Hello April

The last four fiction books I started were all duds. I won’t keep reading anything I don’t like.  Fortunately, I’ve had better luck with my nonfiction choices. This past weekend I read Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis. This book is number 3 on Amazon and number 2 on The Wall Street Journal’s bestseller list for nonfiction. Ms. Hollis started her career as an event planner and is now a top podcaster, author, lifestyle influencer (Instagram is her favorite social media), and motivational speaker. She’s also married and mom of four young children.

The message of this book for young women is stop making excuses and go after your dream. Overall I felt like the target audience is about a generation younger than me, but I can always relate to self-improvement and anything that inspires.

In the section on behaviors to adopt was “Build foundations for success”. There was specific advice for getting healthy. I’m listing them here because I’m going to work on this in April.
1. Hydration
2. Wake up earlier
3. Gave up one category of crappy food
4. Move your body every day
5. Practice gratitude daily

I also liked her point of view regarding skills like positivity and persistence. On persistence: a goal is not just a thing you do, it’s who you are. “Forever and ever, amen” (page 185). Ms. Hollis uses Tom Brady and Serena Williams as examples. Did they reach their goal and stop working? Of course not! The training never stops, the author says. Stop thinking small, she encourages.

As for positivity, it doesn’t hurt to hear it over and over again. You have to choose to be positive and see the blessings in your life every day. Which reminds me, I’m another month closer to retirement (3 years and 8 months to go, my friends!)

It’s April 1st, it’s Monday, it’s spring, and I have a new month ahead of me to think big and be positive.