positively present

book review + giveaway: enjoy every sandwich

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A few weeks ago, I was asked to review Enjoy Every Sandwich: Living Each Day As If It Were Your Last, by Dr. Lee Lipsenthal in which he shares what he's learned about enjoying life and living each day to its fullest potential as he fights his battle against esophageal cancer. In the book, Lee navigated his diagnosis, illness, and treatment and he discovered that he did not fear death. As he was facing his own mortality, he felt more fully alive than ever before.

Much to my surprise, I found myself deeply interested in the book. I read it quickly, absorbing his words as I struggled to come to terms with my own mortality (a fact that often seems so abstract and surreal when not confronted directly). Even in the parts of the book I found difficult to understand (a helping hand from Jesus during meditation?), I found his book deeply inspiring. When I received the book in the mail, I thought it would read just like Tuesdays with Morrie or The Last Lecture. That wouldn't have been a bad thing (I enjoyed both of those books), but this book was more than those. It spoke to me in a way I hadn't expected. 

Two weeks after I finished the book, my childhood friend's mom passed away.

This woman (who sadly I had not seen in years) had been like a second mother to me when I was a child and a teenager. She was different in many ways from my own mother -- less cheerful, more crafty, less content with the world around her, more technology-focused -- and I'd always felt a special connection with her. In many ways, my friend was more like my mother and I was more like her mother. 

Upon hearing of her death, I was more saddened than I had anticipated. She had had cancer for over a decade so it wasn't unexpected -- but what was unexpected was how sad I felt. I hadn't seen this woman since I was in college, but suddenly I missed her terribly. Suddenly a rush of memories appeared in my mind -- moments I hadn't thought about in years. It was harder than I expected, more real than I could have imagined. 

And in this experience, I thought back on what I'd read only a few weeks before. I thought back on the ways Lee chose to celebrate his life and the ways he chose to share his inspiration with readers he would never know. So many of us have started out 2012 will goals and to-do lists and ideas for how to make this the best year yet. But we often forget about enjoying the life we have right now, in this moment. We often forget that, at some point, these moments will be gone. 

In his book, Lee writes, "We don't need to run out and do the bucket list of seeing and doing new things. We just need to sit, listen, and learn. This, over time, has become by philosophy of living. Pay attention to the good stuff that happens every day and enjoy what is, not what should have been or what might be." Though I've heard this advice before, seeing the words written by a man who died only months ago, who strived to make the most of every single day, really hit home for me. And after my friend's mother died, his words became even more meaningful.

If you're struggling with understanding your own mortality or the mortality of those around you (and who isn't?) or if you're interested in learning how to make the most of every moment of your life, this is the book for you to read. With a focus on gratitude, Lee teaches readers of the book how to make deeper connections with others, how to live each day to the fullest, and how to find the joy in life. To learn more about the book, check out the book's website or check out the book trailer on YouTube.

Now I'll leave you with the words that stuck with me even after the book was closed and put away on the shelf. These words remind me that life is a choice -- and that we all have the power to choose a positively present life. Lee wrote: "You get to choose the world you want to live in. It can be a house of fear and constriction or a house of mystery and creativity. Do you choose anger or compassion? In your world will be it be the fear of death or the joy of life? It is that simple." 

WIN a copy of Enjoy Every Sandwich!

• Leave a comment telling me what you enjoy about life.
• Include your email address so we can contact you when you win.
• Want an extra chance to win? Tweet + mention @positivepresent.
• THREE winners will be selected on Thursday, January 19, 2011.

book review: tiny buddha's simple wisdom

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Ever since the site was created back in 2009, I've been a big fan of TinyBuddha.com. Those of you who follow me on Twitter know that it's one of my favorite sites to tweet, mostly because it always contains such great inspiration. No matter what kind of wisdom you're seeking in your life, you'll find something you can relate to (and benefit from) on Tiny Buddha.

