In what ways does hard work make you feel fulfilled?
Hard work can be a variety of things. It doesn’t necessarily mean physical labor.
When I have a task physical or mental that must be accomplished, I write it down. Sometimes I even break it into steps so I feel I’ve accomplished something even if the task isn’t completed in one go.
Once it is done, I feel a sense of relief and pride. Relief that it is finished and pride in a job well done.
This is the third year I have participated in my library’s 50 books in 50 weeks in 50 categories challenge. The first two years it took me all 50 weeks to finish. This year I finished early. The library gives the categories and the reader is free to choose any book which fulfills the category.
I started this challenge because I had gotten in a rut and reading only a few genres. This has opened me up to so many good books I would have never considered reading. So step out of your comfort zone and pick up a new genre. If you haven’t read in a long time, don’t be overwhelmed. Find a title or cover that appeals to you and get started. You won’t regret it.
Here is the list of 50 books I read:
Stephen King: On Writing
Kent Haruf: Plainsong
Asphyxia: The Words in my Hands
Maxie McCoy: You’re not Lost
Katherine Arden: The Bear and The Nightingale
Rita Mae Brown: Claws for Alarm
Amanda Gorman: Call us What They Carry
Zane Grey: Desert Gold
Erik Larson: The Devil in the White City, murder, magic and madness
Camille DiMaio: The First Emma
Marina Elena Sandovici: Storms of Malhado
Jo Walton: Farthing
James Runcie: Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death
Stephen Crane: The Red badge of Courage
Taylor Jenkins Reid: Atmosphere
Lucy Foley: The Guest List
David Sedaris: Me talk Pretty One day
Banu Mishtaq: Heart lamp selected stories
Axie Oh: The Girl who fell beneath the Sea
Katherine Reay: Dear Mr. Knightley
Philip Deck: The Man in the High Castle
Walter Wangerin Jr: The Book of God
Claire Keegan: Small Things Like These
Shirley Wachtel: The Baker of Lost Memories
Kristina McMorris: Sold on a Monday
Madeline Miller: The Song of Achilles
Edmond Rostand: Cyrano de Bergerac
Vyvyan Evan’s: The Babel Apocalypse
Elly Griffiths: The Last Word
Ina Caro: Paris to the Past: Traveling through History by Train
Claire Swinarski: The Funeral Ladies of Ellerie County
Claire Leslie Hall: Broken Country
Carsten Henn: The Door to door Bookstore
Shonda Rhimes: Year of Yes
Beth O’Leary: The No Show
Neil Hayward: Lost Among the Birds: Accidentally Finding Myself in one Very Big Year
Wendy Corsi Staub: The Fourth Girl
Loretta Ellsworth: Stars over Clear Lake
Rachel Joyce: The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
Shawntelle Madison: The Fallen Fruit
Diana Gabaldon: Go Tell the Bees that I am Gone
Jojo Moyes: We All Live Here
Kathleen Grissom: The Kitchen House
Hilary Leichter: Terrace Story
Lauren Roberts: Reckless
Julie Hatcher: Not Quite by the Book
Matthew Inman: How to tell if your cat is plotting to kill you
Percival Everett: James
Louise Penny: The Hangman
Margaret Craven: I Heard the Owl call my Name
Reading will change your life.
What’s the trait you value most about yourself?
The trait I like best about myself is also the trait the hate most about myself. I am a talker. Moving around a lot as a kid, I learned quickly no one is looking for a new friend. Therefore I ended up talking my way to a friendship.
Now as an adult, I can speak to just about anyone and make them feel welcomed and included. I like this about myself.
I also hate that I am a talker because so many times I needed to be a listener. Many times talking is a screen for my fear of being excluded-left out.
While I’m busy making people feel included and welcomed, I’m not listening to what they say.
What brands do you associate with?
Interesting prompt. I can’t say I associate with any brand. I have a few favorites but I don’t necessarily buy them exclusively. I think there is too much emphasis on brands. Every Instagram account now seems to be trying to sell me something.
Women seem to think if they carry a Louis Vuitton bag people will think they have money. It’s crazy because fake bags are easy to come by and it takes more than a bag to appear monied.
So no I don’t associate with any brand.
I am the master of my fate, I am the captain of my soul. - Invictus
The Power of Story
Pieces of the Whole
Writing New Chapters when Life takes a Detour
Reviews of Films from the Golden Age of Hollywood
read what you love
Enriching my life with books
My life on an unexpected path 