Reading List

In the weeks leading up to my starting this blog, I did a lot of online research about happiness, changing your life, as well as goal setting and accomplishment. By research, I mostly mean reading motivational blogs. Pursuing self-help resources is not new to me, however reading and writing blogs is uncharted territory. I have started reading them as a result of a goal I set to read less news and more positive material throughout the day so that I might be less angry and more inspired (I’ve also been listening to my iPod instead of the news on my car stereo).

In order to further introduce myself, I thought I would list some of the books and blogs I enjoy so that you can see what my interests are and get a better idea of whether or not you’ll relate to my pursuits.

• Goals/Values/Self-Help/Mental Health/Recovery/Grief:
  • The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen Covey (and the accompanying FrankinCovey planning system)
  • The Happiness Project – Gretchen Rubin (and her accompanying website) Also interesting is Chronically Distracted where two mom’s have started their own Happiness Project. Many of my own strategies come from Gretchen’s suggestions.
  • Wishcraft: How to Get What You Really Want – Barbara Sher & Annie Gottlieb (now available as free pdf on website)
  • Oprah’s website (note: I am not a huge Oprah fanatic. I did not watch the show, I do not subscribe to the magazine, I am not a member of the book club, etc. But I have found some good stuff on the website.)
  • Voices of Nicotine Recovery (This is an online Nicotine Anonymous group with online voice meetings. I have been a smoker off and on for over half of my life. I am in the process quitting again and am not using this group. However, the longest time I ever made it was over 2 years and I did that through this group. They are an amazing resource for busy people who need support while quitting nicotine.)
  • Al-anon (I come from a long line of alcoholics an I have found comfort in the Al-anon program and literature. I do not currently attend meetings or maintain any kind of official recovery.)
  • The Change Blog
  • Life Reboot
  • Momentum Gathering
  • The Gifts of Imperfection – Brene Brown (and her blog Ordinary Courage)
  • Personal Development for Smart People – Steve Pavlina
  • The Positivity Blog
  • Think Simple Now
  • Habit Trackers: Joe’s Goals, Chains.cc, and Habit Judo.
  • On Grief and Grieving: Finding the Meaning of Grief Through the Five Stages of Loss – Elisabeth Kubler-Ross & David Kessler
  • The Grief Recovery Handbook: The Action Program for Moving Beyond Death, Divorce, and Other Losses Including Health, Career, and Faith – John W. James & Russell Friedman
  • Mr. Self Development
  • The Minimalists
  • In Over Your Head
  • Location 180
  • Illuminated Mind

