that she literally put in a shoebox and tried to forget about forever. However, something happens in Marcie's life and the shoebox is shoved back to the front and center of her universe, forcing her to revisit old hurts and truths that she needs to move past to live the life she deserves. In this memoir, she shows all of her readers how she did that and how they can do that as well. This is such a well written and informative book. It tackles the hard things in life and provides exercises and advice to help all of us acknowledge and recognize the hurtful things that we put in a "shoebox" at some point in our lives and that we need to deal with to move on with our life.
August 14, 2020
Well this Memoir was heart touching from the first page .
This is my first Book from this Author.
I will say. Have Tissues.
Its true I was warned.
This Story starts with Dreyfus.
A Beautiful Golden retriever. 🐾
One you won't soon forget he will stick with you...
Marcie Life.
The Love of a family so strong, you don't know what each other has been through in private.
Things you learn later. But never knew. Before. Pull at your Heart Strings ❤.
The Love of a man. Early on in your life but a player. But you know you love him with everything in your heart. Will time change things..
So many Shoebox Effects to go through..
This is a wonderful Story.
A Memoir that will remain with me.
So Heart Touching ❤
Definitely Recommend this Book .
This is my first Book from this Author.
I will say. Have Tissues.
Its true I was warned.
This Story starts with Dreyfus.
A Beautiful Golden retriever. 🐾
One you won't soon forget he will stick with you...
Marcie Life.
The Love of a family so strong, you don't know what each other has been through in private.
Things you learn later. But never knew. Before. Pull at your Heart Strings ❤.
The Love of a man. Early on in your life but a player. But you know you love him with everything in your heart. Will time change things..
So many Shoebox Effects to go through..
This is a wonderful Story.
A Memoir that will remain with me.
So Heart Touching ❤
Definitely Recommend this Book .
December 15, 2021
As a young girl, I was devoted to my journals. Like most teens, I wrote about family life, friends, and hobbies. The entries were for my eyes only. When I went off to college, I stashed the journals in the bottom of a sturdy, cardboard box and covered them with keepsakes. I sealed the box with multiple strips of masking tape and marked it: Julie–High School. Then I stowed the carton in an obscure corner of my parents’ basement.
Fast forward thirty years. When my husband and I downsized from the suburban home where we’d raised our family, I saved one of the most onerous tasks for last: going through the basement storage area. On one of the lower shelves, behind dust-encrusted bins of Christmas ornaments and kids’ memorabilia, a heavily taped box marked: Julie– High School appeared. I yanked it from the shelving. I stripped away the old tape and grinned when I discovered my old journals hidden at the bottom.
We all have cartons or shoeboxes that we have shoved in out of the way spots, and intentionally or unintentionally left them untouched for years. The difference between my discovery of the box with my journals was that I was eager to open it and rediscover my adolescent self.
But what if the box was a painful one to open because of what it contained or represented? And how might one transform that pain into fortitude and purpose?
This is the subject of Marcie J. Keithley’s book, The Shoebox Effect. It is a story of courageous love and searing loss, and it is a tale of redemption and reckoning.
Marcie is a birth mother, a secret she kept for decades. The symbol of her child’s painful surrender is stowed in a shoebox that she tucks neatly away. In this deeply personal and riveting memoir, Marcie takes us on a journey of discovery as she plunges into the ramifications of the choices she made as a young woman. She adeptly and honestly guides us through an intricate tale of love and loss. In each chapter, Marcie provides workbook pages containing reflection questions and an area to make notes. The true benefit to the reader is Marcie’s “Points to Ponder.” In these sections, she provides useful information, wisdom, and encouragement.
In The Shoebox Effect, Marcie’s goal is to help us unpack our own shoeboxes, to face the truths we deposited there, and to heal and find purpose in what we discover about ourselves. As pragmatic as Marcie is in the recounting of her enthralling personal tale, she is equally honest about the ramifications of her difficult choices. There are so many lessons packed into this tidy book of 182 pages, that it bears re-reading not just twice but thrice.
Adoption is complicated no matter what side of the triangle you occupy. Whether you are a birth parent, adoptee, or adoptive parent, each perspective is unique. No two stories are the same. However, there is a common theme: difficult choices and subsequent losses are felt for a lifetime. By sharing her story and offering valuable tools to consider when opening a hidden “shoebox,” Marcie Keithley has improved the adoption conversation.
