Ok, I do not read. I wish I did. I try to. I mean I really, really try to.
Don't get me wrong, I have read my fair share of books (for school), but when it comes to reading for enjoyment, I fall asleep. The same way I do when I sit down to watch a movie. When I sit down at night, I fall asleep. It's a joke...just last week my sister sent me a funny meme about a mom trying to watch a movie. It. just. does. not. work.
BUT, 2 weeks ago my other sister recommended a book to me. First, I laughed. Then, I thought to myself, NO, I am going to read this book even if it takes me a year. Well, I am happy to announce that I finished that book in less than 1 week!!!!!!!! There are 2 reasons that allowed for this monumental occasion. 1. It was amazingly entertaining and 100% relatable. 2. I bought and listened to the audiobook version!!! I don't know where this option has been my whole life, but I AM SOLD! I listened to that book on the way to work, on the way home from work, while I was making dinner, I even tossed my phone in my hoodie pouch and listened to that thing while I cleaned the house. I highly recommend this "book reading" option to anyone who shares my same problem!
SO, this book! You need to read it! I found myself laughing at some points, crying at some points, and down right stunned at other points. Rachel Hollis wrote the book Girl, Wash Your Face. She is an amazing writer, lifestyle coach, mom, wife and business owner. Honestly, I started reading it because I am always looking for ways to improve the balance between being married, having kids and running businesses. Anyone who owns 1 or more small businesses knows you are married to those right along side your spouse. I try pretty darn hard to balance everything....maybe that's why I can't watch a movie or read a book without falling asleep???
So, I dove into this book! I was not disappointed at all. Not only is the author very relatable, she is an amazing storyteller. I enjoyed listening to every minute of her book. As I was listening, I found myself grabbing post-it notes and jotting down things to remember.
Maybe you will find the time to read/listen to this book, maybe you already have read this book, or maybe my "notes" will be all you need! But, I thought I would share a few of the points she made in the book that stood out to me as really important.
1. "Hustle for joy. Work as hard for 'pee your pants' moments as you do for all the other things."
2. On chaos and being busy:
"Someone else is praying to have the kind of chaos you are currently crying about."
"The things you think are so difficult would be someone else's dream come true."
"Your chaos is a gigantic blessing."
3. On timing:
"God's timing is perfect. Do we have the faith to believe in it?"
"Every moment is preparing you for the next. The time when God is stretching you and growing you or maybe forging you in fires hotter than you think you think you can with stand, all of it is growing you for the person you're becoming for the future you can't even imagine."
4. On parenting:
"Being a perfect mom is a myth but being a pretty great mom most of the time is actually possible."
"I hope I'm creating something they will be proud of."
"I hope I'm showing them the power of following their dreams and the value of entrepreneurship."
5. On life:
"You think this is hard? That's because it is! So what!"
"Cry, get it out, dry your eyes, wash your face, and keep going!"
I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did! Ironically, Rachel's second book, Girl, Stop Apologizing, came out this week. Can't wait to start that one...
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