When I found out that Tiny Buddha founder, Lori Deschene, was coming out with a book, Tiny Buddha: Simple Wisdom for Life's Hard Questions, I was thrilled. Much as I love the internet (and I really do love it!), there's nothing quite like holding a book in your hands when you're seeking inspiration. After reading Tiny Buddha online for years, I knew the content of the book would be wonderful, filled with inspiration and wisdom. And I was right.

Immediately upon receiving the book, I dove in and read and read and read. I managed to finish the entire thing in a single day -- and it left me feeling inspired. Not only did I learn more about Lori's personal growth, but I also learned a great deal from the stories of others shared in the book. The quotes, tweets, and inspirational exercises kept me always excited to turn to the next page.

The book is divided into the following chapters: Pain, Meaning, Change, Fate, Happiness, Love, Money, Possibilities, and Control. No matter who you are, each of these topics will have meaning to you because each one contains wisdom not only from Lori, but from countless other sources. The culmination of advice and wisdom exposes readers to a fresh way of seeing these topics and, due to Lori's practical, easy-to-read writing style, the wise words are actually easy to relate to.

Lori writes in the introduction, "This is not a book of absolute answers. It's crowd-sourced wisdom, often supported by scientific, psychological, and sociological research, that may help you experience meaning, happiness, and peace right now, regardless of your circumstances." After reading this book cover to cover, I can confirm that Lori's words ring true. When you read this, what you will find is wisdom and information that will help you to live a more positive, more present life. What you will find are words that will inspire you, inspiration that will keep you motivated, and motivation to make the most of your present moment. Here's my favorite excerpt from the book:

The alternative is to choose positive thinking not because it will get us what we think we want in the future but because it, in itself, is what we want in the present. It just plain feels good to think empowered, self-affirming thoughts, as opposed to defeatist, depressing ones. Our thoughts affect our feelings and ultimately influence what we choose to do. In this way, when we focus on the positive, we’re more likely to find ourselves in situations that feel good—not because we get exactly what we want but because we’re always be open to finding something worth having in what we get.

If you're already a fan of Tiny Buddha, you can probably guess how awesome this book is -- and you already know why you need to pick up a copy ASAP. If you're new to Tiny Buddha, I'd recommend checking it out. Once you do that, you'll be sure to see why a book by the site's creator is a must-have. To order a copy of the book, click here. And to give some thought to your own hard life questions, join Lori's Life's Hard Questions contest. The prizes for the contest are awesome and it's so thought-provoking to think about the hardest question you've had to deal with in your life. Learn more about the contest here.

WIN the Tiny Buddha Book!

• Leave a comment telling me what wisdom has impacted your life.
• Include your email address so we can contact you when you win.
• Want an extra chance to win? Tweet + mention @positivepresent.
• TWO winners will be selected on Thursday, December 22, 2011.

 

*Speaking of winners... Congrats to Saggelo, winner of 2012 Happiness Project Calendar giveaway!*

Participating in the 25 Days of Christmas Photo Challenge?

Check out my photos on Flickr. Join the Positively Present Christmas Photo Challenge Flickr group. Share your photos on Twitter or Instagram using #PPphoto.

 

holiday awesomeness: giveaway + holiday photos

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Remember when I reviewed The Book of Awesome back in 2010? Or The Book of (Even More) Awesome in 2011? Well, the creator of these books, Neil Pasricha, hasn't stopped sharing the awesomeness. He's created a third book: The Book of (Holiday) Awesome, and, as a big time holiday lover, this one might be my favorite.

Ever since I stumbled across his site, 1000 Awesome Things, Neil has been an inspiration to me. He seeks out the good in the smallest of situations and that's such a wonderful way to stay present. According to his bio on Amazon, Neil "is terrible at wrapping gifts, can't carve a turkey, and always forgets birthdays. He's just a regular guy who loves seeing the first shipment of eggnog in the store, eating all the chocolate in the Advent calendar at once, and driving around town to see all the Christmas lights. Neil started his site as a small reminder-in a world of rising sea levels, global conflict, and a troubled economy-of the free and easy little joys that make life sweet."

