Summary

In Chapter 24, "Hello, Family," Lori meets with one of her patients, Rita. Rita is a divorced sixty-year-old who has depression. She plans to commit suicide on her seventieth birthday. She is ridden with guilt and regret for her past. She married an alcoholic, physically abusive husband who she chose to ignore instead of leaving. Her three adult children suffered greatly at his hands and will not forgive her for what happened. She is a senior citizen who leads a very lovely life. She has gone on a ew dates, but is skeptical of dating older men. She feels hopeless about the future and her life. Lori observes how regret can go one of two ways--it can shackle you to the past or serve as an engine for change. In Rita's case, it seems to be holding her back. As Lori puts it, "We...