If you’re like me, January offers the chance for annual inner reflection. (That sounds so much better than “What have you done since last year’s New Year’s resolutions?”) Perhaps this will be the year that all of those hopes and dreams will be realized. Well, at least I’ll read more books on how to realize hopes and dreams. That’s a start, right? And if I get in shape, become better organized, and read more, it will be a very good year indeed. Here’s a look at what it will take in order for me to get there.
YOU: STAYING YOUNG by Michael F. Roizen & Mehmet C. Oz
If Oprah Winfrey’s favorite doctor can’t inspire you to get in better shape, no one can. Dr. Oz, the popular physician regularly seen on Oprah’s television show, suggests novel approaches to fitness—engaging in activities like working out, eating healthy, trying yoga and meditation, and reducing stress. Sound familiar? Although most of Dr. Oz’s recommendations aren’t breakthrough discoveries, they are broken down into more easily attainable goals in a prescriptive two-week timeframe. Guess I better put down my Snickers bar and get to reading!
THE INTELLECTUAL DEVOTIONAL: AMERICAN HISTORY: REVIVE YOUR MIND, COMPLETE YOUR EDUCATION, AND CONVERSE CONFIDENTLY ABOUT OUR NATION’S PAST by David S. Kidder & Noah D. Oppenhein
The title may be long, but the entries are small nuggets of cerebral insights about historical figures and pivotal events that shaped our nation’s heritage. Okay, I’ll ditch the Snickers bar and HGTV and give my brain a try.
MY TIME—MAKING THE MOST OF THE REST OF YOUR LIFE by Abigail Trafford
What better time than winter to go inside, both physically and emotionally. Abigail Trafford gets you thinking about the big questions in your life and how to go about answering them. As a former health editor at The Washington Post, Trafford understands the importance in discovering what she calls “a personal renaissance.”
NEVER CHECK YOUR E-MAIL IN THE MORNING—AND OTHER UNEXPECTED STRATEGIES FOR MAKING YOUR WORK LIFE WORK by Julie Morgenstern
If I’m ever going to find the time to exercise, read more often, and find my place in this world, I must stop scanning the daily mounds of e-mail messages that paralyze my productivity. Organizational coach and author Julie Morgenstern has some suggestions to this regard, saying the best way to turn on an efficient work life is to turn off the computer—at least first thing in the morning.
WRITING DOWN THE BONES by Natalie Goldberg and
BIRD BY BIRD by Anne Lamott
As far as writers helping writers, Goldberg and Lamott are the gold standard. For anyone who has ever thought about writing—whether for personal or professional objectives—pick up a copy of both books. Each year, I pull these works from my shelf to jumpstart my writing projects. Maybe I’ll garner enough inspiration to finally finish writing that elusive novel—once I get in shape, re-organize my home, figure out my life’s purpose, and stop checking e-mail.
Style magazines Editors Dean Blinkhorn, and Amy Mangan and Creative Director Trevor Byrne have many opinions on music, books, and movies, respectively. This special rotating column will highlight a different editor and a different topic each month. Agree? Disagree? Have something to add? Drop us a line at mediacenter@lakeandsumterstyle.com or mediafile@ocalastyle.com and we’ll print the best responses in the next issue. Next up: Dean selects some romantic music classics.
