The evening slot is the most consistent wind down and read time for us. About six years ago, Mike and I made the conscious choice to cut cable TV, and we've never regretted it. While it's been a gradual process of "letting go" of shows we used to watch, it's been more about shifting and redirecting our habits. Intentionally choosing habits we want to develop rather than letting time pass.
One of the most influential books we read centered on habits, and how they can intentionally or unintentionally design our life is "The Power of Habit." Reading that in conjunction with "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People" was huge for giving us tools and ideas to really think about our everyday habits - where they were taking us and what we could do about it. There are notes all over those two books, and are some we go back to consistently.
And we're big believers in the keystone habit of keeping phones charging in the kitchen at night, but that's probably a post for itself on another day.
Back to books.
These are two books I've read recently that I've loved. The kinds of books I keep pondering and going back to. The kinds of books I find myself striving to apply wisdom from.
The first one is “The Vanishing American Adult” by Ben Sasse:
I listened to this one on audible, and found myself repeating chapters. It's one I think I'd probably love to get a hard copy of at some point so I can mark it up, but until then, it was wonderful to listen to something mindful while catching up on mindless tasks. So many principles in here just spoke to us (I talked about it so much Mike listened to it too!), and we found ourselves connecting and relating to so much. I loved the background/history of resilience across America, and how it has evolved, often unintentionally over the generations. But even more, I loved the strategies for creating something different than what is. For the importance of family, of work, of change, of creating space for resilience, of letting kids fail and struggle, of readapting age old techniques into today's culture. And let’s not forget, I loved the connections to Nebraska. So beautiful.
The second one I've loved reading was “Braving the Wilderness” by Brene Brown.
I actually read it last fall, just as we'd moved to this new chapter, and boy, I needed it! The title felt so fitting as every day felt like a "wilderness" of unknowns. I loved how she talked about the importance of making an impact from right where you are. And not to forget how the small, meaningful connections matter. Little phrases, that feel a bit like mantras, were woven throughout. Some that spoke to me:
Look for joy
Be more curious
Trust
Listen to understand
Power of courage
So many words I needed to focus on, especially the move and everything was just so raw.
And this one:
"But the more we're willing to seek our moments of collective joy and show up for experiences of collective pain - for real, in person, not online - the more difficult it becomes to deny our human connection even with people we may disagree with. Not one do moments of collective emotion remind us of what is possible between people, but they also remind us of what is true about the human spirit."
Beautiful. The book was full of oodles of wisdom I hope to apply in motherhood, and so many relatable real-life stories and experiences.
The book is full of insights and quotes from so many. I loved this one from Joan Halifax, as she was teaching Brene about the importance of connecting with ourselves, and giving ourselves permission to set boundaries:
"Tonight we will exhale and teach. Now it's time to inhale. There is the in-breath and there is the out-break, and it's easy to believe that we must exhale all the time, without ever inhaling. But the inhale is absolutely essential if you want to opine to exhale."
This book has all kinds of notes in the margins and things underlined all over - definitely one I'll go back to!
