Guys! As silly as it seems, I have officially published my 6-month Weekly Wellness Journal on Amazon. It is to track all those daily habits our doctors pester us about. You can keep t as a food journal, take notes on how you are feeling and there is a page every 3 months for doctor’s notes. But, if you are looking for inspiration to keep going, especially during the winter months when depression can come knocking, I have some recommendations for you as well. Be sure to check them out. P.s. I am an amazon affiliate, but these are all linked to Goodreads so, no pressure and I hope you find something that can help you on your healing journey.
Track your wellness journey to help you determine how what you are eating and doing is affecting you and in what ways. Take it along to your doctor or use it for personal tracking so you can improve your habits.
Have More Fun: How to Be Remarkable, Stop Feeling Stuck, and Start Enjoying Life by Mandy Arioto THIS! Number one on the list for a reason. This girl is so fun to listen to, and has great advice for not taking yourself so seriously. This one I thought about for weeks after the initial read and gifted it to a few different people. It’s got a special message about how you can enjoy your life in every circumstance.
The Lightmaker’s Manifesto: How to Work for Change without Losing Your Joy by Karen Walrond | Goodreads – Ladies and Gentlemen, this book touched a part in me when I read in in February. The book itself is about activism in our world, but to me it was more focused on finding your joy and sharing it with the world. When we have chronic conditions it can feel at times like joy is not for us to experience or understand. But learning that, when we work for what we want to change in ourselves and the world, we can experience light and joy in new ways.
Grit & Grace: Train the Mind, Train the Body, Own Your Life by Tim McGraw | Goodreads – This is another one that affected me. Tim McGraw is a name known by all. He reads this book, which gives it a person feel if you get it in audio form. He talks about his journey to healing and health and how he transformed his body and life. It is a practical approach to healing our bodies and I love it and looking back at this book, I think it may be time to read/ listen to it again.
3. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth | Goodreads – This is one I don’t necessarily remember reading in the sense that I have a standout spot in the book that comes to mind when I see it, however, I did give it a 5 stars, and the idea that “what goes through your head when you fall down, and how, not talent or luck makes all the difference.” It’s all about the ever-repeated phrase, it isn’t in how you fall, but in how you rise again.
The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again by Catherine Price | Goodreads Yes, I may have tricked you. This is actually probably the one that impacted me the most of the ones listed so far. I remember thinking about it, and recommending it for days and maybe even weeks, and.. then again now… over a year later. This books talks about how much of our lives we are taught that having fun is childish. However, when we embrace the power of play and fun in our lives we can truly live each day to its fullest potential. I LOVED reading this and again, seeing this cover and re-capping, means I’m pulling it out again.
Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself by Kristin Neff | Goodreads -Finding the difference between harmful comparison and the joy you can find in just learning to love yourself truly for who you are and what you have to offer. As a person that has been sick for going on 17 years I, for one, have a hard time believing that I can bring a whole lot to the table. However, learning to have true self-compassion, at least for me, may be a lifelong journey. But it’s a journey I won’t give up on. We are all worth it.
Girl Wash your Face by Rachel Hollis | Goodreads – Another one I thought about for weeks after. I loved listening to this book. Her wit and candor were just what I needed when I read it and was feeling miserable in my life and what I may need again, struggling more than ever to feel like I belong in my own space. Worth a read, or two.
You Are a Badass by Jen Sincero | Goodreads – Another one that sticks with you for its humor and genuine useful advice. The recommendation even says ” the self-help book for people who desperately want to improve their lives but don’t want to get busted doing it.” 1, 2, 3. Secret Bad-assery, go.
Humankind: A Hopeful History by Rutger Bregman | Goodreads – Trying so hard to keep this list manageable, but then I come across another book that has affected me. This book was one I hesitated to share because the connection may seem flimsy. The author makes the argument that Humans as a genus are generally kind and want what is best for others. There have been times during my diagnosis that I have been sure I’ll be alone my entire life, and then someone comes along and loves me despite illness, capability and circumstance. This is what I gain from this book. The power to believe in general goodness.
Wander Girl 
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