Month: November 2016

Feeling accomplished!

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Every year a set a reading goal because I love books and this is what we readers do. And reading for fun is just something I need to do for my mental health. Escaping reality into James Patterson’s mysteries and solving who done it or swooning over some hunk in one of Corinne Michaels’ latest or even laughing and crying my way through one of Jenny Lawson’s truthful stories on mental health is a must for me. I need it between all the bull shit at work, the chores at home that I’m casually neglecting and the overwhelming stress I feel 24/7/365. So books. I love them. They are my therapy. My escape.

This year I told myself 12 books was more than reasonable. I mean I’m friends with people who read 12 books a month so 12 in the course of a YEAR is more than feasible. Right? Well I did it. In fact – I’ve read 14 (that’s 117% for those keeping score at home!) and I’m in the middle of two more because the year isn’t over yet. Am I right or am I right?

SOOOO as the holidays approach and you find that you have some extra time on your hands – I encourage you to pick up a book. I thought I would share with you the books I’ve read this year so far to help if you need some suggestions. Of course you can keep up to date on what I’m reading, dying to read and have read on goodreads. I’m constantly adding books to my shelves.

Books I’ve read thus far in 2016:

Not on goodreads? YOU SHOULD BE! It’s a book lover’s dream!*

 

*Note: This is not an ad nor was I paid or compensated in any fashion for saying this. I just really like books. 

 

Reasons to be Happy

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What are your reasons to be happy? Like REALLY think about it. What fills you to the brim with unadulterated joy? What gives you butterflies of glee? What makes you warm and tingly and just full of peace?

Well. I’ve decided to keep a running list of my Reasons to be Happy. I used to randomly blog a reason to be  happy but I think the running list approach is so much more satisfying. I find myself eager to add to it and way the list grow. And it’s here to share with all of you (assuming there is actually an all).

But I want you to really think about what I asked. What are your reasons to be  happy? It could be anything. The way the light touches glass just right and casts a rainbow in the room. The smell of fresh-baked cookies. Black coffee. But figure it out. Note it somewhere and hold on to it. It’s important to reference this list when you find that you aren’t happy. To read through it and even do some of the things on it. Because at the end of the day – we are only given one life to live. Let’s not completely fuck it up with things that don’t make us happy.

Haunted

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Recently, I heard Katrina Kittle – another favorite of mine – speak about her reasons to be happy and how we can’t function when our life cup is perpetually empty. That it’s our responsibility to take time to fill that cup. Writing fills my cup. I love to write – both on my blog and journal. I used to journal ALL THE TIME. But when I was younger that was ruined for me…

I have foreign parents. And as if the language and cultural barrier weren’t enough – they had me a little later than planned so they are 40+ years my senior. My mother and I particularly didn’t get a long. It’s as if we were on different planets all together. During my teenage years especially she just assumed she knew everything. However, that’s neither here nor there. The past makes us who we are. Right?

One faithful day I came home from school – I believe I was a sophomore in high school at the time – and walked in to see bags and bags full of shredded paper. For a moment – I didn’t really think much of it. It wasn’t until I noticed the cover of my favorite butterfly journal that I realized what I was looking at. They were my journals!!! Seven years worth of journals – twelve complete journals to be exact – all shredded up into nothing. From that day on journaling was hard for me. It didn’t feel safe anymore. Since then I’ve tried to get back into the habit but there is this constant underlying fear that I will lose it all over again. Since then – I’ve managed to write sporadically. But it dawned on me today that enough is enough. I have to stop letting the past haunt me and lay it to rest. My past is full of other horrible things that I have managed to overcome but this… this is still hanging around.

Not anymore.

Sidebar: This also might be why I have subconsciously broken nearly every paper shredder I have ever owned.