This book is not just a memoir, a toolbox, or a workbook. It is an important installment in the continuum of change that society must undergo in de-stigmatizing adoption and eradicating long-held myths about the adoption experience.
“The Shoebox Effect” is a must read for every socially conscious adult who knows anyone touched by adoption.
Fast forward thirty years. When my husband and I downsized from the suburban home where we’d raised our family, I saved one of the most onerous tasks for last: going through the basement storage area. On one of the lower shelves, behind dust-encrusted bins of Christmas ornaments and kids’ memorabilia, a heavily taped box marked: Julie– High School appeared. I yanked it from the shelving. I stripped away the old tape and grinned when I discovered my old journals hidden at the bottom.
We all have cartons or shoeboxes that we have shoved in out of the way spots, and intentionally or unintentionally left them untouched for years. The difference between my discovery of the box with my journals was that I was eager to open it and rediscover my adolescent self.
But what if the box was a painful one to open because of what it contained or represented? And how might one transform that pain into fortitude and purpose?
This is the subject of Marcie J. Keithley’s book, The Shoebox Effect. It is a story of courageous love and searing loss, and it is a tale of redemption and reckoning.
Marcie is a birth mother, a secret she kept for decades. The symbol of her child’s painful surrender is stowed in a shoebox that she tucks neatly away. In this deeply personal and riveting memoir, Marcie takes us on a journey of discovery as she plunges into the ramifications of the choices she made as a young woman. She adeptly and honestly guides us through an intricate tale of love and loss. In each chapter, Marcie provides workbook pages containing reflection questions and an area to make notes. The true benefit to the reader is Marcie’s “Points to Ponder.” In these sections, she provides useful information, wisdom, and encouragement.
In The Shoebox Effect, Marcie’s goal is to help us unpack our own shoeboxes, to face the truths we deposited there, and to heal and find purpose in what we discover about ourselves. As pragmatic as Marcie is in the recounting of her enthralling personal tale, she is equally honest about the ramifications of her difficult choices. There are so many lessons packed into this tidy book of 182 pages, that it bears re-reading not just twice but thrice.
Adoption is complicated no matter what side of the triangle you occupy. Whether you are a birth parent, adoptee, or adoptive parent, each perspective is unique. No two stories are the same. However, there is a common theme: difficult choices and subsequent losses are felt for a lifetime. By sharing her story and offering valuable tools to consider when opening a hidden “shoebox,” Marcie Keithley has improved the adoption conversation.
This book is not just a memoir, a toolbox, or a workbook. It is an important installment in the continuum of change that society must undergo in de-stigmatizing adoption and eradicating long-held myths about the adoption experience.
“The Shoebox Effect” is a must read for every socially conscious adult who knows anyone touched by adoption.
August 22, 2020
The book is one of the moving books I have read after a very lengthy time. An anecdote of the author and her life's tragedies. When Marcie loses her pet dog, Dreyfus, she undergoes the shoebox effect in her grief-stricken condition.
She begins unlocking those boxes one by one recounting how some of her decisions in life came out to be not so nice for her and how she divorced at a very young age of 22. She was a single mother in 70s when unwed & single mothers were still ostracized.
Being dumped in her relationship at the time when she wanted her partner the most was painful for her. Abandoned by the baby's father and lack of resources and society's pressure, pushed her to give away her child for adoption.
The doctor assured that the child would be given a joyous life by her new parents but separation with her baby broke her down & she kept feeling she betrayed her baby since she couldn't process her emotions.
Change takes place when she reunites with the baby's father years later and feels like searching for her given daughter. She finds her out but the reality hits her hard and she sees some brutal truths of adoption.
Marcie is so much impacted by it that she decides to advocate for people like her.
She has been advocating adoption rules change since then which is an emotionally charged and sensitive topic and has been covered by many media houses for her unique story of reunion with her child.
I honestly cherished this book for it gives you so much courage and makes you sentimental at the same time. However it revolves around adoption in the latter part it cultivates valuable philosophies of life.
The troubles inside will bring tears as they got in mine but the lessons by the author conveyed as a Shoebox Sherpa are worth reading.
I will highly recommend this book because it's worth giving your time.
A lesson that I drew from the book is,
"When you've tried everything to escape the past, but memories still haunt you in your dreams, there's only one alternative. Face your pain!"
She begins unlocking those boxes one by one recounting how some of her decisions in life came out to be not so nice for her and how she divorced at a very young age of 22. She was a single mother in 70s when unwed & single mothers were still ostracized.
Being dumped in her relationship at the time when she wanted her partner the most was painful for her. Abandoned by the baby's father and lack of resources and society's pressure, pushed her to give away her child for adoption.
The doctor assured that the child would be given a joyous life by her new parents but separation with her baby broke her down & she kept feeling she betrayed her baby since she couldn't process her emotions.
Change takes place when she reunites with the baby's father years later and feels like searching for her given daughter. She finds her out but the reality hits her hard and she sees some brutal truths of adoption.
Marcie is so much impacted by it that she decides to advocate for people like her.
She has been advocating adoption rules change since then which is an emotionally charged and sensitive topic and has been covered by many media houses for her unique story of reunion with her child.
I honestly cherished this book for it gives you so much courage and makes you sentimental at the same time. However it revolves around adoption in the latter part it cultivates valuable philosophies of life.
The troubles inside will bring tears as they got in mine but the lessons by the author conveyed as a Shoebox Sherpa are worth reading.
I will highly recommend this book because it's worth giving your time.
A lesson that I drew from the book is,
"When you've tried everything to escape the past, but memories still haunt you in your dreams, there's only one alternative. Face your pain!"
October 12, 2020
BOOK REVIEW: The Shoebox Effect: Transforming Pain into Fortitude and Purpose
by author/national speaker and coach~ Marcie Keithley
An insightful, thought-provoking and inspiring look into the most powerful tool we have~ Choice.
The Shoebox Effect is a dramatic, emotionally-charged journey that takes the reader into the personal space and experiences of choice, regret, and the process of healing through the author's own eyes. A memoir that is as fascinating as it is meaningful, as she guides and supports the reader not only through her own realizations, but on to an understanding of acceptance, purpose and resolve by uncovering and facing our own personal burdens that continue to hold us captive until we choose to make a conscience decision in setting them free...
Ms. Keithley has surprised me with my own gift that has made itself known, and quite surprisingly, throughout the pages of this most helpful memoir. The yellow ribbon has been loosened, the cover removed~ and the shoebox of past choices and the harshness of broken and buried pieces are beginning to shed their light in a new and meaningful way. This narrative is a gift of letting go and understanding that the hurtful, intimate elements of our lives, that we pack away in the far corners of our hearts and minds, will continue to fester and control us unless we face them head-on and in a new direction~ one without fear.
The message of The Shoebox Effect is clear... It takes time to heal.
Through inspired strength, courage, and hope and by 'being there' for ourselves, only then are we able to shake loose the strings that manipulate our thoughts and the weight of past mistakes that we become so comfortable in carrying.
I thank the author for my personal copy of The Shoebox Effect, a memoir that has not only opened my eyes, but allowed me the opportunity in recommending it as a 5+ Star read!
5 Stars
#TheShoeboxEffect
#MarcieKeithley
Wild Sage Book Blog
by author/national speaker and coach~ Marcie Keithley
An insightful, thought-provoking and inspiring look into the most powerful tool we have~ Choice.
The Shoebox Effect is a dramatic, emotionally-charged journey that takes the reader into the personal space and experiences of choice, regret, and the process of healing through the author's own eyes. A memoir that is as fascinating as it is meaningful, as she guides and supports the reader not only through her own realizations, but on to an understanding of acceptance, purpose and resolve by uncovering and facing our own personal burdens that continue to hold us captive until we choose to make a conscience decision in setting them free...
Ms. Keithley has surprised me with my own gift that has made itself known, and quite surprisingly, throughout the pages of this most helpful memoir. The yellow ribbon has been loosened, the cover removed~ and the shoebox of past choices and the harshness of broken and buried pieces are beginning to shed their light in a new and meaningful way. This narrative is a gift of letting go and understanding that the hurtful, intimate elements of our lives, that we pack away in the far corners of our hearts and minds, will continue to fester and control us unless we face them head-on and in a new direction~ one without fear.
