My reading certainly hasn't slowed down. I love using my Shelfari shelf (as seen to the right) to keep track of the things that I read. Sometimes I request books and realize that I have already read it. Now I have to double check with the shelf to make sure I haven't read it already.
One book I read recently was The Happiness Project by Gretchin Rubin. I am interested in those not quite self help books that help me think about things I might not normally think about. As a stay at home mom, I don't have a lot of things checking my work and keeping me on track, while making sure I don't stagnate as a person. Reading books, especially non fiction books, makes me feel like I am still learning about the world while raising a couple of fun girls.
Anyway, this particular book got me thinking. It also made me feel better about myself. One of the things this author learned to do was letting go of things that we, especially as women, might feel like the world thinks we are losers if we don't do or have. One of the things she learned was to Be Gretchen, or in my case, Be LCM. Living in New York City she fell under the influence of such things as Sex and The City, that were teaching her how she was supposed to feel, act and what to wear. While she was coveting the lifestyle, she came to realize that those sort of things didn't make her happy. She would think to properly Be Gretchen she had to be honest with herself about whether a certain thing would make her happy or not.
For me, I was reading everyone's Facebook statuses talking about standing in line for hours to see the midnight showing of the last Harry Potter. I felt myself getting envious, I am a big Harry Potter fan and I save my movie viewings for really worthwhile things and this is the last HP movie! However, if I was honest with myself, staying up more than half the night in a cramped, full movie theater, isn't my idea of a good time. We have plans to use coupons next Saturday for at least a half price showing in less crowded theaters. That's the sort of thing that makes me happy. I am glad I read this book because whenever I find myself becoming envious of a certain thing or wondering if something would make me happy, I use the Be LCM test. The more honest I am with myself, the happier I can be about the things I do.
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4 comments:
I loved that book. And I totally agree. Just today, I went up to hang out with friends who are camping. They had asked me to camp too, but I hate the overnight part of camping. So I came up for the day had a blast and now am happily in my own comfy bed for the night.
I think you are pretty awesome and I am glad you are using yourself as your measuring stick. I am going to look this book up at the library.
Amy- I love your comment too!
I have yet to read that book, but am looking forward to it! And it seems like all too often I find myself envious of someone else's experiences or situation, only to realize, wait, that's not my kind of thing anyway! Thanks for sharing your experiences with this, too!
Thanks for this post. I am going to look this book up. I have been struggling with similar feelings. I need to just be me and not put others expectations on myself.
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