Overview

What do you do when faced with trauma? Shaking in the Forest opens with a plane crash and ends with a life-threatening illness. At the age of twenty-five, Lori Hodges chose to make a career helping people during the worst days of their lives. She has spent the last thirty years in emergency services-first as a firefighter and paramedic and later as an emergency manager, helping to coordinate the response and recovery to disasters. It is through this work that she has come to see the beauty in tragedy. The most difficult times often teach us the greatest lessons, and our connections to others give us the power to face the unknown. It is through these relationships - whether brief or long-lasting - that we are able to step forward confidently into a new day. Bridging the lessons Lori learned as a paramedic with her own personal trauma, Shaking in the Forest brings light to the darkness to help each of us find a way to thrive even during our most difficult days.

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9798888244005

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Reviews

"""The author, a self-described systems thinker and student of chaos theory, shares her thoughts on her lifetime of work in emergency services. Reading Shaking in the Forest is like starting an internet search and creating multiple open tabs-it's all interesting and it's all connected in an overarching way to the unifying theme of how seeing the worst of life opens our eyes to what is best and beautiful."" -Jennifer E. Hassel, author of Badass Grief ""Lori Hodges immediately captivates readers from the start of Shaking in the Forest. She quietly lets the audience into her raw, personal stories and reflections, resulting in unpredictable experiences we can all learn from. Lori's resilience in every aspect of her life-from personal challenges and struggles to her time as a firefighter, paramedic, and emergency manager-is not only inspirational but gripping and moving, showing her heartfelt passion for helping others. She shares the good, the bad, and the chaos. Her 'fight or flee' mentality stirs many human emotions and has not stopped Lori from looking ahead with a positive attitude. The life lessons spotlighted throughout the book are extraordinary."" -Letitia (Tish) E. Hart, deacon, and author of Reach Out with Acts of Kindness: A Guide to Helping Others in Crisis ""I truly connected with this well-told story. The EMS-specific portions are not overly long and are perfect for both those in the emergency services and lay people as well. This is a book for people searching for clarity in their lives, no matter their life experience. It's a brilliant text to help a reader find an ah-ha moment."" -Charles Lopez, firefighter and EMS responder ""Shaking in the Forest is funny at times, sad at other times, and will cause readers to reflect on their own lives, which I think is outstanding. Lori discusses real life tragedies in both a critical dark side but also with the real human side and includes humor as needed."" -Mike Gavin, Battalion Chief and Emergency Manager (Retired), Poudre Fire Authority"

""Shaking in the Forest is so much more than a career journey-it is a courageous look at life lessons from several different perspectives. If you like to read about fascinating calls in the responder world, or you want to learn the mental and emotional processes that help a person grow and survive, or you want to hear about the meaning and life lessons we all can learn from experiences, whether they are our own or someone else's, this book is for you. I am already planning when I will read it a second time so I can again visit lessons on courage, hope, learning, fear, compassion, and so much more.""-DR. MARY SCHOENFELDT, FACULTY, FEMA EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE ""The author, a self-described systems thinker and student of chaos theory, shares her thoughts on her lifetime of work in emergency services. Reading Shaking in the Forest is like starting an internet search and creating multiple open tabs-it's all interesting and it's all connected in an overarching way to the unifying theme of how seeing the worst of life opens our eyes to what is best and beautiful."" -JENNIFER E. HASSEL, AUTHOR OF BADASS GRIEF ""Lori Hodges immediately captivates readers from the start of Shaking in the Forest. She quietly lets the audience into her raw, personal stories and reflections, resulting in unpredictable experiences we can all learn from. Lori's resilience in every aspect of her life-from personal challenges and struggles to her time as a firefighter, paramedic, and emergency manager-is not only inspirational but gripping and moving, showing her heartfelt passion for helping others. She shares the good, the bad, and the chaos. Her 'fight or flee' mentality stirs many human emotions and has not stopped Lori from looking ahead with a positive attitude. The life lessons spotlighted throughout the book are extraordinary."" -LETITIA (TISH) E. HART, DEACON, AND AUTHOR OF REACH OUT WITH ACTS OF KINDNESS: A GUIDE TO HELPING OTHERS IN CRISIS ""Lori's personal journey makes a captivating and compelling read. Lori opens her guarded heart, pouring her experiences, life's challenges, metaphysical learning, and philosophical insights onto every page. She provides a transformative journey into the depths of her consciousness. Her prose provides humorous yet profound insights that guide readers toward a state of inner peace and presence that is both liberating and empowering. This story reminds me of Eckart Tolle's The Power of Now in its delivery of embracing the present moment fully, without judgment or resistance. This is not a story of Lori's work as a firefighter, paramedic, and emergency manager, although she weaves in experiences of calls and incidents, but a story of trauma, perseverance, resilience, and selfactualization at a time of another unwelcome affliction. Each page is imbued with the pain and beauty of growth, making it not only a memoir but also a guide on how to confront one's past and shape one's future. I found Lori's story remarkably similar to my own, making it easily relatable. I highly recommend it for anyone ready to embark on a journey of self-discovery and inner transformation."" -TINA BYNUM, HOMELAND SECURITY FACULTY, WESTERN CONNECTICUT STATE UNIVERSITY

Author Information

Lori Hodges began her career as a firefighter and a paramedic and later worked at both the local and state levels in emergency management. She holds a bachelor's degree in emergency management and planning, a master's degree in security studies, a master's degree in political science and public policy, and is completing a PhD in business strategy and innovation. Lori has published multiple articles in industry journals and magazines on emergency management, leadership, chaos theory, and lessons learned from disaster. She is also the author of the historical fiction novel Sweet Twisted Pine, an award finalist in Western fiction.

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