Book review: Simple AbundanceBy Mermaid Jennifer
What is abundance? Is it when you get the best job? Perhaps it's when you have a family? Is it a big bowl of fresh fruit? Or maybe, it's when you win the lottery? I suppose some of these could be defined as finding abundance in life, but for me, it's quite different.
It's the quiet moments that I value the most. When somehow in my day of defrosting chicken for dinner, or running errands, I get just a minute to myself. I simply relish it.
It's at that moment that I settle into the recovered burgundy chair in our sunny living room – that I take out my favorite book, "Simple Abundance, A Daybook of Comfort and Joy," by Sarah Ban Breathnach and pursue pure enjoyment.
The book allows me the pleasure of its company through words and ideas about mothering, being a wife, and being a woman. It has been my companion for over 13 years since my sister gave it as a gift on my 25th birthday.
The inside cover inscription reads, "Seek not outside yourself, heaven is within. Happy 25th Birthday! Love always, Kris."
To this day the book is special to me. Stacked neatly with my Bible, it has been read and re-read many times throughout the years. The format is based upon daily readings and carries a copyright from 1995.
There are many reasons why I would recommend or buy this book for someone. Here are some of the highlights:
Sharing well-worn, but useful, wisdom through time
At the top of each entry, there is a quote which pertains to that day's entry. For example, on May 18, the title, "Simplify, Simplify, Simplify," the quote reads, "Out of clutter, find simplicity," a quote by Albert Einstein. The passage and the quote work together to create a daily meditation.
Meditation on the simplistic
Sometimes the most wonderful moment of your busy day can be something as simple as arranging a bouquet of flowers on the kitchen table. This book provides reminders for how to enjoy the simple moments.
Inspirations for daily living
Do you love to collect things? Are you a cook or a gardener? These pieces of yourself that you love might be inspiration to try something new - an impetus to change up a frustrating day and make it a fun one.
Appreciation of the little things
On July 23, the title reads, "Snatch Stolen Moments of Solitude." This entry explores how to establish a method for having a quiet moment to yourself during the day. It may be a little thing, but just 15 minutes of reading a favorite magazine, or sitting in the backyard with the sun on your face and can really energize.
Evolving your mindset
"While spring is the traditional season for bringing order to our homes, it is also the perfect opportunity for seeking order within," says Breathnach in the May 19 entry. She writes that it's a good time to clean out emotional baggage that's collected over the past year. These types of reminders, can create little goals in us that help us to move forward with resolving a problem or conflict. The book is filled with this type of self-actualizing material.
This book is a long term personal resource. I will continue to read it through the years and rely on it for reminders. The other piece that I love is the bibliography with this book. There are dozens of books referenced in the material, and many are beautiful books that I look forward to checking out at the library.
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