This could also be called: Attempting to Get My Shit Together this Summer! I don’t really believe in bans- at least not for myself- because the minute I’m banned from something I want it more than anything.
But I have been encouraged to think of things as more of a challenge. I mean below is just some of my May book haul. 🙂
If any of these signs you may need to go to book buying prison apply to you don’t take it personally because they all apply to me.
So way back in August I was nominated for this award by Ashley and Sabrina over at the 5171milesbookblog. I would like to thank them and apologize for being super late on actually responding.
Rules for Sunshine Blogger:
Thank the person/people who nominated you and link back to their blog
Answer the questions
11 new questions
Make sure to list the rules and display the award
So I was nominated for this by C.W.A.R at Leave before it’s too late & a million thanks to him! (This happened way back in August and I am truly sorry for how long it’s taken me to respond.) The rules go:
Post Award
Thank Person who Nominated You
State 11 Random Facts about Yourself
Answer the questions asked from the nominating post
Think up 11 more questions
10 Facts (Bookish or Otherwise) About Me
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly event hosted by The Broke and the Bookish
This weeks topic is slightly more personal than I usually get but here goes:
1. I took my last job because I could go to a bookstore on breaks.
2. I was once asked in a Barnes and Noble not to help the customers (I helped one person! Then the others approached me!) because I did not work there!
3. I don’t think I’ve ever left a book unfinished. Probably in large part due to my OCD but still.
4. These are the books I remember liking the most from my uncensored childhood reading days. When I told my mother that recently she responded, “Maybe we should have been more careful about what you read.” 🙂
I really want to reread them now.
5. I love chocolate. A lot.
6. I’m a dog and a cat person. As long as they don’t interrupt my reading!
7. I am very, very shy. And after many years of being so I do get a little tired of people pointing it out to me and then saying, “We’re going to have to do something about that.”
8. I want to get better at photographer. It’s always been a thing of mine but all I wind up thinking is, “I really should be reading right now.”
9. Favorite places I’ve been: Denmark & England but I freaking love Las Vegas!
10. I long to be a writer! Books. Articles. Songs. Plays. Shows. Anything… Everything… One day…
The Gratitude Diaries
Author: Janice Kaplan
Grade: B (ish) 🙂
I have to admit there’s a cynical nature to my brain that was reading parts of this thinking, “Yeah, no kidding you can be grateful. Tell me some more about your place in New York, your country house in Connecticut and all the traveling you get to do with your Doctor husband.”
Like I said, I can be a cynical person.
I also do consider myself a grateful person. But I think gratitude is just a harder road to walk for some people.
Yet that’s also the point she’s trying to make. The exercise of something like a daily gratitude journal, forcing yourself to look on the bright side of a situation, or even just live in the moment is something everyone should do and there are real benefits to attempting to do so. Not just in your relationships but also your health.
I did start keeping a gratitude journal again and perhaps more importantly I’m going to send the book to someone whose having a hard time right now. Yet there was nothing really new in the book (especially if you like me have read this kind of thing before). I know this. But it’s nice to have a reminder. A kick in backside as it were to try some positive thinking…
Not that it didn’t mean I wasn’t rolling my eyes at some of the sickly sweet conversations in this book.
Although if you are looking into this kind of thing for the first time I do think some of the medical research presented is enlightening and really does make the case for the power of gratitude and positive thinking.
I always say books like these are very personal. The book itself didn’t do it for me but I did appreciate the reminder to try to live even more thoughtfully and be grateful. More importantly I’m hoping it will, at least, do the same for my friend.
Unfortunately it did break my goal from the beginning of the month to read what I have before buying anymore books (except a few new releases). I swear I only meant to put it in my wish list but I hit the wrong button on Amazon and there it was being sent to my Kindle before I could even think! I am a book mess right now. Again. But I decided to read it anyway so maybe the universe thought it was a good idea.
That’s me putting a positive spin on my book addiction!
