Reading & Creativity

Money Money Money!! I’ve heard it said that money makes the world go 'round. I’m not entirely sure about that, but it definitely does make our minds run around in circles sometimes doesn’t it? We’d all love to have more of it, but the pursuit of money can be draining, and even damaging to our relationships and health. No amount of money can buy happiness, but it can buy comfort and experiences, and the lack of money can definitely cause stress.

When my children were younger, I spent a lot of time reading them stories. We made frequent trips to the library or bookstore, to carefully select what we would be reading that week. There are hundreds of wonderful titles to choose from, and we enjoyed almost all that we shared together, but a few stood the test of time. They became the tales that were told over and over, until the pages were worn and we knew all the words by heart.

Rocks do not have feelings. But, humans definitely do, and that’s ok. That’s the basic premise for this intriguing book about mental health. Mark Freeman is not a licensed therapist. It's important to understand that when evaluating the advice he proposes. He’s more of a mental fitness coach, giving practical tips on how to navigate a healthy path based on his personal experience. He candidly shares the negative effects that OCD and anxiety had on his own daily life and relat

This book is passion and pain. Whimsy and wrath. Love and loss. The hunger that makes us feel alive, and the walls we construct to hide behind. It’s been a long time since a novel drew me in at this level. All in, where my raw emotions live. This is one of those rare stories that leaves you deeply changed as you turn the final page.

Have you ever really listened to the song of a whale? The slow, haunting melody that seems to carry with it the wisdom of the ages. What lessons would they teach us if we could comprehend the meaning of their tones? What truths could we uncover if we paid greater attention to understanding the voices of loved ones around us speaking our very own language?

The truest thing I gathered from the book was the reminder that happiness is the ultimate creator of success, rather than the other way around. I loved that in a book about increasing wealth he took the time to speak at length about focusing on creating happiness first and foremost.

It seems like everyone (including yours truly) has a side hustle (or two?) these days, doesn’t it? Multitasking has become the way of the world in an ever increasingly frantic charge to get ahead. Competition is fierce out there, and enough just never seems to equal enough. Is this fast paced, driven lifestyle sustainable? Or even desirable? Jefferson Bethke says no.

Skeletons in the family closet seem to rattle around louder and louder over the years, until they are finally brought to light. Healing rarely, if ever, comes from hiding secrets away. This seems to be the overarching theme of Sweet Water - a Novel by Christina Baker Kline.

This book is special to me personally, because it was written by someone I love dearly - my son Kevin. I walked much of this journey with him. From the painful life experiences that led to "The Dark" section, all the way through to the joy of "The Light." I've seen him grow as an artist and as a man along the way, and it's been so exciting to see this book come to fruition.

I fear that in this age of email and texting, the art of handwritten letter writing is getting lost. I can't argue that the new ways are far faster and more convenient. I use them too, and wouldn't want to go back to a time when I couldn't communicate with such speed and efficiency. However, we often aren't as cautious with what we say when responding so quickly. In the massive barrage of messages we don't pay as close of attention to what others are saying either.

After a couple of months taking ballroom dance lessons, I have come to a surprising realization. The hardest part for me has not been the steps or the rhythm as I had expected. Those have been coming fairly naturally. As it turns out, the thing I have found most challenging is learning how to follow.

Life's little (and sometimes big) trials and annoyances can't entirely be avoided. They must be dealt with, both physically and emotionally. Cultivating a spirit of gratitude, however, can help us manage those stressful realities by giving us the perspective of our blessings to offset them.

These are 5 of the best books I have relied on for advice during my own parenting journey: