About Charlene

Charlene is the author of the award-winning bestseller, The Twelve Gifts of Birth, The Twelve Gifts for Healing, and The Twelve Gifts in Marriage.

From August 1999 through August 2000, traveling in a motor home throughout the United States, Charlene brought the twelve gifts message to thousands of children and adults throughout the country through presentations and mini-workshops in schools, shelters, churches, hospitals, libraries, bookstores and prisons.  She is also the author of the on-line Twelve Gifts Companion Guide for educators, and A Perfect Name, a children’s picture book.

Much of Charlene’s writing comes from her own life experience and the struggles she has faced. The Twelve Gifts of Birth was first written as a message for her teenage daughters as they prepared to leave home. The Twelve Gifts for Healing was written while she was undergoing chemotherapy. The wisdom of The Twelve Gifts in Marriage comes from insights gained from 35 years of marriage. Charlene’s short fables are repeatedly described as “simple yet profound” and are used by many therapists and educators because they resonant powerfully in listeners and readers.

As a freelance writer Charlene has published articles in McCall’s, Ebony, New York Alive, St. Anthony Messenger, Liguorian, and Marriage Encounter.  She  holds a B.A. in Philosophy from St. Bonaventure University.

Originally from Linden, NJ, Charlene now lives in Sedona, Arizona with her husband, Frank.  She is the mother of two adult children, Stephanie and Krista.

See below for the story behind the stories.
 

   
I wrote The Twelve Gifts of Birth in 1987 for my teenage daughters.   Like many mothers, I experienced dismay when I realized one day that their childhood years were nearly over...and so were opportunities to guide and prepare them for adulthood.  "Have I done enough?" I wondered.  For several weeks I pondered what I could do, or say, or give to them at that point.  I wanted to show them how precious they are and that they have within them all that they need to survive and thrive through all the challenges and blessings adult life would surely bring.  I woke one morning with the memory of a dream about inherent gifts we all receive at birth.   I hurried to capture the dream on paper and fashioned its message into a primitive hand-sewn booklet.

After presenting The Twelve Gifts of Birth to my own children, I became interested in sharing its message with all children.  I polished the words and developed an introduction.  As I finished that introduction, I realized that the inspiration for it came, in part, from an emotional experience from my own childhood.   I remembered feeling sad and angry when I had first read Sleeping Beauty because it appeared that only royal children received beauty, grace, talent and other royal gifts.   The Twelve Gifts of Birth tells all children that they are born with dignity, worth, and powerful gifts to enrich their lives.  The gifts given to all children are: Strength, Beauty, Courage, Compassion, Hope, Joy, Talent, Imagination, Reverence, Wisdom, Love and Faith.

   

No matter who we are, where we live, what we look like, the circumstances of our birth, or the situations we face; each of us has gifts within us. Strength, beauty, courage, compassion, hope, joy, talent, imagination, reverence, wisdom, love and faith are among them. They are not like material presents we unwrap and hold in our hands. We can’t see these gifts with our eyes. But they are real and powerful. When we open ourselves to them, they can enrich every aspect of our lives. They can help us transform challenges into opportunities and tragedies into triumphs. They can help us make a difference in the world. I had come to believe this with all my heart.  It is the essence of my first book, The Twelve Gifts of Birth.  My belief in its message was so strong that it led me, with my husband, to self-publish the book, move into a motor home and travel the country to read the short story in schools, shelters, bookstores, churches, hospitals and prisons.  My belief was reinforced every time I saw resonance in the eyes of those who heard it.

Then one day in Alaska, at the last stop of our tour, I stroked my throat, touched a lump, and felt a chill.

I was diagnosed with two forms of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, one for which present-day medicine says there is no cure.   Although death was not imminent, it seemed close.  For several days, I felt frozen with fear, betrayed.  I wondered if I would experience peace and joy again. 

The disease led me to examine my life, my lifestyle, and my convictions.

Prior to starting chemotherapy, my oncologist said, “This is a time to call upon strength. Do what makes you strong.”

His words caused me to consider what I had written in The Twelve Gifts of Birth. About strength I had said, “May you remember to call upon it whenever you need it.” I had offered that advice to others. Could I heed it now?   Was strength fully available to me? Could I summon it? How?  

About hope I had written, “Through each passage and season may you trust the goodness of life.”  Could I trust in the midst of this crisis? 

While undergoing chemotherapy, I explored many complementary therapies. How might I help my body return to wholeness? I prayed for guidance. This “healing place” story and the twelve blessings in this book were among the answers I received.  “Use your gifts,” wisdom whispered, “Especially love.”  I understood that, besides releasing cancer cells, I needed to heal on other levels.  Using love, I needed to release hatred of the aberrant cells. Using compassion, I needed to release regrets and resentments. Using hope, I needed to release fear.   I needed to open my heart to all that I was experiencing.  Everyday, the gift of imagination helped me visualize harmony being restored among the trillions of cells in my body.

It was not an easy time. I would not have consciously chosen cancer as a teacher, but I now appreciate the valuable lessons it offered.  Cancer led me to look deeper and to understand that our inherent gifts do indeed have healing power.  They can help us heal ourselves, one another, and the world.  Accessing them begins with willingness. Gratitude increases their flow.

I hope that this story and Mater’s blessings will encourage you to become more aware of your gifts and to help others to see theirs. For are we not all on a healing journey?

 

The Twelve Gifts in Marriage is inspired by my over 35 years of marriage. All of its  ups and downs, ebbs and flows, and hurts and healings are embedded in the story. It is written for all couples for all time, for all the times we are happy as a couple and all the times we are not.

I believe that using the gifts in all areas of our lives can help humankind live together happily. It is my wish that, day by day, we will better remember that we are gifted and we will bring our gifts into all our situations and relationships, everyday.
 

home :: the books:: about charlene :: resources :: inspiration :: order :: contact :: site map

All rights reserved.
Copyright (c) 2006 (c) 1999 (c) 2000 Charlene A. Costanzo 
Photography Copyright (c) 2000 by Jill Reger
Artwork Copyright (c) 2000 by Wendy Wassink Atkinson