Happy New Year! I hope that 2019 brings you all health physically, emotionally, and financially! Rather than trying a New Year’s resolution this year, I’m trying a word and this year, that word for me is “health.” After having baby number 3, my life, body and mind need some balance. When I feel healthy in mind, body, and wallet, that’s when I feel as close to balanced and calm as I can be. For me this means attempting to live intentionally, when my kids don’t have other intentions. In 2018, these 5 books were the best in my quest to achieve overall health. I hope that in 2019 they help you find some inspiration.
- “Total Money Makeover” by Dave Ramsey. If you haven’t read this, it’s a must. Wherever you are on your journey towards financial health, Dave Ramsey provides you a guide to get you to your next step. It is a book for adults of all ages and he even has a kit for children to teach them about finances, “Financial Peace Junior Kit: Teaching Kids How to Win With Money.” He also co-wrote a book to help you set your children up for financial security with good financial habits, “Smart Money Smart Kids: Raising the next generation to win with money.”
- “Present over Perfect” by Shauna Niequist. Whenever I have time to read, I’m usually reading a “self-reflecting” book simultaneously with a “I don’t want to think” book. ‘Present over Perfect’ was one where I had to read it all in one sitting and put the other book to the side. I actually borrowed it from the local library (because I don’t like to buy books-money and clutter) but I’m ordering my own copy. So many quotes spoke to me as I try to find what makes me genuinely happy and learn to slow down (when the kids allow it!). I call this my third-life crisis book because it really put life in perspective for me at this stage of my life.
- “Say Goodbye to Survival Mode-9 Simple Strategies to Stress Less, Sleep More, and Restore Your Passion for Life” by Crystal Paine. Crystal Paine is the creator of “Money Saving Mom,” a blog and Facebook page I have shared before. Crystal’s first book “Money Saving Mom” talked about securing your financial future and ways to make extra money. This book talks about setting boundaries and goals with your time and finances to help reduce stress. Crystal also offers a variety of courses and webinars geared towards feeling less overwhelmed, being productive and other topics.
- “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing” by Marie Kondo. This is an oldie but a goodie. I think I read this book every year around this time to reset and reflect on my “stuff.” The new year is a great time to purge and create a space that is less overwhelming and requires less of your time.
- “Everybody Always” by Bob Goff. To be honest, I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this book. The idea of loving everyone always. A hard concept. But Bob Goff explains this in a way that makes you want to embrace even the most difficult people. Loving doesn’t always mean being best friends or agreeing on every topic. Bob also talks about the topic of church and how church can be anywhere, something I have always felt. I’ll never forget when someone close to me once said “I’m closest to God when I’m in the woods, not in church.” That always stuck with me and reading Bob’s book helped me get closer to my faith and relinquish some of the guilt I feel about not going to church weekly. He also provides great insight on what it really means to love. Since reading his book, I have found so much peace in accepting people as they are. Trust me, it’s a work in progress, but this is a book you will not regret reading and taking time to reflect with.
Happy reading, happy reflecting and happy 2019! Please share with me what your thoughts on these books are and if you have any to add to the list! I wish you a year of health and happiness!
