Watch above: Former NHL star Theoren Fleury has experienced the highest of highs and has no doubt been through the lowest of lows. Kim Thue sits down with Fleury to discuss his second book, “Conversations with a Rattlesnake.”
SASKATOON – Former NHL star Theoren Fleury has experienced the highest of highs and has no doubt been through the lowest of lows. In October 2009, Fleury’s autobiography “Playing with Fire” was published.
It was a shocking, tell all book where he also documented a past in which he was sexually abused by then junior hockey coach Graham James. The response from others who had gone through the same as Fleury was remarkable.
“It was definitely an eye opener for me, that’s for sure,” admits the Stanley Cup winner and Olympic gold medalist. “Something I felt was uncommon, is the most common thing that happens in the world.”
It didn’t take long after the release of “Playing with Fire” for Fleury to realize the impact his story had on other trauma survivors.
“Did the first book signing in Toronto and out of the corner of my eye I spot this guy in line,” recalls Fleury. “He gets to the front of the table, grabs the book, puts it on the table, looks me in the eye, and says ‘me too.’ That was the time I realized that I had found some purpose.
“For all the pain and suffering I went through I could actually help people.”
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Fleury hasn’t stopped helping people ever since and at the start of November released a second book, “Conversations with a Rattlesnake.” The book started with a 72-hour discussion with world renowned therapist Kim Barthel.
“For the first time (I) could really get rid of the shame, the guilt, the resentment and the anger that I had been carrying around for many, many years,” Fleury says of his conversation with Barthel.
“From there we just continued to have these conversations. There is two and a half years of conversations in this book. We cover all the bases talking about what you need to do in order to make your life better.”
At the base of the book is conversation, discussion, talking, something that has helped Fleury and so many others heal.
“I tried for so many years to be able to deal with this internally. I never really got any relief from doing it that way. Now that I can interact with people and be vulnerable, be honest, be open, my healing has sort of vaulted into another dimension.”
Fleury’s book tour continues through Moose Jaw on Thursday and Regina on Friday, before heading to Manitoba on the weekend.
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