Melody Beattie chronicles her grief over the death of her son Shane in a skiing accident in 1991; for two years she found herself unable to work. But with the help of family, friends and her own inner resources, she was finally able to put her life back together. Then, however, she was faced with another test: her daughter Nichole's alcoholism. But this time, from her reserves of spiritual strength, Beattie met the problem head-on. Convincing her daughter to enter a treatment center, she was able to forge a closer relationship between them.