Last year, I finished 25 books. It was no re than I had read in years. I’m off to a slow start so far, but that’s ok.

1. Hand to Mouth by Linda Tirado
2. Groomed by Samantha Leonard
3. Anti-Diet by Christy Harrison
4. The Body is not an apology by Sonya Renee Taylor
5. Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
6. How the Marquis got his coat back by Neil Gaiman
7. The Bullet Journal Method by Ryder Carroll
8. Hope by Marc Levy
9. The Code Breaker by Isaac Isaacson
10. Evicted by Matthew Desmond
11. Love Lettering by Kate Clayborn
12. No Walls and the Recurring Dream by Ani DiFranco
13. Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller
14. The Intuitive Eating Workbook by Evelyn Tribole MS, RDN & Elyse Resch, MS, RDN
15. Money Making Mom by Crystal Paine
16. Bone Music by Christopher Rice
17. The Flux by Ferrett Steinmetz
18. Rain Girl by Gabi Kreslehner
19. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
20. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
21. The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss
22. How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge by Clay Scroggins
23. The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van der Kolk
24. Daring Greatly by Brene Brown
25. Becoming by Michelle Obama
26. Nonbinary. Memoirs of Gender and Identity
27. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
28. A Demon in my view by Ruth Rendell
29. Ordinary People by Judith Guest
30. 1776 by David McCullough
31. The Virgin of Prince Street by Sonja Livingston
32. The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy
33. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
34. 2020 Award Winning Book
35. A Season in Hell by Rimbaud
36. The Undesired by Yrsa Sigurdardottir
37. Killer Reunion by G.A. McKevett
38. The Day is Dark by Yrsa Sigurdardottir
39. Sami Blood
40. The Heart Keeper by Alex Dahl
41. Alfons Mucha 1860-1939 : master of art nouveau by Renate Ulmer
42. The little old lady who broke all the rules by Catherina Ingelman-Sundberg
43. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
44. More Myself by Alicia Keys
45. Beloved by Toni Morrison
46. Human Resources by Brad Carter
47. American Dirt
48. The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
49. The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes
50. The Tatooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris
51. The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
52. A Spark of Light by Jodi Picoult

1. The Roses of May (The Collector series, Book 2) by Dot Hutchinson
2. Codependent No More by Melody Beattie
3. Wildflower by Drew Barrymore
4. The Sinking of the Vasa by Russell Freedman, illustrated by William Low
5. Superfans by Pat Flynn
6. On Animals by Susan Orleans
7. The Body is not an apology by Sonya Renee Taylor
8. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
9. Library of Souls by Ransom Rigg
10. American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld
11. Love Warrior by Glennon Doyle
12. Untamed by Glennon Doyle
13. How to Win an Argument on Social Media by Brian Anglin
14. The 40 rules of Love by Elif Shafak
15. Hippie by Paulo Coelho
16. Your Song Changed My Life by Bob Boilen
17. * The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce
18. Entering the Castle: Exploring Your Mystical Experience of God by Caroline Myss
19. Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts by Kate Racculia
20. What You Have Heard is True by Carolyn Forché
21. Second Nature, A Gardener’s Education by Michael Pollan
22. When Rabbit Howls by Truddi Chase
23. Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman
24. Resistance by Tori Amos
25. Got Parts? by A.T.W.
26. Gay Mysticism by Andrew Harvey
27. No Walls and the Recurring Dream by Ani DiFranco
28. Building a Story Brand by Donald Miller
29. The Intuitive Eating Workbook by Evelyn Tribole MS, RDN & Elyse Resch, MS, RDN
30. Money Making Mom by Crystal Paine
31. Bone Music by Christopher Rice
32. The Flux by Ferrett Steinmetz
33. Rain Girl by Gabi Kreslehner
34. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
35. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
36. The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss
37. How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge by Clay Scroggins
38. The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van der Kolk
39. Daring Greatly by Brene Brown
40. Becoming by Michelle Obama
41. Nonbinary. Memoirs of Gender and Identity
42. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
43. A Demon in my view by Ruth Rendell
44. Ordinary People by Judith Guest
45. 1776 by David McCullough
46. The Virgin of Prince Street by Sonja Livingston
47. The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy
48. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
49. 2020 Award Winning Book
50. A Season in Hell by Rimbaud
51. The Undesired by Yrsa Sigurdardottir
52. Killer Reunion by G.A. McKevett
53. The Day is Dark by Yrsa Sigurdardottir
54. Sami Blood
55. The Heart Keeper by Alex Dahl
56. Alfons Mucha 1860-1939 : master of art nouveau by Renate Ulmer
57. The little old lady who broke all the rules by Catherina Ingelman-Sundberg
58. The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman
59. More Myself by Alicia Keys
60. Beloved by Toni Morrison
61. Human Resources by Brad Carter
62. American Dirt
63. The Bookwoman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson
64. The Giver of Stars by Jojo Moyes

A year ago, I upgraded this site to a business account, and then had one of the roughest unexpected years of my life. I did not renew, but will do so once I get into a good routine, making it worth the costs.

Things I accomplished in 2019:

• LGBTQ+ Leadership training
• LGBTQ+ Presbyterian Ambassadorship
• Changed jobs
• Divorce
• Joined a band to raise money for kids
• Performed “Under Pressure” in public along with a storytelling opportunity
• Started my tattoo in honor of my father

Goals for 2020:

• Save up 3 months of living costs in case of emergency.
• Pay down my car loan.
• Set up a weekly and monthly newsletter with Tiny Letter.
• Collect all of my haikus into one concise book.
• Launch 1-2 online classes.
• Record and market one music album and associated video components.
• Host a monthly crafting experience.
• Grow my TupperWare and essential oils businesses.
• Create and maintain an inventory for my online jewelry store.
• Continue my dad’s tattoo

I intended to read 52 books and only finished 20, but that was more than the year before. I’m pretty happy with my list. Having a goal of 52 books is reasonable though, so I’m going to do this again.

My word for 2020 is RELEASE.
My intention for 2020 is MEDITATION.
My theme for 2020 is BEING PRESENT, JOY.

I decided in January to make an ambitious list of 52 books I already have access to, in paper form or audio book and read them by the end of December 2019. At this rate, I probably won’t make it, but I have thus far read 12 books (and started many others) that I wouldn’t have otherwise read. I also joined my church’s book club (although I missed the last two meetings). This was such a great decision for me, as I’m feeling inspired, and connected with other people who love good books.

What have YOU been reading lately?

(BOLD means finished)

1. The False Door by Brett King
2. How to Fix a Broken Heart by Dr. Guy Winch (twice)
3. White Fragility by Robin Diangelo
4. Dead Certain by Adam Mitzner
5. P.S. from Paris by Marc Levy
6. Educated by Tara Westover
7. The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms
8. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
9. Being Jazz by Jazz Jennings
10. The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchinson
11. How to Fix a Broken Heart by Dr. Guy Winch (twice)
12. Dare to Lead by Brene Brown
13. Haunting Charlie by Wendy Wang
14. Why We Broke Up by Daniel Handler and Maira Kalman
15. The Library Book by Susan Orlean
16. Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
17. Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
18. The Covert Passive-Aggressive Narcissist by Debbie Mirza
19. The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell
20. A Serial Killer’s Daughter by Kerri Rawson
21. The Intuitive Eating Workbook by Evelyn Tribole MS, RDN & Elyse Resch, MS, RDN
22. Money Making Mom by Crystal Paine
23. Bone Music by Christopher Rice
24. The Flux by Ferrett Steinmetz
25. Rain Girl by Gabi Kreslehner
26. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
27. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
28. The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss
29. How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge by Clay Scroggins
30. The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van der Kolk
31. Daring Greatly by Brene Brown
32. Becoming by Michelle Obama
33. Nonbinary. Memoirs of Gender and Identity
34. No Walls and the Recurring Dream by Ani DiFranco
35. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

I’m going to start by making a list of books I already have access to, in paper form or audio book. I’m certain I will go “off list,” too.

(BOLD means finished)

1. The False Door by Brett King
2. How to Fix a Broken Heart by Dr. Guy Winch (twice)
3. White Fragility by Robin Diangelo
4. Dead Certain by Adam Mitzner
5. P.S. from Paris by Marc Levy
6. Educated by Tara Westover
7. The Overdue Life of Amy Byler by Kelly Harms
8. Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell
9. Being Jazz by Jazz Jennings
10. The Butterfly Garden by Dot Hutchinson
11. How to Fix a Broken Heart by Dr. Guy Winch (twice)
12. Dare to Lead by Brene Brown
13. The Intuitive Eating Workbook by Evelyn Tribole MS, RDN & Elyse Resch, MS, RDN
14. Money Making Mom by Crystal Paine
15. Bone Music by Christopher Rice
16. The Flux by Ferrett Steinmetz
17. Rain Girl by Gabi Kreslehner
18. Outlander by Diana Gabaldon
19. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke
20. The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss
21. How to Lead When You’re Not in Charge by Clay Scroggins
22. The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel Van der Kolk
23. Daring Greatly by Brene Brown
24. Becoming by Michelle Obama
25. Nonbinary. Memoirs of Gender and Identity
26. No Walls and the Recurring Dream by Ani DiFranco
27. Pachinko by Min Jin Lee
28. The Library Book by Susan Orlean

I finally took the plunge and upgraded this site to a business account. I have been waiting FOR YEARS to do this, and I realize there will never be that perfect time, or that magic angel whispering in my ear to do it now. I just have to DO IT! And so I am!

What are some of my personal goals for next year?

• Read or listen to 52 books.
• Save up 3 months of living costs in case of emergency.
• Pay down our 2 car loans.
• Set up a weekly and monthly newsletter with Tiny Letter.
• Collect all of my haikus into one concise book to shop around.
• Launch 1-2 online classes.
• Record and market one music album and associated video components.
• Host a monthly crafting experience.
• Grow my TupperWare and essential oils businesses.
• Create and maintain an inventory for my online jewelry store.

As you can see, I have more than a few things on my mind! But, I will be breaking them down into bite sized steps, and enjoying the experiences as I go.

Danielle LaPorte inspires me often.

Click on the picture to read her list!

Here’s my list.

• I give up the feeling that I’m not worthy. It’s done.

• I give up the doubt and judgment I have towards myself, which keeps me frozen in fear.

• I give up being dependent on other people.

• I give up thinking that I am not enough. I am.

• I give up waiting for other people to value me.

• I give up feeling lonely when I am great company, and I have a lot of friends who love and care about me.

• I give up sacrificing my needs for what I think are more noble causes.

• I give up pushing people away when they get too close.

• I give up waiting for validation.

• I give up keeping quiet when I have something to say.

What do you give up? Let me know in the comments!

I am a colorful bird.

There’s nothing that I’ve done before that has been harder than this transition. It’s also the easiest to do because I know THIS is who I am.

The world is OUR canvas. Let’s all be colorful birds.

https://youtu.be/tilsrO-3gcQ