Reading, Writing & Pondering

  One of my goals is to spend less time on-line this year. When I saw Edit Your Life: A Handbook for Living with Intention by Elisabeth Sharp McKetta, I wanted to see what advice this book had to offer that would help me as I work towards my goals, including that one. This book is aimed at anyone wanting to make changes in any or all areas of their lives--at any age. Edit Your Life is divided into three parts. Part One is Examine Your Life. There are some questions to ask yourself and points to think about in this section. What is it? What Could it Be? What is Needed? The author offers suggestions on how to claim what is necessary FOR YOUR LIFE, and discard what is not. It isn't the same for everyone. We are all unique people and she makes that clear. Part 2 is to Edit Your Life. Edit for Clarity, Growth and Generosity. The author makes suggestions in each of these areas. She includes examples from her life and the lives of others she knows.  Part 3 is to Enjoy Your Life. En...

    You are the Boss of You: Cultivate the Mindset and Tools to Live Life on Your Terms •  Publisher:  Regalo Press (February 4, 2025) •  Hardcover:  272 pages From the founder of the multimillion-dollar wellness company Alaya Naturals comes  You Are the Boss of You , the A-to-Z guide for living an empowered, purpose-driven life inspired by your most authentic self. You Are the Boss of You  is a uniquely actionable and compassionate body of wisdom that addresses the ten most essential building blocks of a truly inspired life: · Defining boundaries · Soothing yourself · Softening perfectionism · Redefining your self-concept · Honoring sleep · Healing trauma · Feeling it all · Creating your rhythm · Advocating for yourself · Building your future In this uniquely refreshing guide to accessing emotional freedom and connecting with your inner guidance, Shauna Brittenham Reiter takes readers on a deep-dive into the process by which she relieved her...

      The Magic of Knowing What You Want: A Practical Guide to Unearthing the Wisdom of Your Desires •  Publisher:  Revell (January 28, 2025) •  Paperback:  240 pages “A comprehensive toolkit designed to help you navigate the intricate paths of ambition and self-doubt. . . an invaluable companion.”–Jennifer Alvarez, SVP of Brand and Chief Creative Officer of the Miami Heat Create the fully aligned, purposeful life you were made to live What do you really want? It’s an uncomplicated question until you try to answer it meaningfully. Whether prompted by transition, disruption, or curiosity about how to live more aligned with your values, we’ve all been there, feeling frozen, stuck, or lost in the fog of competing, half-baked desires, unsure how to move forward. In  The Magic of Knowing What You Want , leadership coach Tracey Gee walks you through a proven framework of identifying, clarifying, and embodying your desires. With interactive ex...

  An empowering, soul-baring personal account and guide from a two-time cancer survivor and healthcare disrupter that shows anyone how to deal with a frightening medical diagnosis in America today, providing the knowledge necessary to take ownership of personal well-being and maximize the chances for survival. More than twenty-five years ago, Kathryn Giusti was diagnosed with multiple myeloma at age thirty-seven and given three years to live. With a young child, a happy marriage, and a successful career, Giusti had too much to live for. An “impatient patient,” she overcame her fear and got to work, learning to advocate for her own care. This book is the result of all she’s learned about how to get the best outcome from America’s opaque and sometimes impossible-to-navigate healthcare system. Fatal to Fearless  tells the story of how Giusti took on the system and turned it to her advantage not once but twice when she was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ag...

  The Garden Within by Dr. Anita Phillips blends faith, trauma/mental health information and gardening illustrations into a book that I think many people can relate to. The Garden Within starts out with a forward by Sarah Jakes Roberts. I am not familiar with her but she wrote a nice introduction to the book that shows she knows the author well and that she has related much of this information to her own personal life. The Garden Within is also divided into three parts: Part one is Soil Power. This section starts with relating your faith and emotions including the need to be nurtured to seedlings. The second part is Deeply Rooted. If you have grown anything at all, you know how important roots are to a plant. The third section is The Embodied Garden. This section relates the heart and body to the garden. Also, how our emotional health affects our physical health--with more answers from the garden. This book was interesting for the most part. It was also easy to read and understa...

    Beat the cycle of habitual sin as Kirby Kelly guides you through how God’s strength can win back your freedom and bring you everyday peace. Find rescue and relief through a practical battle plan to defeat that sin that feels stuck on repeat and win back your life. Tired of the same cycle over and over again? Of the endless spirals of self-destructive sin? In  You Can Be Free , discover a real-life battle plan to break the spiritual bondage of habitual sin. You’re not alone. So many Christians are desperate to find a way to overcome recurring sin in their lives, a dominating factor when it comes to coping mechanisms in today’s society. Kirby Kelly has been there, and she’s created a battle plan to help others break free from unhealthy thoughts, behaviors, and cycles to find God’s actual peace in their lives. Leading from the front, Kelly offers her own story first and shares biblical strategies to: Connect and confess Stay in bounds Know your enemy Know your ...

  One of the first Christmas specials that I enjoyed as a child was A Charlie Brown Christmas. It is a fond memory for me and my family watches it nearly every year. Is it a favorite for you too? If so, you may want to know the back story of this special. The Inspiring, Untold Story of the Making of a Holiday Classic: Charlie Brown's Christmas Miracle by Michael Keane is a book about how this special came to be made--against the odds.  The Inspiring, Untold Story of the Making of a Holiday Classic: Charlie Brown's Christmas Miracle is a fairly lengthy book but it is also well told and quite interesting, I think. I liked how easily it reads. I enjoyed the back story quite a bit. It is a book that I just couldn't rush through and takes some time to read. I liked the historical photos in the middle of the book too. This is a book that will appeal to those who enjoy history, to those who enjoyed the Charlie Brown Christmas special through the years, and to the fans of Charles...