I’m really excited to be part of a book club link-up. This is our first month doing this link-up, and so far we have a great group of people reading some awesome books. The premise of the book club is this: we don’t all read the same book, but we all read the same genre of book. Each month is a pre-selected topic. At the end of the month, we all post our reviews.
It gives us the opportunity to learn about what others thought about that particular book, and it can almost help you to make the decision on whether to read it or not. It will definitely allow us to spend more time reading than looking for the perfect book. I just wish that we had access to all the Author websites, as most of them don’t have one. I wonder why? I think that all authors should have one, as it will help them to promote new and upcoming books, as well as allowing people to learn more about you. If I was an author, I’d definitely have one. But I’m not. I just stick to the reading and writing of reviews that I find so much enjoyment in.
For January, the book topic was “motivational.” I chose the book The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. It’s more of a self-help book I suppose, but I consider it motivational because it’s all about doing things to make yourself happier. And being happy is motivating!
I have to admit, this book wasn’t one that grabbed me. The cover was awesome, so I was a little disappointed. Say what you will, but I totally judge books by their covers. And more often than not, if I’m drawn to a cover I usually end up loving the book. Try it the next time you’re looking for a good read and see if it works for you. 🙂
The one topic that really spoke to me in The Happiness Project that I’ve put into practice is the premise of “Spend Out.” Basically what that means is that instead of hoarding your things, you should use them. As an example, there is no sense in buying a really awesome purse if you’re never going to use it for fear of it getting dirty.
One of the things I am was particularly bad with was markers and crayons. I’m still very much a work in progress in this department. Just ask my childhood best friend what my most prized possession was and she’ll likely tell you my Crayola thin markers.
I had a friend a couple years ago who had a daughter right around Boo’s age. We would go play at her house and the crayons were a hot mess. It killed me to see them in all different shapes and sizes, some with the wrapping still on them, some with the wrapping half-ripped (or even completely missing!) all co-mingling in the same tupperware of crayon-chaos. Gah!
Meanwhile, my crayons were at home, neatly in their protective box, in perfect rainbow order. My son didn’t really like coloring, and the times he “colored” was at restaurants or other such places and he almost immediately bit into the crayon anyway. Therefore, no crayons at our house! Except in the neatly organized box, of course.
Fast forward to now and I’m still struggling with the crayon debacle. But three things have changed: 1) I have a daughter, 2) my kids like to color, and 3) I’ve read The Happiness Project and have embraced the idea of spending out.
I am now the proud owner of a cringe-worthy ziplock bag full of misfit crayons. I’ve accepted the chaos, I use the crayons I so vehemently protected from meddling fingers, and I’ve realized — I can buy more when they all break or disappear! Novel concept, I’d say.
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| Crayon chaos! |
It took me a long time to accept the fact that kids are messy, crayons will break and wrappers will be torn (I recall my own wrappers being torn off when I was a kid), and the Play-Doh will never be as beautiful as it is upon first opening the little salty, smelly tub of Play-Doh heaven.
There were a couple other poignant parts of the book but to be perfectly honest, Spend Out was the one that dramatically changed my life. I’m telling you, the crayon incident has given me wings!
Check out Gretchen Rubin’s The Happiness Project if you’re in need of a perspective overhaul. She’ll change your life — even if it is only one point in the entire book!
Be sure to check out everyone else’s book reviews this month. There are some awesome ones out there. Next month — looooooove. Find a love story, read it, review it, and link up!
