Sometimes Often I wake up in the mornings and feel off, unsure. Even deciding whether I should get up or attempt a bit more sleep can seem daunting. This is when it’s time for me to let words to do their thing.
No news, no email, no social media, for while those words do their thing, that isn’t the thing I’m looking for. They take me far far away from my calm, knowing self. No, this is the time for words that remind me I’m not alone in feeling off. They remind me that life isn’t about how much we get done; that life is never found in any moment but now. Somehow they pull me back to myself, what I call my true self, the loving, eager, curious girl who is excited for the day, whatever it looks like.
Speaking of being curious, how do you begin your day? With words? Which ones?
Lucky for us words take so many forms. Sometimes I read a novel, other times a spiritual text or a poem. Sometimes I elect to listen instead, searching out words that will inspire my day, help me reset as needed.
This my inspiration for offering a book group here on Substack. Wise words lead me to my wise self. Maybe you too. Let’s read together and discuss how the journey of life is going for us. There is a power in reading together, in talking and knowing we’re not alone on this journey, the ups and downs, the whole of life.
We’ll begin with a favorite book of mine, one that I think can seem daunting and may be really good to go through together, A New Earth, by Eckhart Tolle. This is a book I can read again and again, letting the reminders come to me again and yet feel new, either because I’ve forgotten them (again), or because I’m in a new place in my life and hear a nugget as completely new.
A New Earth is about so much, I find it hard to describe. It is about learning to have more moments being fully present, more moments living from your calm, wise inner being. It is about learning to let go of living in fear, to let go of recurring obsessive thoughts. It is about discovering freedom from stress, from suffering, and in so doing, discovering the freedom to live well.
Interested? Wonderful. We will read very slowly. This isn’t about getting through the book, rather it is to let the book get through to us.
Here’s what I’m imagining: the book is set up into chapters and sections within the chapters. I will read and write about a few sections each week. I will share my thoughts briefly on each section for all subscribers. For my paid subscribers I will share more in depth thoughts and personal experiences/discoveries, and will read the sections along with my thoughts aloud, in case you’d like to listen.
Paid subscribers will also have the opportunity to join a video discussion each month where we’ll talk about the wise words and about living mindfully.
I’d love to have you join us in a reading, discovering journey. I invite you to let words come into your life to remind you who you really are, what really matters.
We’ll begin in mid August. Looking so forward to sharing these wise words together. You might consider purchasing your book from Better World Books.
Better World Books is a for-profit, socially conscious business and a global online bookseller that collects and sells new and used books online, matching each purchase with a book donation. Each sale generates funds for literacy and education initiatives in the U.S., the UK, and around the world. Since its launch in 2003, Better World Books has raised $33 million for libraries and literacy, donated over 32 million books, and reused or recycled more than 397 million books.
Rereading A New Earth at first seemed daunting however once I was well into it it began to make so much sense.