The message of The Shoebox Effect is clear... It takes time to heal.
Through inspired strength, courage, and hope and by 'being there' for ourselves, only then are we able to shake loose the strings that manipulate our thoughts and the weight of past mistakes that we become so comfortable in carrying.
I thank the author for my personal copy of The Shoebox Effect, a memoir that has not only opened my eyes, but allowed me the opportunity in recommending it as a 5+ Star read!
5 Stars
#TheShoeboxEffect
#MarcieKeithley
Wild Sage Book Blog
July 28, 2020
The Shoebox Effect by Marcie J. Keithley is about recovering from pain to become a stronger person. It follows the true story of a not so fairytale like ending of an adoption reunion. ⠀
⠀
Marcie had given her own child up at birth unfortunately to a messed up adoptive family. We read the story through her reflections.⠀
⠀
USEFULNESS⠀
At the end of each chapter there are useful reflection exercises which help you to uncover your pain from the past.⠀
⠀
QUOTE⠀
After experiencing divorce, death, a fall from grace, loss and abandonment, shame and secrets, I had learned something about the true meaning of surrender. If we face our past, do the recovery work, and engage in therapy, but do not forgive, there is no surrender—there is no peace.⠀
⠀
To heal, I needed to revisit my past, dig down and unearth what I had spent my entire life trying to avoid, and fully release my emotions. To finally put the lid on the shoebox effect, I had some messages to share.⠀
⠀
Through intensive work and therapy, I finally managed to face my past in order to put it behind me and forgive both of my parents for the anxieties they instilled in me at a young age. I’ve also had to gather my courage and ask others to forgive me. ⠀
⠀
I’ve found you don’t need to fill reams of paper with words to express how you feel—a short, concise, but heart-felt message can offer a depth of meaning. I hope by letting you see messages I’ve written for my loved ones, it might inspire you to write your own. Healing starts when we rightly use the power of words.⠀
⠀
I want you to know this—there’s magic in your mess. You may have to sit in it for a bit or sift through all the broken pieces of your life, but those dysfunctional shards and your distorted sense of self, are actually the makings of a new, stronger, and better you.
⠀
Marcie had given her own child up at birth unfortunately to a messed up adoptive family. We read the story through her reflections.⠀
⠀
USEFULNESS⠀
At the end of each chapter there are useful reflection exercises which help you to uncover your pain from the past.⠀
⠀
QUOTE⠀
After experiencing divorce, death, a fall from grace, loss and abandonment, shame and secrets, I had learned something about the true meaning of surrender. If we face our past, do the recovery work, and engage in therapy, but do not forgive, there is no surrender—there is no peace.⠀
⠀
To heal, I needed to revisit my past, dig down and unearth what I had spent my entire life trying to avoid, and fully release my emotions. To finally put the lid on the shoebox effect, I had some messages to share.⠀
⠀
Through intensive work and therapy, I finally managed to face my past in order to put it behind me and forgive both of my parents for the anxieties they instilled in me at a young age. I’ve also had to gather my courage and ask others to forgive me. ⠀
⠀
I’ve found you don’t need to fill reams of paper with words to express how you feel—a short, concise, but heart-felt message can offer a depth of meaning. I hope by letting you see messages I’ve written for my loved ones, it might inspire you to write your own. Healing starts when we rightly use the power of words.⠀
⠀
I want you to know this—there’s magic in your mess. You may have to sit in it for a bit or sift through all the broken pieces of your life, but those dysfunctional shards and your distorted sense of self, are actually the makings of a new, stronger, and better you.
October 6, 2020
This is the first book I have read by Marcie Keithley which I won on Tina Hogan Grant’s Facebook author page. Its a poignant memoir that talks about trauma and pain from the past into the present and showing hope for the future. The author through her story will surely help the readers to release the inner emotional baggage that everyone has kept somewhere tucked behind in their individual shoe boxes. The secrets that everyone lives throughout their lives and how to get rid of that burden and feel the sense of liberation and find inner peace. Through this story and the exercises provided at the end of each chapter people will be able to face the difficult truths, come to terms with their past and finally find the freedom that they desire. I absolutely loved this book and applaud for the authors strength and resilience and coming out with her story. Thank you Marcie for this wonderful book which will stay with me for years to come.