• Feminist Nature-Based Spirituality (The only way I have found to relate to a higher power is through Mother Earth. I enjoy the concept of a Goddess, Nature worship, and meditation. I do not practice any specific path. I relate closely to Neo-Paganism but have not found spiritual satisfaction through ritual. I am currently playing around with the idea of gardening as a spiritual practice. I relate physical health very closely to nature, such as eating natural foods, and I consider acts of conservation, recycling, composting, etc., to be respectful of Mother Earth.):
  • Starhawk’s books
  • Merlin Stone’s books
  • The Chalice and the Blade – Riane Eisler
  • Z Budapest’s books
  • The Great Cosmic Mother: Rediscovering the Religion of the Earth – Monica Sjoo
  • Ariadne’s Thread – Shekhinah Mountainwater
  • Jean Shinoda Bolen’s Books
  • Sacred Land, Sacred Sex: Rapture of the Deep: Concerning Deep Ecology and Celebrating Life – Dolores Lachapelle
• Astrology (I believe in energy. The stars, moons, and planets are made of energy. I think energy can effect life. I do not think it is set in stone, but it appeals to me. I understand it is not science and respect your right to think it is b.s.):
  • Stephen Arroyo’s books
  • Moon Signs – Donna Cunningham
  • The Only Astrology Book You Will Ever Need – Joanna Martine Woolfolk
  • Astrology for Yourself – Demetra George & Douglas Bloch
• Buddhism, Yoga, and other Eastern Teachings (I do not practice Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, or any religion, but I appreciate aspects of many faiths. I am considering getting back into a meditation and yoga practice, but do not currently practice and have never consistently practiced. Several readings by practitioners of Eastern spirituality have been incredibly helpful to me.):
  • The Dalai Lama’s books
  • Pema Chodron’s books
  • Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation – Sharon Salzberg
  • Ashtanga Yoga Primer – Baba Hari Dass
  • The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice – T.K.V. Desikachar
  • Light on Yoga: Yoga Dipika – B.K.S. Iyengar
• Health/Diet (I am not a vegetarian, but I find the practice incredibly commendable and humane. I have never successfully detoxed for more than a few days, but I believe in the benefits. I rarely take vitamins or supplements as my husband’s career makes me well aware of their negative qualities. However, I do believe that some brands can be trusted and that supplements for the right reason, in moderation, can be helpful. I believe in eating locally and seasonally whenever I can, avoiding processed foods as much as possible, and I do my best to receive the majority of my produce from local farms and the majority of my groceries from locally owned natural foods stores.):
  • Dr. Elson Haas’ books
  • Some aspects of the Biggest Loser Fitness and Weight Loss programs as well as Jillian Michaels’ program
  • Once a Month Mom
  • Some aspects of The Fat Smash Diet
• Tarot(I believe that your mind and subconscious are powerful, and I believe that imagery is powerful. Tarot is a tool that appeals to me for these reasons. I am not adept in reading cards, but I like the idea. I certainly don’t claim that it is possible to predict the future, but I do think that sometimes symbols can give us insight into our current circumstances.):
  • Motherpeace Tarot Deck – Karen Vogel & Vicki Noble (and accompanying books)
  • Tarot for Yourself: A Workbook for Personal Transformation – Mary K. Greer
• Writing/Poetry (Writing is my passion. After majoring in creative writing in college, I fell particularly in love with poetry. I will not take the time here to list every book of poetry I enjoy reading. This is only a list of books about writing and writing poetry. I believe that creativity can be therapeutic and/or spiritual.):
  • Ordinary Genius: A Guide for the Poet Within – Kim Addonizio
  • The Poet’s Companion: A Guide to the Pleasures of Writing Poetry – Kim Addonizio & Dorianne Laux
  • Writing Down the Bones: Freeing the Writer Within – Natalie Goldberg
  • In the Palm of Your Hand: The Poet’s Portable Workshop – Steve Kowit
  • Poemcrazy: Freeing Your Life With Words – Susan G. Wooldridge
  • A Poetry Handbook – Mary Oliver
  • Poetic Asides – Robert Lee Brewer
  • At A Journal Workshop: Writing to Access the Power of the Unconscious and Evoke Creative Ability – Ira Progoff
  • Writing Creative Nonfiction: Fiction Techniques for Crafting Great Nonfiction – Theodore A. Rees Cheney
  • Writing Your Way to Wholeness: Creative Exercises for Personal Growth – Terre Ouwehand
  • Writing For Your Life: Discovering the Story of Your Life’s Journey – Deena Metzger

I am also very interested in civil rights and social activism, but that is not really relevant here. I love reading a variety of contemporary and classic poetry and literature, as well. Perhaps sometime I will write a post on these topics. One genre I have recently reunited with is young adult fantasy literature, including authors such as L. Frank Baum, Lewis Carroll, Norton Juster and Madeline L’Engle. I recently devoured Dave Eggers’ The Wild Things, a novel adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak and the screenplay for the movie of the same name which Eggers co-wrote with Spike Jonze. It reminded me of what a great release reading was for me as a child. There are so many great stories where the main character was able to escape reality somehow (Oz, Wonderland, etc.) and how therapeutic those stories might be for me today. I am even contemplating the idea of writing something in this genre.