I love April. We can celebrate Poetry Month, National Librarians Week and…..my birthday. =) I had a wonderful birthday week filled with books, walks with my kids, chocolate covered fruit and a tub of frosting. Yes, a tub of frosting. This week, I have two books to share, the best writing prompt EVER and a challenge for you, too.

What I'm Reading:

I read two fiction books this week: one middle grade and one adult selection. Both had me mesmerized by their beautiful language so I could literally escape into the lives of the characters. If you want a book that sweeps you to another time, place or experience, then you cannot go wrong with either of these. 

My Own Lightning by Lauren Wolk

I love when a book can take me to another time and place so completely that I’m a bit disoriented when I finally look up. And I especially love when I can escape to another time and place while still learning lessons that can positively impact my life today. My Own Lightning by Lauren Wolk gave me both of these things and so much more. Wolk introduces us to Annabelle, a young girl who is recovering from a traumatic event and is struck by lightning on her way home in a summer storm during the era of World War II. She’s mysteriously saved by an anonymous hero and soon discovers she’s developed heightened senses and a new understanding of animals. She uses these skills to find lost dogs, save hurt dogs and better connect with the humans they are connected with, too. She uses her newfound knowledge to come to terms with the recent difficulties she’s experienced and learn about the complex world around her. This book envelopes readers into a different time and invites them to put their assumptions aside and get to know people for who they really are. Annabelle may be young, but she taught this adult a thing or two.

No Land to Light on by Yara Zgheib

How can a book be so lyrically beautiful and hauntingly terrifying at the same time? And no, this isn’t a murder mystery or a horror novel. It’s a stunning account of a young Syrian couple torn apart by an untimely travel ban on the very day their son is born. Told in alternating perspectives, past to present, we learn so much: of family and of love, of freedom and the pursuit of it, of fear and unwelcomeness. I was torn in so many directions as I read this book, lucky enough to be experiencing them on the page and not in real life. This made me look at the world differently, of MY world differently and question all I thought I knew about what America stands for. You can’t get this understanding from an official document or news coverage. You can only get it through reading the story of those living an experience unlike your own. This book embodies the power of reading and I’m forever changed by it. 

What I'm Writing:

This week, my writing spark came from another podcast: Edit Your Life with Christine Koh. In her most recent episode, she shared how difficult she was finding it to get back to her normal ‘people-ing’ skills. Social events drained her in ways they did not before and she wanted to do something about it. 

I could relate. 

In fact, I shared a book review of Apple and Magnolia on the Teachers-Books-Readers blog for exactly this reason. I needed a book to remind me of the power of connection and of what’s possible for new growth after a period of inactivity. 

So this podcast episode gave me exactly what I needed: a couch to people-ing training plan. =) I listened to Christine’s plan and then spent some time in my notebook devising my own. I HIGHLY recommend this!

What I'm Learning:

Julia Cameron gave me a wake-up call this week as she typically does. I was listening to her speak to Maria Forleo on the power of daily creativity and she offered her top recommendations: 

  • Start everyday with writing, specifically with Morning Pages. 
  • Ask for guidance. Listen to the answers when they find you. 
  • Walk for 20 minutes by yourself with no distractions.
  • Treat yourself to an Artist Date each week.

That last one caught my attention. A what? A date. With yourself. Specifically to fill your creative well so you have something to give again. What does it look like? Whatever you want: a trip to a pet store, to the library, to a museum, to get ice-cream, etc. You name it, but MUST enjoy it with every sense of your being. 

This is something I currently do NOT do for a whole list of reasons, but listening to Julia made me realize there is absolutely no reason why anyone cannot treat themselves to one date a week….with themselves. 

So I did. =)

I wandered the aisles of a local craft store and took it all in. 

What would be your perfect Artist Date? I challenge you to take yourself on one in the next seven days. Let me know if you succeed!

What I'm Loving:

Have you seen this joyspotters guide? It has 12 tips for finding more joy in your surroundings, everywhere you go.

Look at my BEAUTIFUL new desktop and lock screen wallpaper from Tombow. It’s delightful.

The April desktop and mobile wallpapers have arrived from 1Canoe2. They are BEAUTIFUL and make me smile every time I open my laptop. 

Notebook Therapy posted their April calendars, too. They are just as cute!

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?