Neil's new book, The Book of (Holiday) Awesome, is showing us just how important it is to find the small joys during the crazy, hectic holidays.  There are a lot of things to be stressed out about during the holidays. Sometimes the holidays bring out the worst in people. However, as Neil reminds us in his latest installment of awesome, there are so many completely awesome things about the holidays. From Christmas, Hanukkah, and Kwanzaa to such holidays as Mother's Day and Father's Day, Thanksgiving, and beyond, Neil's book will show you just how awesome the holidays are. 

Neil inspired me to think about what I love most about the upcoming holiday season -- Christmas, in particular -- and I've created a list below of some of the things I think are awesome about the holidays. Creating it has made me really thankful (and excited!) for the next few weeks and all I have to look forward to. I'd highly recommend taking a moment to create your own list of holiday awesome! 

 

Positively Present's Holiday Awesome
 

• Seeing a Christmas tree lighting up a window in early December 
  
  
• A holiday gift list with every person crossed off
  
  
• The Santa display suddenly appearing at the mall
  
  
• Finding the absolute perfect gift for someone you love
  
  
• Uploading all of your favorite holiday songs to your iPod
  
  
• Deer crossing signs with red stickers placed as Rudolph's nose
  
  
• Snowflakes coming down on Christmas morning (rare where I live!)
  
  
• An impressively, perfectly wrapped package
  
  
• Ridiculously tacky holiday decorations on a neighbor's house
  
  
• Baking (and eating!) sugar cookies with holiday sprinkles
  
  
• Christmas music playing in every single store
  
  
• Hanging up the stockings and decorating the tree
  
  
• The moment you hang your favorite ornament on the tree
  
  
• Terrible made-for-TV holiday movies (love you, Hallmark channel!)
  
  
• Cracking open a new door on an advent calendar
  
  
• My dog Bella's excitement when opening (everyone's!) Christmas gifts
  
  
• Turning off all the lights except the Christmas tree -- beautiful!
  
  
• Holiday favorites (Snoopy, Rudolph, Frosty, the Grinch) on TV 
  
  
• Dressing up for holiday parties (sparkles! glitter!)
  
  
• Receiving holiday cards from dear friends in the mail 
  
  
• When you unwrap the gift you really, really wanted
  
  
• Seeing strangers in the holiday spirit and sharing a smile
  
  
• Memories of childhood holidays coming back to you
  
  
• The smell of a roaring fire coming from someone's house
  
  
• Remembering what it was like to really believe in Santa
  
  
• Donating clothes and toys to those in need
  
  
• The smells of pine, cinnamon, pumpkin pie
  
  
• Opening one gift on Christmas Eve (which one will you pick!?)
  
  
• The look on a child's face on Christmas morning
  
  
• Watching the movie Elf over and over again
  
  
• Knowing the words to way too many holiday songs
  
  
• New holiday favorites (Jingle, I heart you!)

 

I know it was probably super exciting to read what I think is awesome about the holidays, but I know you're really dying to check out the what the awesome expert, Neil, has to say. Lucky for you, you can win a free copy of the book to keep for yourself or give as a holiday gift! See details below. 

Book of (Holiday) Awesome Giveaway
 

• Leave a comment about holiday awesomeness (any holiday!).
  
  
• Include your email address so we can contact you when you win. 
  
  
• Want an extra chance to win? Tweet this link + mention @positivepresent 
  
  
• The winner will be randomly selected on Tuesday, December 8, 2011.

 

 

Missing the Positively Present Photo Challenge?

Don't worry! For all of you interested in continuing to snap and share your photos, you can share your holiday awesomeness with the Positively Present 25 Day Photo Challenge: Christmas! Below are the categories for the next 25 days. 

 

Day 1: Lights

Day 2: Decorations

Day 3: Gifts

Day 4: Tradition

Day 5: Santa

Day 6: Stockings

Day 7: Snow

Day 8: Tree

Day 9: Treats

Day 10: Joy

Day 11: Carols

Day 12: Vintage

Day 13: Festive

Day 14: Glitter

Day 15: Warmth

Day 16: Ornaments

Day 17: Wreath

Day 18: Giving

Day 19: Reindeer

Day 20: Memories

Day 21: Bells

Day 22: Cookies

Day 23: Sparkle

Day 24: Xmas Eve

Day 25: Unwrapped

 

Feel free to join the Photo Challenge any time! You can check out the Positively Present photos on Flickr, join the Positively Present Photo Challenge: Christmas! Flickr group, and share your photos on Twitter or Instagram using #PPphoto. 

