Over the past couple months I have had quite a few recommendations of good books come my way in conversation and emails. It started like this, “Hey Katie, you should check this out” or, “I think this book will help you with some of the struggles you might have right now.” Even, “hey, thought of you what I read this book.” I have also been in great conversations with friends while they chatted away about the latest and greatest book they read. I so wanted to chime in but I had nothing. I am not a reader, I never have been. I mean, I want to be a reader but I just can’t sit down and read a book. The room is either too hot, my body gets all itchy from sitting too long, or I just can not concentrate on what the heck is on the page. I know these are all excuses and if I really wanted to read I could but really, I can’t. I have tried. So when my good friend told me I HAD TO READ this book she was recommending I said, “what the hell” to myself. I can do this. I can do hard things like reading (don’t laugh), I can do it. I logged myself on Amazon and ordered the book. A day later there it was on my counter. I brewed a pot of coffee, told the kids to leave me alone for awhile and I sat down. I started on the preface and I was already board. Then I got mad. I got mad at my friend who recommended the book. I mean who does she think she was thinking I could read this book. In my frustration I thought to myself……I need to over come. So after some creative thinking prevailed! I found audio books! Oh my! All my problems are solved!
I am just getting started but I now listen to my books while I run, do dishes and sometimes as I car pool. I am not kidding. I feel like a new, enlighten person who is on the road to a more self accepting, self loving, motivated person! Just what I needed to push through my 40’s in a happier place! So that being said the latest and greatest is Rising Strong by Brené Brown. Another friend recommended it on Instagram and so I texted to make sure it was all she said it was. She confirmed it was a great read and assured me it would make me stronger. I am all about being stronger. So I just have to tell you one thing. Brené mentions something in the first couple chapters that literally stopped me in my tracks as I was jogging. So much so that I stopped, bent over and cried. Yes. The ugly cry. Truth is hard for all of us, so I am sharing it with you.
She said “I want to be in the arena. I want to be brave with my life. And when we make the choice to dare greatly, we sign up to get our asses kicked. We can choose courage or we can choose comfort, but we can’t have both. Not at the same time.”
She talks a lot about vulnerability and how she has discovered it to be the key to overcoming anything. I believe.
She says, “Vulnerability is not winning or losing; it’s having the courage to show up and be seen when we have no control over the outcome. Vulnerability is not weakness; it’s our greatest measure of courage.”
So there you go. Inspired!?! Run and get that book.
{things I loved about our weekend}
saturday evenings, swing sets in our pj’s and rolling around in freshly cut grass.
babies and little girls are like milk and honey. they just go perfectly together.
(This one is from North American Bear, so it is just a little more special because we know the people who made it.)
sundays are for baking in our house.
OX Katie
