I am a seeker of balance, joy, and contentment. For as long as I can remember, I have tried to find joy in everyday moments. Obviously there are days when I fail miserably, but I always keep striving.
My first guidebook to this consciousness was the Anne of Green Gables series of books. Sounds odd, but it is true. Anne, through L. M. Montgomery's writing, was an amazing influence on me.
La Leche League was another powerful resource. It was so much more than breastfeeding advice, it was a community of women. A community of women before there was the Internet. Three mantras I attribute to that wonderful organization are: "people before things, always", "take what you need, leave the rest", and "good enough is enough". Whenever I feel overwhelmed, these three concepts remind me of my priorities.
Sarah Ban Breathnach's book Simple Abundance was another amazing resource for me as well. Her book gave me concrete ways to practice gratitude at a difficult time in my life.
And now the internet has opened up even more places for me to find inspiration: SouleMama, Slow Love Life, habit, Letter to a Long Lost Friend, The Gift of an Ordinary Day; these are all blogs that remind me of what is important, that how I choose to live my life matters.
I know you have your own sources; I'd love to hear about them.
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I keep going back to the writings of Dawna Markova. I've been reading "No Enemies Within" on and off for years and lately in earnest. She has an organic approach to understanding one's strengths (and challenges). The subtitle of the book is A Creative Process for Discovering What's Right with What's Wrong. What a great window into wisdom! Thanks for mentioning my blog! I am touched.
ReplyDeleteLately I'm enamoured with zen teacher Thich Nhat Hanh. His books are really helping me slow down! Just don't ask me how to pronounce his name!
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