Hello! 

I’m on the hunt for a new book to read – and I’ll be honest, I need something pretty light and mindless. I need something that pulls me in from the first paragraph.

Don’t judge me, I’m considering a Mary Higgins Clark novel, The Cinderella Murder. And unless you have any other suggestions, I’ll be heading to the library this weekend to borrow it.

Here are some of my favorite books from the past year:
  

 
1. The Last Runaway

 This is the Story of Honor Bright, an English Quaker who travels to America in 1850. The collision of Quaker principals, with American slavery and the Underground Railroad sets the stage for an adventure story that will keep you turning the pages for more.

2. When Breath Becomes Air

When Paul Kalanithi, recently diagnosed with terminal cancer, considers having a child, his wife Lucy asks “Don’t you think that saying goodbye to a child would make your death more painful?” To which he responded, “Wouldn’t it be great if it did?”. This book is haunting and beautiful. Heartbreaking, yet uplifting. A book full of contradictions and paradox – addressing big questions about life, living, dying and purpose, made all the more poignant being viewed through the real life lens of a man dying of brain cancer. There is something in this book for everyone.

3. The Orphan Train

When I recommend this book to people, I am secretly jealous – they have such a good read ahead of them! The Orphan Train is the holy grail of books for me. An easy read that sucks you in, yet is well written, with a healthy dose of history – in this case, a look at the Orphan Trains that bused homeless orphans to families out West in the late 1800s/early 1900s. It is filled with female lead characters, imperfect yet strong, who overcome adversity. You won’t regret this book.

4. The Winter People

 19-year-old Ruthie is left reeling when her mother disappears. She finds herself on a treasure hunt for clues which might help track her mother down. Set in rural Vermont, The Winter People is a ghost story for grownups. This book left me hiding under the covers well too late into the night.

What do you do when you get in a funk? Don’t tell me you never do – I won’t believe you (or alternatively, will be insanely jealous).

I was texting with a friend, commiserating about recent hectic work schedules. She always tries to remind herself to have a positive perspective. Or at least try not to complain, and focus on what needs to get done. I usually try to  simplify, focus on what is truly important, and try not to care about the rest (key word, try).

So much of life, stress management, and “happiness” comes down to perspective.
  

An article this month in Working Mother Magazine posits that the way you perceive stress has an impact on how the stress effects you. 

A simple Google search lead me to many supportive articles, including one from Medical News Today:

“It is important to learn that what matters more than the event itself is usually our thoughts about the event when we are trying to manage stress. How you see that stressful event will be the largest single factor that impacts on your physical and mental health. Your interpretation of events and challenges in life may decide whether they are invigorating or harmful for you.”

I like this concept. A reminder that attitude goes a long way in life.