 

book review: shortcuts to inner peace

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I was recently sent a copy of Shortcuts to Inner Peace: 70 Simple Paths to Everyday Serenity by Ashley Davis Bush. As Amazon puts it, in the book Ashley "helps readers learn how to hit the pause button amidst the chaos with a spirit of mindfulness-linking fast, easy, and restorative respites to ordinary everyday activities. Once people begin to integrate these shortcuts into their daily lives, they begin to happen automatically. And when that happens, inner peace will no longer be a brief state of mind, but a way of life." After reading the book, I won't claim that inner peace is my way of life (though I wish it was!), but I have a feeling that it would be if I followed all of Ashley's advice. 

The book is filled with "shortcuts" -- little things you can do every day throughout the day -- for creating inner peace. I was a little overwhelmed by the quantity of them (and how many I actually wanted to try!), but I started out with just a few of them and they have already helped me feel more peaceful. As Ashley said, the shortcuts "help us develop new habits of pausing, habits of redirection from stress," and, more importantly, Ashley's shortcuts help readers stay present in the moment. 

Though I didn't make all of Ashley's shortcuts daily habits, I did try most of them as I was reading and they helped me to stay more present, more focused on the now. Ashley puts it like this: "When reside in that place called peace, we have a full throttle experience of the present moment and therefore have no worries about a future and no hang-ups about a past." This proved to be very true! Whenever I tried one of Ashley's shortcuts, I was instantly calmed and brought back into the present moment. And the fact that Ashley includes so many shortcuts in her book makes it much more accessible to everyone; there's at least one shortcut you can incorporate into your day that will help you stay more present and peaceful.  

The beauty of Ashley's book is that it brings inner peace down to a manageable level. You don't have to be a meditation guru or a yoga fanatic to find inner peace. With the help of Ashley's shortcuts, you can find inner peace within you pretty much anywhere -- waiting in line, washing the dishes, even in the middle of an argument. Incorporating the shortcuts into our daily lives makes them something we're actually likely to do -- and something we'll do more often, making it a habit rather than an exception. 

A few of my favorite shortcuts include:

• Stop Drop and Roll (for when you're stopped at a red light)
  
  
• Cheesecloth (for when you're in a crowded environment)
  
  
• Almond Joy (for when you're eating a snack)
  
  
• Double Take (for when you're feeling bored/restless)
  
  
• Take Dictation (for when your thoughts are driving you crazy)
  
  
• Watch Your Mouth (for when you're using negative words)
  
  
• Half 'n Half (for when you see the glass half-empty)
  
  
• Outstanding (for when someone asks how you're doing)
  
  
• Don't Bug Me (for when you kill a bug)
  
  
• Rags to Riches (for when you think you need more $)
  
  
• Myku (for when you need to be present)
  
  
• Fair-Weather Friend (for when you talk about the weather) 
  
  

Want to know what the heck those things mean? Check out the book and see how you can cultivate inner peace in your life -- no matter what situation you're in. If, like me, you're looking to be more peaceful -- or more present -- I'd recommend reading this book. It's a quick read and it really helped me to put some of the things in my life in perspective while giving me tips on how to be guided by inner peace (instead of outside chaos!). Learn more about Ashley and the book on the Shortcuts to Inner Peace Facebook page. 

 

Participating in the 30 Day Photo Challenge?

