Hi!

Last year, I attempted to make a dent in my To-Be-Read (TBR) pile during the #100daysproject challenge. If you’ve been around a while, you know how that turned out.

Every year I try to set a resolution to read more and every year it just doesn’t happen.

So, once again, for 2018 I set a resolution goal to read more. But, this year, I am holding myself accountable by writing book reviews. I love a good assignment. #booknerd

In January I DID read my first book:

Chasing Slow by Erin Loechner

Amazon Description: In Chasing Slow, Erin turns away from fast and fame and frenzy. Follow along as she blazes the trail toward a new-fashioned lifestyle—one that will refresh your perspective, renew your priorities, and shift your focus to the journey that matters most. Through a series of steep climbs—her husband’s brain tumor, bankruptcy, family loss, and public criticism—Erin learns just how much strength it takes to surrender it all, and to veer right into grace. 

Perfect. Vague, with no possible spoilers.

Things I love about the Book

1. Visual appeal. “You can’t judge a book by its cover.” Like hell you can’t. Truthfully, the visual designer/layout artist knew exactly what they were doing when creating this book. The negative space, the use of white, the font, the text layout…. they ALL contribute to a sense of calm, a feeling of …slow. Just opening this book helped quite my mind.

2. Lists! I am a girl who loves her lists. I love the way things can be broken down in to smaller doable/manageable/digestible parts. A list of childhood transgressions (believe me, it makes sense in context), A list of childhood accolades, Things I wrote about on my first blog, Acceptable messes for your friends to see. I found myself nodding along and inadvertently making my own list to mirror hers.

3. Applicable Math. I didn’t see this one coming, but I LOVED it. No Pythagorean theorem. No solving for x, y, or any other letters. More like: 1 sticker sheet + 1 toddler + 5 minutes of peace and quite for Mama. Or: Dish Duty + Dancing = Happier Dish Duty. How about: Stress + 20 minutes with a girlfriend + truth = Perspective.

4. Imagery. This may be one for me more than you, but I find it worth mentioning. Erin creates the metaphor of a Lion within each of us, “searching for the reasons we were placed on this planet”. That lion weaves its way throughout the book, showing that while we might be chasing fast/power/money it seems like our lion is roaring and if we just chase slow, he will be calmed. But is he? Or is chasing slow just another race to be won? The words Erin uses and the imagery she creates of her (our?) lion was brilliant and encourage me to think about and face my own lion and what he wants, when he’s calm, and how I can use him to achieve my own happiness.

Favorite Line

I was supposed to talk about being a big fish in a bigger pond, but really, I just wanted to ask if everyone else was drowning, too.  (pg. 42)

How are YOU doing today?

Greatest Personal Take-away

The panic attacks made no sense. They approached in wild waves, rhythmic and anticipated and ill-timed, like at the grocery next to a perfect mound of pink apples or in the shower. I cried and cried, and when they passed, I wrote. (pg. 43)

Sometimes, an author just speaks to your soul.

I love books that provide a look into the author’s life and shares the knowledge and wisdom gained through various events. Sometimes these are funny and amazing, other times they suck (the events, not the author). Erin has lived through some tough things and has chosen to share her experiences with the world.

No, my husband is not living with an inoperable brain tumor, but I can identify with her struggles on how do we live with this? How do we keep moving forward?

I have suffered from many panic attacks myself and the way she describes them puts into words things I didn’t even know I was feeling. But, she is right. They come at the stupidest times – In the store; When nothing is wrong, except for all of it; and like my favorite line above.

Extra Resources

Interview on The Happy Hour with Jamie Ivey

Interview with Jenna Kutcher

Interview with Jess Lively

If you are looking for a new book, I HIGHLY recommend Erin Loechner’s Chasing Slow.

Have a great Tuesday!