March 10, 2020
"Women are resilient," is what I kept telling myself while reading The Shoebox Effect.
Marcie J. Keithley is not only resilient, she is courageous, full of integrity. Inspiring. Determined.
The author describes candidly and with generosity the path that led her to unearth family secrets. The point of departure is the opening of a shoe box whose content will intrigue Keithley and compel her to face what she had fled. But the box will lead her beyond what she had thought possible.
Well written, this true story exposes the humanity and all the possibilities that live inside a heart.
For those of us who have our own metaphorical shoe box waiting to be opened, this book might be just what you need. Each chapters concludes with a list of questions that could help you face what you have avoided, consciously or not. Smart.
Marcie J. Keithley is not only resilient, she is courageous, full of integrity. Inspiring. Determined.
The author describes candidly and with generosity the path that led her to unearth family secrets. The point of departure is the opening of a shoe box whose content will intrigue Keithley and compel her to face what she had fled. But the box will lead her beyond what she had thought possible.
Well written, this true story exposes the humanity and all the possibilities that live inside a heart.
For those of us who have our own metaphorical shoe box waiting to be opened, this book might be just what you need. Each chapters concludes with a list of questions that could help you face what you have avoided, consciously or not. Smart.
March 23, 2020
This was an exceedingly intriguing memoir that dealt with some major issues— an opening of Pandora’s Box (or as we often experience, the opening of a sealed shoebox from our past.) I learned a lot about facing our past, especially the unpleasant moments, because the truth will set us free— even if it’s ugly. Marcie is an adoption reform advocate now & her story about losing her second daughter, Jesse, due to some brainwashing & manipulation, & her pregnancy out of wedlock, is heartbreaking.
I have considered adoption before & it’s eye-opening to know what it’s like for the birth mother; I’ve always wondered about those emotions & feelings since a bond between mother & child is so strong. Marcie lived a difficult life, but she didn’t hide from it for long; & in many ways she was able to come full circle by the end of the book.
I have considered adoption before & it’s eye-opening to know what it’s like for the birth mother; I’ve always wondered about those emotions & feelings since a bond between mother & child is so strong. Marcie lived a difficult life, but she didn’t hide from it for long; & in many ways she was able to come full circle by the end of the book.
May 28, 2021
I read this book a few months ago and today I still find myself thinking about it. Keithley leaves no stone unturned when it comes to revealing the items in her shoebox and why she kept them. It reminded me of peeling away the layers of an onion as the author reveals her heart-wrenching story of putting her child up for adoption and finding a way to heal and come to terms with the decisions she had made throughout her life.
This is not only the author’s story but a guide and self-help book with questions at the end of each chapter for readers to help them understand themselves better and the reasons for their actions. (I love this addition to the book.)
It is a raw emotional account that many will relate to and I can see the book helping so many people and not only those that were adopted. I want to thank the author for sharing her story and opening my eyes to mine.
This is not only the author’s story but a guide and self-help book with questions at the end of each chapter for readers to help them understand themselves better and the reasons for their actions. (I love this addition to the book.)
It is a raw emotional account that many will relate to and I can see the book helping so many people and not only those that were adopted. I want to thank the author for sharing her story and opening my eyes to mine.
November 30, 2020
Honestly, when I first picked up "The Shoebox Effect" by Marcie J. Keithley, I thought I was going to be reading a book like Mel Robbins' "The Five Second Rule", a self-help book with anecdotes here and there. I was totally wrong! It was the complete opposite.
Marcie tells us her story from when her mother left her at the young age of five to when she put her second child up for adoption in her twenties. She had a hard life with touch decisions to make and some of those decisions she hid in a shoebox - both literally and figuratively - hoping to never relive them again. However, she does and the lessons she learns along the way are extremely helpful to anyone, especially during this crazy time.
