Tag: bookman meditations

meditations on stories ii

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Continuing my contemplation on stories…

I was thinking about the influence of stories in our lives. More specifically, the stories that we tell ourselves. Don’t sleep; we all tell ourselves stories, personal narratives that consciously or subconsciously influence our decisions and how we live our lives.

“I will always be fat. I deserve to be fat.”

“My mom was such a great mom and I will never be able to measure up. I’m a terrible mother.”

“I could never be that open and vulnerable. I’m too afraid.  I won’t be successful.”

The stories can be glaring or subtle because sometimes, we don’t even know that we are telling ourselves these stories.

The great things about books is that they can make us aware and be used to change the narratives of our minds. Read the right book and we develop another sense of perspective. We begin to question the validity of our stories.

til tomorrow, enjoy life

Catch up on the rest of this series.

quick lit – next page, please {september 2018}

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Oh, the rabbit holes of the reading life!  You can have a plan but one Instagram post – I’m looking at you, Leigh Kramer – a beautiful new book out that week, and my well-devised plan goes out the window and I am smack-dab in the middle of an outstanding series of four books that are all around or over 500 pages.  I’m not complaining; I’m just saying.

Currently Reading

  • This Messy Magnificent Life: A Field Guide by Geneen Roth. This picks up where Women, Food, and God left off, and has been good. I was moved by Women, Food, and God and with everything that has been going on, the title appealed.  This life is messy. But it is also magnificent.
  • Shadow of the Night by Deborah Harkness. This is the second installment of the four books of that rabbit hole Leigh Kramer led me to.
  • Transformational Speaking by Gail Larsen. Still working through this one. The idea of the “Coffin Communique” was intriguing: what would you say if, after you died, you were given five minutes to say something at your memorial? That’s your message. Thought-provoking, isn’t it.
  • To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. This will fulfill Modern Mrs. Darcy’s 2018 Reading Challenge category of a classic you’ve been meaning to read but I got to tell you, I am struggling. I had decided to tackle it in the same way that you eat an elephant: One bite, uh, chapter, at a time.  That is until I read Time’s Convert. Hopefully, I will get back to it by the end of the year.

Read

  • 10 Lies the Church Tells Women by J. Lee Grady. Finished this page turner in one day. I’m interested in the treatment of women in religious circles and a friend loaned this to me as a part of my research.
  • Time’s Convert by Deborah Harkness. This is the book Leigh Kramer recommended on Instagram that sent me down that rabbit hole-the series is over 2000 pages. The fourth book stands-alone well and is the first one that I read. I have also completed the first one, The Discovery of Witches. Nothing like I expected but with a lot of elements that I love: time travel, thoroughly researched and rich with historical details, and it’s a book about books. Win-Win. It was also the nice break that I have been craving from emotional and mind-bending reads.
  • Braving the Wilderness: The Quest for True Belonging and the Courage to Stand Alone by Brené Brown. This one was good. Brené’s work on vulnerability and courage has helped me in my journey by giving me practical tips and strategies to live a more authentic and meaningful life.  I generally read, on GP, any books that she writes.
  • Journal of a Solitude by May Sarton. Lovely printing of the journal of May Sarton. This gave me insight into the mind of a writer and help me know that I’m not alone in my crazy as I thought. Will definitely be reading more of her journals in the future.

What have you been reading this month?

Every month, I highlight what I’m reading in these posts: Quick Lit – Next Page Please. And per usual, I’m linking up with Modern Mrs. Darcy’s.  Head over thest see what others are reading. Maybe you will find something that will pique your interests.

I’m participating in #write31days for the month of October on my love of books and reading.  Check out the series: This Bookman: Meditations & Miscellany.

til tomorrow, enjoy life