Tag Archives: reading

Day 3493 – Currently Reading And A Marvelous Gift To Me!

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Last night, I gave myself a gift – Marvel Unlimited. It’s basically access to over 20,000 Marvel comics, yes please. While it’s simply overwhelming how much there is to read, I cannot wait to tackle it.

I’m also making my way through the books in the photo. I really am loving Hindsight and am writing down lots of nuggets of wisdom.

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Day 3490 – Reading Goals For This Year

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When I started this year, I knew my reading goals had to be different than the last two years. I think the last two years were about volume and not as much about substance…and enjoyment. So my goal for this year is enjoyment.

I am working through three challenges, but the goal isn’t necessarily to finish them. I’ve already put my enjoyment goal into practice. I started reading a book, and just wasn’t feeling it, there was no joy in it, so I stopped.

I’m reading kid’s picture books again, they truly did bring me so much joy in 2017 when I read 200 of them. The simplicity of the messages of the books is amazing, and I am brought to tears or unfettered joy often. My most recent “made me cry” read was Sterling, Best Dog Ever by Aidan Cassie. I’m tellin’ ya, kids books man.

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Day 3482 – The End Of The World Running Club

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Oh my, this was a fun book. I’m all about the end of the world type books and with my recent “finding my groove” with running, it was just plain great. What was interesting about this though, was that it was one of the few times that something I read helped me in the physical world in such a powerful way.

As I’m reading, I thought, you know, I wonder how far I could run without stopping, and if I turned off my distance prompts on Runkeeper. It was a little rough since I’ve had essentially a month break from running. But I found myself thinking things like “if I had to run 500 miles to Bret right now, would I keep going?” It helped me keep pushing.

Haha, this experience also reminded me of why I’m slowly increasing my miles. I did this run three days ago and I’m still sore (and who am I kidding, I had ZERO desire to go outside and run in single digit temps). The biggest roadblock for me in making progress in my running (and most of my working out experiences) was being so sore I couldn’t work out for more days than I should. I’d rather run shorter distances and slowly increase if it means I can run three-four times a week consistently.

If you’re into running and/or the end of the world, this was an enjoyable read.

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Day 3464 – Dying Well

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I finished reading my first book of 2019 on January 1st, Where The River Ends* (affiliate link, this means I’ll get a small percentage if you purchase the book). Man, what a way to start the year. It tells the story of a husband who takes his dying wife on a journey down a river. What I love about it is that so many say they shouldn’t make the trip, but it is what she wants to do.

Death is one of those things that’s taboo to talk about. It’s uncomfortable, it’s hard, but actually talking about and thinking about death is one of those “secrets” to a happier life. I’ve talked before about the multiple deaths I’ve walked through in my life. For the past 20 years, I’ve attended more funerals for my peers than my elders. Each death has changed me in significant and different ways. But the biggest lesson is that of embracing life, today.

Having a constant awareness of the end of my life, I can jump into my current life with joy, energy, and “this may be my last day, and I’m going to enjoy it.” It helps me live my life without regrets.

What really struck me with this book was the reminder that we have a choice in how we live and in how we die, but there will be folks who totally disagree with what we’re doing. So we need to fight for what we believe in and what we want out of life.

It was also a beautiful story about marriage. Charles Martin has become my new favorite author, hands down, primarily because of how he writes about marriage. So many of the books I’ve read are about a cheating spouse, an abusive spouse, a spouse who is tempted…recognizing this was much like my “wow, I’ve been reading a lot of dark, heavy books” when I read The Bookshop on the Corner* (affiliate link) by Jenny Colgan because it was so light and fun.

So friends, talk about the end of your life, recognize it is coming one day, and live with joy that you are here today because tomorrow is never promised.

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Did you like what you read? Here’s some ways you can support us and this blog!
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Day 3461 – End Result Of My 2018 Reading Challenges

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Woooooo! Hello 2019! Last year was such a great year for my reading and I loved what I read. Here is my last batch of books read. I’ll share my final counts below. If a book has a link and one of these little guys * it is an Amazon Affiliate link. That means I’ll get a small percentage if you order it or something else, at no additional cost to you.

If you want to see a nice overview of my reading, check out this lovely page Goodreads has put together.

Book #159 – Howliday Inn – this fulfilled a book originally published in the year you were born in the Mommy Mannegren 52 books challenge.
Book #160 – Pippi Longstocking – this fulfilled a book by a Scandinavian Author in the Mommy Mannegren 52 books challenge.
Book #161 – Sea Prayer – this fulfilled a short story in the BCPL reading challenge.
Book #162 – Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland – this fulfilled a book written before 1920 in the Mommy Mannegren 52 books challenge.
Book #163 – Unwritten – this fulfilled none of my challenges.
Book #164 – Water from My Heart – this fulfilled none of my challenges.
Book #165 – It Doesn’t Have to Be Crazy at Work – this fulfilled none of my challenges.
Book #166 – The Bible – this fulfilled a book on theology in the Mommy Mannegren 52 books challenge.
Book #167 – Thunder and Rain – this fulfilled none of my challenges.
Book #168 – Elevation – this fulfilled none of my challenges.
Book #169 – Waiting for Eden – this fulfilled none of my challenges.
Book #170 – You Are a Badass Every Day: How to Keep Your Motivation Strong, Your Vibe High, and Your Quest for Transformation Unstoppable – this fulfilled none of my challenges.
Book #171 – The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events, #1) – this fulfilled a banned book in the Modern Mrs. Darcy challenge.
Book #172 – Happy People Read and Drink Coffee – this fulfilled a book in translation in the Modern Mrs. Darcy challenge.
Book #173 – Crabby the Crab – this fulfilled none of my challenges.
Book #174 – Rattles, the Barn Cat Misfit – this fulfilled none of my challenges.
Book #175 – Harry the Happy Mouse – this fulfilled none of my challenges.

The best book I read this year – The Third Door: The Wild Quest to Uncover How the World’s Most Successful People Launched Their Careers*

The second best book I read – You Are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth*

The hardest book I read – Death of a Salesman. I have taken great pains to follow my dreams and craft a life that I want. This was hard to read to because of that. It makes me so sad when folks spend their whole lives working towards something to have so little at the end and be filled with much regret.

Favorite New (to me) Author of the year – Charles Martin. I am loving how he writes, especially about marriage. I’m tearing through his catalog and haven’t been even close to disappointed yet.

My favorite reading challenge – Hands down, The Mommy Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge. Make sure you check out the 2019 challenge!

Final counts:
The 2018 Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge – read 12 out of 12. Completed!
The 2018 #BWELLREAD Reading Challenge – read 12 out of 12. Completed!
The 2018 Popsugar Reading Challenge – read 31 out of 50.
The 2018 Read Harder Challenge – read 14 out of 24.
The Mommy Mannegren 52 Books in 52 Weeks Challenge – read 52 out of 52. Completed!
Reading Bingo – this was one I got from my local library. It’s from Penguin Random house, but I can’t find a link to it. – read 15 out of 24.

Are you doing any reading challenges next year? Let me know which ones!

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Did you like what you read? Here’s some ways you can support us and this blog!
Join our Facebook group, Planning an Epic Road Trip on Any Budget
Join the Journey With The G’s email list (bonus – you get my Epic Road Trip Budget spreadsheet)
Buy my book, Planning an Epic Road Trip on any Budget.
Buy my book, Trusting God With 2 Cents: 22 Days To Becoming A Successful Christian Business Owner.
Shop on Amazon (no additional cost to you, this gives us a percentage of what you order).
Check out our resources page.
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel