inspired by | september good reads
around mid-summer, a gorgeous spirit asked if we could work together for an entire year. {blinkblink} YES! and so, i set the intention these next 12 months would be magical. while the focus of our collaboration is shui + her house, this is such a dreamy opportunity for me to showcase all the elements that influence the color + composition + perspective of a house + our lives + everything in between. and quite high on that list? books.
a couple months in, i can say these 1:1 calls feel like a party with a purpose — and it’s those vibes that absolutely inspired this post. so, once a month, a few good reads from me to you that raise our spirits + leave us wearing BIG smiles.
and because september is when we find ourselves in favor of being honest + working harder on the things that matter most, here is my first edition of good reads:
the creative habit: learn it and use it for life | twyla tharp
if you don’t know twyla, well…she will whip you into a creative frenzy. as a choreographer, tharp is intimately familiar with taking blank space and letting her genius fill it. and that’s not because she’s naturally good at it. instead, she offers this: creativity comes from our daily routines around it. it’s that insane commitment to showing up to the best investment we can make, which is ourselves. she shatters myths that creativity is best fueled by unlimited resources or exquisite planning or luck. rather, real creativity is earned through practice + taking first steps + getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. every gem in this book is universal, the kind of straightforward talk that changes people’s luck and lives.
style statement: live by your own design | carrie mccarthy & danielle laporte
it’s likely you know her from the desire map or the fire starter sessions – danielle’s vibe is equally contagious in this predecessor read. the concept, simple – each page is part of a compass leading you to two words. two words that will define who you are + refine what lifestyle is true to your authenticity – the brilliant camaraderie between expression meeting essence. and from there, like the title suggests, you start to live a life of your own impeccable design.
warrior goddess training: become the woman you are meant to be | heatherash amara
in the first few pages, don Miguel Ruiz says. . .
this book combines the wisdom of many traditions into one beautiful path. consistent throughout these teachings is the understanding that an idea means nothing without a corresponding step toward action…and the path of the Warrior Goddess is forged in love.
for me, it’s ten simple but essential lessons that are distilled down from her own inner revolution to become authentically + unapologetically her best self. each story + ritual + exercise shares one common intention: to help you with the sacred remodeling of your life + its flow of force. your cells will rearrange themselves with every word.
essentialism: the disciplined pursuit of less | greg mckeown
so, of course, i LOVE its title alone. but i was not prepared to find myself footnoting each chapter with *amen* and *huzzah!* even with all my hollering, i was simultaneously highlighting something on every page. which is why i now own a second paper copy.
the information is not new or ground-breaking. it’s not even that the writing is incredibly engaging, although it has moments. it’s quite simply that mckeown gets to the heart of what ‘essential’ is in consistently brilliant ways. and, he suggests, the path to authenticity comes when we acknowledge those little but distinct forks in the road called ‘everyday’.
what do i want to go big on because i can’t do everything?
am i majoring in minor activities?
do i prioritize my time or does someone else?
are my days structured by “have to” or “choose to”?
i don’t think an essential lifestyle is easily acquired or adopted. but, this book is a good start into asking important questions, engaging us to deliberately and thoughtfully respond. and from there, we can launch even the smallest changes into our daily strategies, bringing us a step closer to living a “HELLS, YES!” life.
now, my friends, tell me. . .what good read would you add to this stack?
xo
