Beth Kempton

I had this book for months and months before I finally decided to give it a shot and then declutter it to the street library. I expected it to be some lifestyle-design fluff without much depth and very obvious advice. And while it had some of that, it had quite a few gems that stopped me in my tracks. I ended up taking my time to read it and may not declutter it after all. Some chapters spoke to me (career, seizing moments) while some fell flat (relationships). Overall a worthwhile read and show more a wake up call in some areas. show less

This was really quite enjoyable. Some have criticized the structure of it, or the fact that it seems self-serving, but I think it's honest to itself. Beth Kempton is a self-help author and this book reads like such. But that doesn't mean she misses the mark on describing wabi sabi or how it integrates into the lessons she imparts. I found her personal anecdotes helpful in bridging that gap. What's left is not a pure sociological view at an element of Japanese culture, nor is it entirely a show more self-help book in the style of Marie Kondo, nor is it a travel journal, but by weaving elements of all three it is something imperfect and beautiful. show less

The author brought so much joy to the writing process, and I loved learning more (especially liked her three types of writing which make sense). It’s making me feel very inspired and will definitely be returning to this; also I need to buy the audio for myself as there are two hours of guided meditations at the end which I want to really dig into.

If you are looking for ideas to promote a calm Christmas season, moving away from commercialism and hectic lifestyles, then this book might be of help to you. This is really a workbook that can help readers focus on what is meaningful to them during the holidays, and pay attention to potential stressors. The book contains a chapter on the five components or "stories" that might make up a person's individual meaning of Christmas: faith, magic, connection, abundance, and heritage. Using the show more exercises and thoughtful questions, the reader can gain insights into his or her own ideas for a meaningful holiday season and into a peaceful New Year. The ideas within the book encourage personal well-being and enjoyment of the events and activities that mean the most to a person.

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own. show less