Do you have a friend who intuitively texts you things just when you need them? It might be a funny gif, or a thoughtful quotation, or a link to something brilliant or comforting. It’s quite a gift, isn’t it? A few weeks ago, one of my intuitive friends sent me this splendid essay by Mary Pipher in the New York Times, and it popped up on my screen at the end of a particularly rough day, just when I needed it. I wanted to share it here in case you needed it too.
Then I thought of a few more written things I wanted to share as well. It’s the time of year when book lists are everywhere (I love them. I love scrolling through them, noting how many I’ve already read, like a little digital pat on the back. I love adding titles I want to read to my library holds list. I also hate them, because of the lifelong tragedy of too many books, not enough time. But mostly I love them.) The end of year book roundups typically include books of that year, but I wanted to share a few of the books that have helped me to keep going this year, even if they were not published this year.
Some of these I have read in full, but most I have just dipped into when needed. Several of them I placed on hold at the library, but once they came up for me, they sat on my stack and I didn’t actually make time to look at until the day before they were due back, and then tried to inhale as much of as possible on breaks and ended up placing back on hold after telling myself I’d had my turn and wasted it, it was time to let some other patrons have their chance with it, and checked it back in (file under ‘Librarian Problems’). A few I have not read or even looked at yet, but they are on my radar, so I’m going to include them here as a reminder to myself. In no particular order, then:
The Wild Edge of Sorrow : Rituals of Renewal and the Sacred Work of Grief, by Francis Weller (2015). I read books about grief almost exclusively after my mother died in 2012, up until I read Wave: a Memoir, by Sonali Deraniyagala and could read no more. This book takes a different approach to the subject, examining different types of grief and the unique opportunities that lie within them to expand the soul. I find myself going back to this book quite often.
We Heal Together : Rituals and Practices for Building Community and Connection, by Michelle Cassandra Johnson (2023). My counsellor recommended this one, but I haven’t put much of a dent in it yet.
Drama Free: A Guide to Managing Unhealthy Family Relationships, by Nedra Glover Tawwab (2023). Straightforward and uncomplicated advice for navigating challenging family relationships and dynamics.
Feelings: A Story in Seasons, by Manjit Thapp (2021). I came across this graphic novel at work and read half of it on my lunch break and then another chunk on my afternoon break. The illustrations are crisp and evocative, the colour palette is soothing; it’s a fine example of persevering with your creative drive even when it would be easier to abandon it, how you can turn suffering into art.
Midnight Chicken (& Other Recipes Worth Living For), by Ella Risbridger (2019). For those of us who find comfort in cooking and/or baking, but also, Ella’s writing is lovely and she touches on a number of good reasons to keep going. She has a more recent book out (The Year of Miracles (2022)), which I also want to read.
Your Heart was Made for This : Contemplative Practices for Meeting a World in Crisis with Courage, Integrity, and Love, by Oren Jay Sofer (2023). I was familiar with Oren Jay Sofer from the 10% Happier meditation app, and was looking forward to this one, but did not give myself enough time with it and other people were waiting for it. These words from the introduction felt bolstering, and made me want to go back to it (it’s back on my holds list):
“ How do we meet our challenges and choose wisely? To truly meet something is to encounter it with awareness, enter into relationship with it, and respond appropriately. How do we respond when we encounter pain, sorrow and injustice? Do we lash out in anger, fear or hatred, adding fuel to the fire? Or are we able to find the balance and clarity to meet the suffering of our world with tenderness, wisdom, and skillful action?” - Oren Jay Sofer
A Life in Light: Meditations on Impermanence, by Mary Pipher (2022). I put this one on hold after reading Mary Pipher’s essay on light in the New York Times. I appreciate her way of cultivating resilience.
Art as Therapy, by Alain de Botton and John Armstrong (2013). I like thinking about art, and this book asks interesting questions about the functions of art. I have to go back to it again.
Home Therapy , by Anita Yokota (2022). I took this book out because I thought it was another home-interiors-eye-candy kind of book, but it turned out to be more than that. Written by a licensed therapist, this book contains some valuable insights. I particularly appreciated her neutral take on why some people have trouble letting go of things, while others always seem determined to get rid of things.
Making Meaning of Difficult Experiences : a Self-Guided Program, by Sheila Rauch (2023). I saw this one on a library display and when I went back to get it, it had already been checked out, so now I’m on hold for it.
I’ve been exploring Substack more this past month, and have been finding so many new (to me) treasures here as well, I think I’ll have enough for a Substack roundup soon. But beyond Substack, one other place on the internet that has brought me much comfort over the past year is The Marginalian (formerly Brain Pickings). I think Maria Popova is a genius. Each time I read something she’s written I feel simultaneously smarter and more curious about the world. Her writing makes me want to keep going and try harder.
What do read to keep going? I’d love to hear.
Sending love,
Rebecca