“Quit Like a Woman- The Radical Choice to Not Drink in a Culture Obsessed with Alcohol” by Holly Whitaker.
People are often shocked when I tell them that addiction was the best thing that ever happened to me.
Pretty sure I bought this the day it was released. Whitaker is the founder and CEO of the tempest (formerly Hip Sobriety) both of which I remember coming across when I was first dipping my toe into this sober world.
I love how she she shares her own story and journey but also sets out to research the culture of alcohol that we are immersed in. She explores the difference between seeing alcohol as a drug versus only seeing alcoholism as a disease. How advertising tries to convince (successfully!) that we need alcohol to have fun or be social or happy.
I am still not drinking and I don’t know if the will ever be something that changes or if I will ever forget that I am not drinking and just be. It’s all still pretty new. So I find these books to remind me why I am doing this. To remind me I am not alone in this struggle. And that the struggle is totally worth it.
A sentence I love that really flipped my perspective on alcohol:
I imagine our grandchildren will one day be shocked by the idea that there was once a point in time when we drank ethanol at almost every occasion and boasted of hangovers and drunken antics, the same way I’m always shocked to see pictures of my aunts and uncles smoking indoors at family parties in the seventies.
“Heart Talk- Poetic Wisdom for a Better Life” by Cleo Wade
Self-care is how we fuel our self-love so that we are able to share our love with everyone around us.
Cleo Wade has become an essential part of my self-care/self-love arsenal. Her words are a balm to my soul. Her books feel like a reminder from the wisest parts of myself, looking out for me, reminding me who I truly am.
A line I love:
We take care of ourselves by asking what our needs are.
“American Housewife” stories by Helen Ellis
Inspired by Beyoncé, I stallion-walk to the toaster.
I love when I pull a book off my TBR shelf and it is amazing. So funny and sharp and just the right amount of whacky. I laughed out loud many times as I read.
One story is told purely through email exchanges between two women and while i could feel the tension building, I did not see the ending coming and it was fantastic.
These stories shine a light into the crevices of womanhood.
The first line of a story that made me laugh out loud:
“Is this too dressy?”is Southern Lady code for: I look fabulous and it would be in your best interest to tell me so.
“You Are a Badass at Making Money- Master the mindset of Wealth” by Jen Sincero
If you’r ready to make more money, you can.
I finally finished this book! I took a break for awhile. I did all the exercises and learned a lot. And I still struggle with the concept. Even that first line kind of rubs me the wrong way. So, if I’m not making a lot a money, it means I’m not ready?
I get it. I have money issues. I am bringing them to light. I am trying.
I love her voice. It’s no-nonsense yet engaging. She makes anything seem possible.
A friend is hosting a group to work though the book, chapter by chapter. I think I might do that. There’s always more to learn, right?
This sentence is I why I kept reading and did all the exercises:
“…you have the ability to heal it, transform it, and become such awesome pals with money that you wake up one day too find yourself standing in the middle of the life you’ve always wanted to live.”
“To Love and Let Go- A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Gratitude” by Rachel Brathen
It came out of nowhere.
I knew the basic story of Yoga Girl. I listen to her podcasts. I subscribed to her yoga community for a while. But I had no idea the depth of her losses and what she has overcome.
Her book is a generous gift as she shares her whole self within its pages.
It covers death and loss and grief and love and motherhood and family and just everything the creates a life. That first line sums it up. Most things come out of nowhere. We are all going to be or have been walloped by life and loss. Brathen shows us not only how to move on but how she healed at a deep level and thrived.
A sentence that made me teary:
He room said to her: “You can trust me. Let me be your mom again.”
Grace Unleashed 