I cannot believe we have already reached the end of September. Where did the time go? Here in NY, the leaves are changing, it’s time to go apple picking and the air is crisp and cool for walking the dogs. What does Fall feel like where you are? Here’s what I’ve been reading, writing, learning and loving as we head into a new season!

What I'm Reading:

I’ve got two drastically different books to share with you this week. One is a hauntingly beautiful middle grade historical fiction book (that every adult should read) and the other is an incredibly funny and mindset-changing book on the power of our thoughts.

When I heard that R.J. Palacio had written a new book, I knew I had to read it instantly. I, along with the rest of the world, absolutely loved Wonder, and could hardly wait for Palacio to profoundly impact my thinking as she did with her debut novel. And her new book, Pony, did not disappoint. While it was a drastically different book than Wonder, this historical fiction book also hit home with its beautiful story of humanity. Silas Bird is a young boy with the incredible gift of seeing ghosts, ghosts that connect him across time, geography and most importantly, love. When three men arrive in the dead of the night to kidnap his father, Silas conquers his fears to follow him through the deep woods…along with Mittenwool, the ghost that has accompanied him since early childhood. Palacio tells Silas’s story as he travels in the present, learns about the past and looks ahead to his future, connecting all the dots with such beauty and yes, wonder. This is a book to be treasured.

I also dipped into the world of self-help (again!) this week with You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero. I LOVED her original You Are a Badass book and knew I’d love this one, too. I was right. I didn’t seek out this book because I wanted to make money (although I’d never turn it down!). I read it because I knew it was all about how to make shifts in our mindset to manifest what we really want out of life. Yes, Sincero was talking about money, but this book is so, so much more. It’s the kick-in-the-pants you need to get smart about our thinking because our thinking becomes our reality. And if we change our thinking and the energy we put out into the world (along with doing the work), then we literally can do, be or achieve anything. What a great motivational book!

What I'm Writing:

This week, I spent some time considering this important question from Crystal Ellefsen of Consulting for Authors. Here it is: What do you want to be known for? Try this in your notebook this week, too:

  • Write down everything that you’re known for: skills, personality traits, hobbies, strengths, interests, etc.
  • Identify themes and items that can be grouped together.
  • Circle the five things you most want to be known for.
  • Add spokes to each circle with different ideas related to those five things to give your clarity for your vision ahead. 
  • Allow the list to evolve over time and recreate this list often as you move into a new season of life. 
  • And, if you want to go deeper, you can make a list of things you DON’T want to be known for, too, and then make sure you spend your days living how you’d like to be remembered. Powerful.

One more thing: I want these pencils to inspire the writing I do in my notebook next week. =) 

What I'm Learning:

Did you know that the simple practice of giving yourself a high-five in the mirror has all sorts of science-backed mental and emotional benefits? Really! I first loved Mel Robbins for her 5-Second Rule (5-4-3-2-1 Go!) and now, I love her for this simple activity I can add to my morning routine to give myself a boost. It may sound silly, but it’s actually quite fun! Join me in her 5-Day High Five Challenge here and see what it’s all about!

What I'm Loving:

I felt like a kid in a candy store this week. I just kept finding SO MANY things online that made me think, brightened my day or helped me get started on my Christmas shopping (only 85 days to go! Bring on the Lifetime channel!). Here are a few:

There you have it! I hope this inspires you to make space for more reading and writing in your own life. What are the highlights from your literate life this week?