I have two jobs and a self employed partner, and I spend most of my time just trying to keep my household together, my family fed, my business growing, and the basics accomplished. Sometimes it’s difficult to find time for hairy legs and un-manicured feet because personal grooming is necessarily low on my list of priorities.
It’s so tempting to get caught up in what will and won’t be done, but whenever I feel myself drifting down that road, I grab Patti Digh’s book Life Is a Verb: 37 Days to Wake Up, Be Mindful, and Live Intentionally
When I used to do children’s clothing trade shows in NY for Adooka, I’d stay with my friend Elizabeth and we’d have long soulful conversations — the kind you can only have with a very old friend late at night when the kids are in bed. On one of these trips, she handed me her autographed copy of this book, told me I should read it, and made me swear to return it. Well, I still have it [hanging head in shame]. It’s an incredible book, and I go back to it again and again for motivation to live a real, full life.
Life is a Verb is Digh’s answer to a question she posed to herself after being present during her stepfather’s last 37 days of life: “What would you do if you had only 37 days left to live?” Her answer: she would write and write. She would write a guide for her children for how to live life. Each chapter’s theme is illustrated by a real-life story – some joyful, some hilariously funny, some heart-wrenching, and some just stunningly beautiful. It is an amazingly inspiring and down-to-earth read. I just ordered my own copy – Elizabeth, yours is finally on its way back to you.
For a taste of what you’ll find in the book, check out Digh’s website where she writes on how to “love well, live fully, let go deeply, make a difference.”