Check out the Positively Present photos on Flickr.
Join the Positively Present Photo Challenge Flickr group. 
Share your photos on Twitter or Instagram using #PPphoto. 

book review: situations matter

(♥)

 

When I first started reading Situations Matter: Understanding How Context Transforms Your World by Sam Sommers, I quickly found that the book's subtitle -- "understanding how context transforms your world" -- was, in fact, quite accurate. Learning how to pay attention to situations, as I did while reading the book, really did transform my world. As Sommers writes, "Ordinary contexts of all types -- where you are, who you're with, what you see around you -- transform how you act and, indeed, what kind of person you appear to be... We're more influenced by those around us than we'd like to believe. Even our private sense of identity is highly context-dependent." 

It's the last bit of that phrase that really got me hooked. Though Sommers addresses quite a few topics in relation to context -- gender, taking action, love, hate, etc. -- it is the chapter "You're Not the Person You Thought You Were" that really captivated my attention. 

 

You're Not Who You Thought You Were

Sommers seems to be stating the obvious when he writes, "even though you fancy yourself the master of your own destiny, the people around you still have a dramatic impact on how you think and act." Sure, of course. But Sommers argues that the people around us not only shape our behavior, but also our private thoughts. While this actually makes a lot of sense, it's something I never considered before. 

And our own self-perception isn't just impacted by the people around us. It's also impacted by the context of our situations. As Sommers writes, "Even the most private of perceptions -- our very sense of self -- is shaped by where we are and who we're with." Context -- the situation, the people, the place, the time -- influences our thoughts and sense of self much more than we realize. And this is a very important thing to consider when striving to live a positive, present life. 

Sommers notes that, because context impacts our sense of self, the self we perceive ourselves to be is not a static person, but rather a flexible person who can, and does, change depending on the context. Learning this -- and accepting it -- is actually a critical element to living a positive and present life. I agree with Sommers when he writes,

"It's refreshing to realize that you're not a finished product -- that who you are in the here and now may not be the same person you'll be in the then and there. In fact, it's that opposite view of the self as a fixed entity that causes problems. When you assume there's a true core self waiting to be discovered, that's when your potential seems limited and the world around you is full of threats to be rationalized away."

Personally, I was always more of the "look for your true self" mindset until I read Sommer's book. Reading it opened my eyes to the idea that we're flexible, malleable creatures and we can be completely different beings when in different contexts. I used to view this as a negative thing -- people changing who they are depending on where they are or who they are with -- but now I see that we are not static. We are always changing based on the present moment and that's okay.

Sommers writes: "When you accept that the answer to 'Who am I?' should be written in pencil and not pen, threats become opportunities and failures transform into life lessons. Even if this isn't how you usually see things, it's not too late to start now." When I read those sentences, it really felt like Sommers was speaking directly to me. Accepting the self as flexible, as context-dependent, was something I'd always hesitated to do. But, after reading this book, I realize just how important context is -- and how much it impacts our sense of self.   

 

The Benefits of Understanding Situations

"When we look at situations objectively...we're better able to pick up on the clues that allow us to understand other people and achieve the outcomes we seek," writes Sommers. Though this is much more easily said than done (how hard it is to see the context when you're in the moment!), these words are filled with wisdom. The more we can objectively look at a situation -- something we can do by being present in the moment and not allowing our minds to create scenarios that are anything but what is right in front of us -- the more positive our lives will become. 

As I said, it's not easy to do this. But Sommers offers a suggestion that's sure to help anyone struggling to really see the context of a situation: "Force yourself to see familiar situations from unfamiliar perspectives. Every day, make yourself walk the proverbial miles in the proverbial shoes of others." Why should we all give this advice a try? Because, according to Sommers, "rediscovering the power of situations will do more than make you a more patient human being [a perk that would be enough incentive for me to give it a go!] -- it'll improve your ability to navigate social settings and make you better at your job to boot." 

Think that sounds like a pretty big promise for just seeing the context of a situation? Don't knock it till you try it. While we all probably understand the general idea that situations impact us, it's not until you read Sommers book that you'll realize just how much they impact us -- and how we can use understanding the context of our lives to make the world we live in a more positive one. In my opinion, there isn't a single person who couldn't benefit from reading Sommer's book. To pick up a copy, click Situations Matter: Understanding How Context Transforms Your World.