A MOTHER DAUGHTER ODYSSEY
Dancing in the Narrows
By Lori Berezin
Topanga author, healer, and mother Anna Penenberg
Anna’s book transports us along their path through West-
spends her days writing, hiking, gardening, reading, danc-
ern medicine to more holistic therapies. Their inspirational
ing, and practicing Kundalini Yoga. It wasn’t always so.
journey winds through pain and darkness, unconditional
Her daughter Dana contracted a mysterious disease as a
love, adventure, and finally back into the light.
teenager that turned their world upside down. After entering the labyrinth in search of healing, they would eventu-
“I wrote this story to inspire hope,” says Anna. She and her
ally learn she suffered from chronic Lyme disease.
daughter built a bond that can never be broken. Along the way, they also learned the importance of patience
“The experience of dealing with a misunderstood disease
and creativity, eating healthily, laughing together, and
inspired me to follow my curiosity about the body’s intel-
sharing simple joys. “When my daughter Dana finally got
ligence,” explains Anna. “As a healer, it led me to alter-
better, we had to heal our intense feelings of fear and
native health practices and a deeper knowing of the hu-
be kind to ourselves as we recovered from trauma.” Their
man experience.” It also motivated her to write a memoir,
story is one of deep love, risks, losses, and how family
Dancing in the Narrows, documenting their spiritual, emo-
is ever present in one’s life. Anna succinctly sums it up:
tional, and physical passage through chronic illness.
“Take good care of your health, live in joy, bless your community, know you are not alone, and be inspired to live
Anna had written in journals since the age of 11. “Our lives
your unique life where anything can happen.” Visit Anna’s
changed so drastically that I began to write about it,” she
website at annapenenberg.com to learn more. n
says. “I realized it was important to share our story.”
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Calabasas Style