I stumbled across an awesome book during one of my random excursions to the book store during my lunch break. I was roaming around the Women's Health section and found this book that seems to be exactly what I've been looking for when it comes to spirituality, and being true to myself. It's called The Way of the Happy Woman: Living the Best Year of Your Life by Sara Avant Stover. And it looks like this: (honestly.. how can you not buy a book of a woman in a flowy white dress that appears to be twirling in a beautiful green meadow?)
Here is the description from Amazon.com
"Our ancestors adhered to the daily, seasonal, and yearly rhythms of nature by necessity, but modern life overrides these cycles, compromising women’s health and happiness. In this book, Sara Avant Stover shows how simple, natural, and refreshingly accessible practices can minimize stress and put us back in sync with our own cycles and those of nature. When we honor spring’s seedlings, summer’s vibrancy, fall’s harvest, and winter’s quietude, we harmonize our inner and outer worlds. Sara’s recommendations nurture the body, invigorate the mind, and lift the spirit. Illustrated yin and yang yoga sequences, one-day season-specific retreats, enticing recipes, and innovative self-reflection techniques make it easy to reconnect with the essential."
This is right up my spiritual alley since it doesn't stress a specific religious practice. Actually, she makes a point to tell you regularly that you don't have to do everything she suggests in the book. It's just a guide and that you should incorporate the practices that feel right to you. I've been reading it for about a week and am still on the chapters that discuss the basics. She really values journaling and has little "try this" boxes for journaling ideas and getting started. After the chapters on the basics, which cover journaling, cycles of nature & the body, yoga & meditation, and nutrition, the book is broken down by season and practices to incorporate during the seasons. So far, I'm loving it and have been writing more in my journal.
I honestly believe that I was meant to read this book. It literally jumped off the shelf and into my hand. Of course, the title of the book helped. :P I think we're all trying to find our inner happy and this could be a great way to find it. Needless to say, the 30 Day Challenge is out since this seems to be a better fit for what I want to achieve at the moment. I'll keep you all updated on my progress.
