Jylly Reading to Big Brown, 1975

In 2014 I went through a big purge of all my possessions in preparation for maybe/possibly/probably(?) moving during my next vacation to Belize (which DID happen).  It was a struggle and debate when it came to getting rid of my books.

I have always loved reading!  I love the physical feel of a book, turning its pages, smelling the print and fresh (or worn) paper.  I was very anti-kindle until I moved to Belize and there was no library (thanks hurricane Iris, 2003) although a few hotels and restaurants have a borrowing program.  I had to read so I had to buy a Kindle (2016).  Now I love my Kindle (did I just say that!!?).  I used to dream of having a library full of books in my house.  There’d be bean bags filling the room.  So many that it would be hard to see the floor.  Window seats were built into the shelves…and ladders so I could read the highest book.  I could go on and on!

What I realized while going through this purge process is that each book represented a part of who I was THEN – at the time of reading it – and didn’t necessarily resonate with who I am NOW, or who I was becoming.  The books served their purpose for the time and now they can help or inspire someone else.  I donated 43 boxes of books, from my childhood books to teen books to college books to current books.

Through this process and because reading and books have meant so much to me, I wanted to write what my Top books are:

Are You My Mother?  by P.D. Eastman

This book is about a baby bird who falls out of its nest and goes looking for its Mother.  It is in a construction zone!  The baby bird meets all kinds of characters in its search. This book resonated with me because I was adopted.  Until I met her at age 19, I always had an inner searching and wonderment of who I was, where I came from, who I looked like, and who my birth mother was.

The Road Less Traveled by Scott M Peck

This was required reading in one of my College courses in the early 1990’s.  It was about counseling and Spirituality.  I remember it really packing a punch and bringing me a lot of insight at the time as I was discovering who I was as I’d left my family to attend college.  I reread it earlier in 2018 and I didn’t resonate with it all.  I’m leaving it on the list though because there are still a lot of juicy tidbits in it.

In the Meantime by Ilyanla Vanzant

I read this in 1999 after my 2nd divorce and WOW, what an empowering, enriching read.  I just googled it (because 1999 was a long time ago! HA) and forgot there was a tagline: Finding Yourself and the Love You Want.  That about sums it up!

The Bible & other Scriptures – by various Seers, Prophets, etc.

I was raised a Latter-Day-Saint, or Mormon, so the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine & Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price were read and studied in my house.  As a young adult, it took me four years to read the Bible from cover to cover.  I’m actually thinking of starting to read it again.  I feel the Scriptures (whichever ones you resonate with) are great stories of morals and values, right and wrong, perseverance, struggle, strength, love, and forgiveness.

In Your Wildest Dreams by Gail Blanke

I read this after my 2nd divorce as well, in 1999.  It was a time of deep exploration and reframing my whole life, attitudes, and beliefs.  The exercises in this book are so powerful.  Many wishes and dreams that I wrote down from those exercises came to fruition within a couple years.

The Power of Positive Thinking by Norman Vincent Peale

I first read this in 1994 and have read it many times since.  It is definitely a classic.  It is packed full of examples and ways to turn your life around to the positive.

Choices by Shad Helmstetter

Another one I read in the late 1990’s.  It seems that is where a lot of my favorites come from!  This is a great book about choices, thoughts, attitudes, beliefs and how they all work together to create our life.

Infinite Possibilities by Mike Dooley

I loved this book and went to the book signing when Dooley came to Seattle.  I’d been on the Notes From The Universe mailing list for years so it was a treat to meet him in person.  What stands out the most about this book for me is the visualization process that you learn.  It is one I teach today, with some energetic tweaks of course.  Anything REALLy is POSSIBLE (I mean possijyll!).  Roar!!

You are Psychic by Pete Sanders JR

I met and received a powerful reading from Pete Sanders in Sedona, Arizona in 2010.  This is based on the Free Soul Method that Pete founded.  Sanders wanted to discover if Psychic gifts really existed so he began some experiments and eventually published this book.  It has great examples of ways to find out if you are psychic (which you are, by the way – everyone is in one form or another!!).

Quantum Love by Dr. Laura Berman

I had been a fan and follower of Dr. Laura Berman since I first saw her on Oprah years ago.  She has a very kind, yet direct approach.  Practice creating the relationship you desire with your own energy and frequency.  Quantum Love explains quantum physics in a way everyone can understand it.

What books would you have on your Top 10 Must Read list??  READ AND ROAR!!!