As an Integrative Health Coach, I have read many books on Wellness, Coaching, Integrative Medicine, Spirituality and Health, Self-Help Books… The list goes on.
All of them have given me insight and I am grateful for the knowledge, the professionalism and research that supported my education. However, with all of the inspiring authors I have read, Cheryl Strayed is an author I love and just keep coming back to.
I happened on her book, Tiny Beautiful Things, years ago and gained advice on love and life from Dear Sugar. A friend recommended it, so I bought and was so surprised by what I was reading (much different then researched data and self help) that when I would read it, I would sit with what I read and just process. Sugar is Cheryl Strayed. “Dear Sugar” consists of short letters that she wrote as an anonymous online advice columnist for “The Rumpus”. I love that she was real and talked about all of life’s lows and highs, the “HARD” and the unthinkable. She always closed her columns with life insight and honored the participants asking for advice by thanking them and acknowledging their courage in asking for support.
No judgement- just real life experiences that remind us that we all are not perfect, there really is no Facebook perfect life. The reason we are here is to learn to navigate life and to do so with a community of support- not alone!
This book led me to recommend her book Wild to my book club (Firefly Book Club). We loved it and I suggested we all hike the Pacific Coast Trail! (that idea got vetoed, but it is still out there J)
Next, I picked up her book – BRAVE ENOUGH. It consists of quotes she has lived by, loved and used to help her navigate life. She also swears in her writing, which is something I like, because I don’t swear and when she writes it, it feels so good. In this book, she states why she wrote it:
It is important to believe that can trust that life will support you. No matter what your choice, it is your choice, I encourage YOU to make one…even if it is not perfect ~ BE BRAVE!
Kerri Weishoff
Integrative Health Coach and Mindfulness Teacher