If that blog title seems a bit, well,
sad, it could be because I'm hanging out for my holiday. We're now in that long, barren period between Queen's Birthday and Labour Weekend, and everything seems just a bit - meh. Days are short. Nights are long. Motivation ran off with the Easter Bunny. So let's make up something to celebrate.
Is it your Un-birthday today (and next Tuesday as well)?
Why not have a "thank God it's Friday" morning tea with your workmates every week?
Did someone's nephew just pass his driving test? Bring on the crackers, cheese and cake!
Have a dress-up day in honour of...nothing special. Bet some chocolate on what colour the weather girl will be wearing tonight. Adopt a team for the Olympics and bring in a dish from their country. Go nuts.
In fact, there are plenty of things to inspire us, even in these tough times. We just have to know where to look.
Banish that mind-fog with a few of these inspirational titles - and suggest a few schemes of your own...
Snap : seizing your aha! moments - Katherine Ramsland
Nothing hauls you out of the doldrums faster than finding something creative to do. This book will help you tap into that creative current and spur you on to greatness. Or at least relieve the boredom.
Tiny Buddha : simple wisdom for life's hard questions - Lori Deschene
Why are we here? What is the meaning of life? How can we feel happy and free? Tiny Buddha began as a quote-a-day Twitter account in 2008. Lori Deschene's daily wisdom posts about mindfulness, non-attachment, and happiness became so popular that she now has more than 200,000 Twitter followers who share quotes and stories about inspiration in their daily lives. This book is the result: a guide that helps readers discover the endless possibilities for a life lived mindfully in the present, and connected to others.
Renowned educator Mary Anne Schwalbe spent a lot of time at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center after her diagnosis. Over coffee, her son Will casually asked what she'd been reading. The conversation they had grew into tradition: soon they agreed to read the same books and shared them together as Mary Anne waited for her treatments. Through their discussions about books, Will came to know and respect his mother more than ever. Invest in some tissues and pass on to your children.
Boundless potential : transform your brain, unleash your talents, and reinvent your work in midlife and beyond - Mark Walton
If you're feeling like an old dog that hasn't performed a new trick in years, don't. As this book shows, there's no better time to remake yourself into the person you always wanted to be. Neuroscience research reveals that creativity spikes in our later years--making midlife an ideal time to change professions. Boundless potential empowers you with the knowledge, inspiration, and tools to kick-start anything from a new entrepreneurial venture to a new career.
Flex : do something different : how to use the other 9/10ths of your personality - Ben Fletcher and Karen Pine
Imagine being able to handle any situation with ease. Arguing that our habits undermine our ability to rise to new challenges, this self-help guide demonstrates how a change in behaviour can lead individuals to feel happier, less stressed, and more in control. Written by highly respected psychologists, the book takes a broad approach, allowing the flex technique to be applied to a variety of problems, including stress, alcoholism, addiction to smoking, and weight issues. Proposing a simple habit-breaking method, this guide is sure to interest anyone who wishes to get out of a behavioural rut.
Wait : the useful art of procrastination - Frank Partnoy
Warren Buffett compares stock traders to athletes: they excel, not because of fast neurological responses, but because of their ability to delay as long as possible before reacting. In
Wait, Frank Partnoy argues that decisions of all kinds, whether 'snap' or long-term, benefit from being made at the last possible moment. The art of knowing how long you can afford to delay before committing is at the heart of many a great decision, whether in a corporate takeover or a marriage proposal. People who can defer gratification are happier and more successful than those who must have everything now. Find out why.
I'm still standing : facing adversity and finding courage - Mel Carnegie
Death. Abandonment. Abuse. Betrayal. In
I'm Still Standing, Mel Carnegie vividly recounts how she has fought adversity since childhood, beginning with the death of her father when she was just four years old and culminating with the discovery that her husband of ten years was in fact a charming ruthless sociopath. Nothing inspires more than a true story, well told.
The ant and the Ferrari : lifting the hood on truth, society and the universe - Kerry Spackman
The book of the moment, by the author of
The Winner's Bible.
The Ant and the Ferrari takes on the big questions in life, and threatens to change yours as well. What is the meaning of life? Can we be ethical beings in today′s world? Can we know if there is life after death? Is there such a thing as absolute truth? What caused the Big Bang and why should you care? Spackman can keep New Zealand's publishing industry afloat all by himself.
How much is enough? : the love of money and the case for the good life - Robert Skidelsky, Edward Skidelsky
What constitutes the good life? What is the true value of money? Why do we work such long hours merely to acquire greater wealth? In 1930 the great economist John Maynard Keynes predicted that, within a century, per capita income would steadily rise, people’s basic needs would be met, and no one would have to work more than fifteen hours a week. The Skidelskys explain what happened. Arguing that economics is a moral science, they trace the concept of the good life from Aristotle to the present and show how our lives have strayed from that ideal. Finally, they issue a call to think anew about what really matters in our lives and how to attain it. Stirring stuff.
An inspirational autobiography from a Christian perspective. In 2008, Australian Jo Raymond fell critically ill to the point where she was dying. Defying all medical expectations, she survived cardiac arrest, multiple major organ failure and awoke from a coma. From the confines of her hospital bed she regained strength, health, courage and began to see life a lot differently. Jo's old life was lived largely through self-effort and governed by fear and rejection. Now, she understands the extent of a divine love and the resonance of eternal promises. Awakening is a story of love, restoration and awakening to the greatest love we could ever know.
1 comment:
I love it when I'm feeling so-so about life, and at that moment, I find a blog with suggestions on how to improve said life :) now the wait's on for the requests to arrive
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