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Here’s a quick update on what I’ve been learning and reading.
I enjoyed every single day of Panache Desai’s 33 Days through his book, Discovering Your Soul Signature: A 33-Day Path to Purpose, Passion & Joy
. He is the real deal. Review is below in the book section.
I began a new year-long photography class, Be Still 52, with one of my favorite people in the world, Kim Klassen. This one is as much about still life photography as much as it is about slowing down and taking care of myself.
I finished part 2 of Oprah’s Lifeclass presents Brené Brown: The Gifts of Imperfection and really enjoyed it. Because of this course, I am resting some part of every day, seeking out joyful moments, smiling more, and letting go of perfectionism.
I can’t tell you how much I am enjoying this year-long journey, Project Light Year with Liv Lane: a soulful journey to your brightest year yet. In May, we learned about intuition. “Intuition is seeing with the soul,” as Dean Koontz wrote. So very true. I am opening up to the possibility that there is an innate wisdom flowing through me and tuning in.
In May, for One Little Word 2014 with Ali Edwards, I finished the sentence “I am…” 9 times, all with a compassionate lens. You can read it here.
May books:
Happiness Is an Inside Job: Practicing for a Joyful Life
by Sylvia Boorstein, PhD
Dani Shapiro’s memoir made Sylvia Boorstein seem to be a very wise and open person and teacher and caused me to want to read her books. This one was definitely was easy to read and full of practical stories and examples of how living with effort, mindfulness, and concentration can help us move from struggle to inner wisdom and happiness.
Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened
by Allie Brosh
When I walked into a Boulder bookstore and heard two ladies laughing over this book, I had to ask them about it. And then I bought it. I’ll simply say that this book is absurd. And funny. But not absurdly funny. If you were reading it in the dark with a book light and you had to be super quiet or you’d wake up someone sleeping next to you, I would not read this book.
Discovering Your Soul Signature: A 33-Day Path to Purpose, Passion & Joy by Panache Desai
I read this along with Panache in his free online reading group. When I saw him on Oprah’s Super Soul Sunday, I knew he was authentic and I wanted to know more. I’m so glad she helped him publish this book. I can’t say enough about it’s format of three short readings throughout the day, it’s specific lessons, and it’s life-changing potential. Each idea is simple, but revolutionary. This book was written from the heart.
The Astonishing Power of Emotions: Let Your Feelings Be Your Guide by Esther and Jerry Hicks, Abraham
Listening to your emotions for guidance and then deciding whether to feel better or worse by choosing your next thought. You’ll come to understand what emotions are, what each of them means, and how to effectively utilize your new awareness of them. It’s about “letting go of the oars” and letting the river carry you downstream toward all things good. Such a powerful book!
Still Life with Bread Crumbs: A Novel
by Anna Quindlen
This is a lovely little love story with a different sort of feel. It’s about an older and somewhat famous photographer who finds herself needing to make ends meet, so she saves money by moving to a cottage in the woods, where she meets a completely different set of friends and finds a simpler way of life that she comes to love. It’s a beautifully written and heartwarming read.
Communion with God by Neale Donald Walsh
This is about the ten illusions of humankind (such as need, judgment, superiority) and why they are falsehoods. Excellent book!
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I am also reading an entry a day in The Book of Awakening: Having the Life You Want by Being Present to the Life You Have by Mark Nepo. My favorite passage from May:
“We waste so much energy trying to cover up who we are, when beneath every attitude is the want to be loved, and beneath every anger is a wound to be healed, and beneath every sadness is the fear that there will not be enough time.”
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What have you been reading lately? And are you on Goodreads? I’d love to connect there.
Everything I’ve Ever Read (I think)
Currently Reading
More monthly book reports
This is hilarious to me… my mid-year reflections from last year are pretty much the same as those for this year. I know I’m making progress but there sure seem to be some sticking points! I’m still working on simplifying my days and leaving things undone. Maybe that latter part will be difficult for me always, that idea of letting things be messy in whatever way they happen to be. 
I’ve made progress in recognizing the love in my life that surrounds me and in being grateful for it. It feels so good to sit down each night and list five things in my gratitude journal that I’m grateful for. My little “cherish” bracelet that I wear every day has definitely helped to remind me to change my perspective. I am able to focus on the good in each moment and each person rather than allow resistance or judgement to come up.
Print available in my Etsy shop.
. In the preface, Perry asks, “So what is the solution to the problem of responding to the world in an over-rigid fashion, of being so affected by it that we exist in a continual state of chaos?… This book is about 
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