Marcie tells us her story from when her mother left her at the young age of five to when she put her second child up for adoption in her twenties. She had a hard life with touch decisions to make and some of those decisions she hid in a shoebox - both literally and figuratively - hoping to never relive them again. However, she does and the lessons she learns along the way are extremely helpful to anyone, especially during this crazy time.
November 20, 2020
Before I read Marcie's memoir, I knew bits and pieces of her story; however, nothing could have prepared me for the twists and turns and synchronicities that culminated in powerful life lessons.
Being adopted myself, Marcie's story resulted in a greater compassion and understanding toward both of my mothers. It also confirmed for me that all of us are just doing the best we can with the tools at our disposal.
Marcie's current adoption reform efforts demonstrate that sometimes our greatest pain may be transformed into our life work.
I love this book. Read it and then give it away to anyone you know who has their own shoeboxes.
Being adopted myself, Marcie's story resulted in a greater compassion and understanding toward both of my mothers. It also confirmed for me that all of us are just doing the best we can with the tools at our disposal.
Marcie's current adoption reform efforts demonstrate that sometimes our greatest pain may be transformed into our life work.
I love this book. Read it and then give it away to anyone you know who has their own shoeboxes.
July 27, 2021
With incredible transparency, Marcie Keithley shares her story in this compelling read that is both heart-wrenching and truly inspiring at the same time. Rife with raw emotion and written from an intensely personal place, this uniquely memoir/self-help guide never stoops to a place of self indulgence. Keithley bravely bares her soul that others may find healing and deliverance from their "shoebox" past as she did. I commend her for sharing so openly the life lessons born from her personal heartache and for bringing awareness and reform to the world of adoption. A gripping, unforgettable read.
December 11, 2021
This book was so overwhelmingly powerful and it touched me deeply. We all have shoeboxes, places where we squirrel away our emotional pain or secrets. In my case, it wasn’t from an adoption standpoint, but it didn’t matter. The fact that it sits there, waiting for release, tells me it’s time to open it and set things free. Marcie Keithley hits the nail on the head, more than one woman should have to, but you can utilize her story and add your name and your own tale, it’s that powerful. Shame and despair is a soul sucking killer. Grab this book and take the step to free yourself at last. You’ll be happy you did.
January 10, 2021
Reading this book made me realize we all have some form of a shoebox of memories. Marcie does a beautiful job of telling her story of her past, how she overcame sorrows that she could never forget, and how she became stronger because of determination to make things right in her mind. I admit I expected to be transported to a world full of pain and suffering. Instead I found a world of hope and inspiration. The loss and grief is transparent, but so is the healing. I was inspired and motivated to open my own shoebox. I highly recommend this book.
March 13, 2021
When a shoebox comes out of hiding, a woman is haunted by the life changing decision she made years ago.
The Shoe Box Effect explains how we may think we are doing the right thing at that moment, while something about it still can feel so wrong. How do we know what’s best for someone else, when sometimes we aren’t sure what’s best for ourselves?
I kept hoping everything was going to turn out okay as I read the pages.
It is a sad story, and a true story.
You may need tissues. I did.
The Shoe Box Effect explains how we may think we are doing the right thing at that moment, while something about it still can feel so wrong. How do we know what’s best for someone else, when sometimes we aren’t sure what’s best for ourselves?
I kept hoping everything was going to turn out okay as I read the pages.
It is a sad story, and a true story.
You may need tissues. I did.
April 18, 2021
By using a long, tucked away secret of her own, author Marcie J. Keithley helps us to see how uncovering our box of secrets can actually help us move forward in our life endeavors. Otherwise, whether we recognize it or not, those secrets may be holding us back.
This is a book that I will keep close because as I was reading I was ticking off a few boxes of my own that I’d been ignoring. I love the way Marcie includes questions to ask yourself to help you unpack your own “shoebox” at the end of each chapter.
Thank you, Marcie, for sharing a copy with me. The strength you have shown in sharing your own journey has given me the courage to peak in that shoebox of my own!
This is a book that I will keep close because as I was reading I was ticking off a few boxes of my own that I’d been ignoring. I love the way Marcie includes questions to ask yourself to help you unpack your own “shoebox” at the end of each chapter.
Thank you, Marcie, for sharing a copy with me. The strength you have shown in sharing your own journey has given me the courage to peak in that shoebox of my own!
February 8, 2022
This is a very emotional read. The Shoebox Effect is the author's memoir but also a sort of self help book. I loved the format used and the exercises presented at the end of the chapters. Introspective and thought provoking I would suggest this book to anyone experiencing emotional pain that would like to do the work to reclaim their life whilst knowing they're not the only one journeying through a shoebox of pain.
August 30, 2020
This book is going to have my heart forever, this book is not just about the shoe box effect but also makes one stronger, emotionally and mentally stronger, it healed me, teached me and helped me. I totally think one should definitely it, in order to survive the challenges we go through or have faced in the past.
.
Rating: 4.5🌟
November 10, 2020
I really appreciated this vulnerable and soft-hearted look at adoption from a first mother's point of view. Riveting and relatable story, with added encouragement applicable to each of us learning and growing on this journey of life!
November 21, 2020
This book was wonderful. While telling of the the author's journey, it takes you on your own journey of self discovery with the questions in each chapter. I realized a lot about myself through this book.
August 21, 2020
A beautiful book to read
The book is one of the moving books I have read after a very lengthy time. An anecdote of the author and her life's tragedies. When Marcie loses her pet dog, Dreyfus, she undergoes the shoebox effect in her grief-stricken condition.
She begins unlocking those boxes one by one recounting how some of her decisions in life came out to be not so nice for her and how she divorced at a very young age of 22. She was a single mother in 70s when unwed & single mothers were still ostracized.
Being dumped in her relationship at the time when she wanted her partner the most was painful for her. Abandoned by the baby's father and lack of resources and society's pressure, pushed her to give away her child for adoption.
The doctor assured that the child would be given a joyous life by her new parents but separation with her baby broke her down & she kept feeling she betrayed her baby since she couldn't process her emotions.
Change takes place when she reunites with the baby's father years later and feels like searching for her given daughter. She finds her out but the reality hits her hard and she sees some brutal truths of adoption.
Marcie is so much impacted by it that she decides to advocate for people like her.
She has been advocating adoption rules change since then which is an emotionally charged and sensitive topic and has been covered by many media houses for her unique story of reunion with her child.
I honestly cherished this book for it gives you so much courage and makes you sentimental at the same time. However it revolves around adoption in the latter part it cultivates valuable philosophies of life.
The troubles inside will bring tears as they got in mine but the lessons by the author conveyed as a Shoebox Sherpa are worth reading.
I will highly recommend this book because it's worth giving your time.
A lesson that I drew from the book is,
"When you've tried everything to escape the past, but memories still haunt you in your dreams, there's only one alternative. Face your pain!"
The book is one of the moving books I have read after a very lengthy time. An anecdote of the author and her life's tragedies. When Marcie loses her pet dog, Dreyfus, she undergoes the shoebox effect in her grief-stricken condition.
She begins unlocking those boxes one by one recounting how some of her decisions in life came out to be not so nice for her and how she divorced at a very young age of 22. She was a single mother in 70s when unwed & single mothers were still ostracized.
Being dumped in her relationship at the time when she wanted her partner the most was painful for her. Abandoned by the baby's father and lack of resources and society's pressure, pushed her to give away her child for adoption.
The doctor assured that the child would be given a joyous life by her new parents but separation with her baby broke her down & she kept feeling she betrayed her baby since she couldn't process her emotions.
Change takes place when she reunites with the baby's father years later and feels like searching for her given daughter. She finds her out but the reality hits her hard and she sees some brutal truths of adoption.
Marcie is so much impacted by it that she decides to advocate for people like her.
She has been advocating adoption rules change since then which is an emotionally charged and sensitive topic and has been covered by many media houses for her unique story of reunion with her child.
I honestly cherished this book for it gives you so much courage and makes you sentimental at the same time. However it revolves around adoption in the latter part it cultivates valuable philosophies of life.
The troubles inside will bring tears as they got in mine but the lessons by the author conveyed as a Shoebox Sherpa are worth reading.
I will highly recommend this book because it's worth giving your time.
A lesson that I drew from the book is,
"When you've tried everything to escape the past, but memories still haunt you in your dreams, there's only one alternative. Face your pain!"
Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews