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[Sandra Bostwick]

Good Mornng Book Club!!!

Since we are doing 8 beads this week, here are my thoughts on the next four beads. I REALLY want to hear people's thoughts on this. Remember, you don't have to get into the nitty gritty of your personal life if you don't want to. You can reflect on what you think the author is saying. Also, while we certainly don't want flaming or criticizing other posters, feel free to post if you have a criticism or a less-than-glowing reflection about the book.

OK, here goes for me,

Bead 9 really got me thinking. The Sufi Poet Rumi suggests writing the three things you most want in life and examining them. If there are conflicts, you could be destined for unhappiness. I found that to be a very enlightening reflection. Of course, who does not have conflicts in what they want, so, for myself, I'd spend some time reflecting on the conflicts and either making some adjustments or deciding to accept what reality I can't change.

I also thought the concept of exploring one aspect of herself against the backdrop of several countries was intriguing.

I also loved the question if you were to write a petition right now to God, what would it say?

Bead 10 was cool because she was able to get a staggering personal miracle. HOW COOL! In real life! It's like hitting the lottery NOT because you picked the right random numbers, but because you picked the right goals and life path.

Bead 11 really touched me! I loved that, when she was alone, she waited for the old habit of crying and worrying to come. Then she realized that had been replaced by contentment, or at least the early symptoms of it. I like the question was that all you needed, then?

Bead 12 was cool because she set a goal to read an Italian newspaper every day, no matter how hard. It made me ask myself what do I want to do every day in order to accomplish a big goal by baby steps?

I was also touched by the old lady who walked away from her, leaving the author to wonder if she was mad at her. I found it meaningful because alot of times, we have to make choices in life that are going to hurt, offend, bother, or somehow make someone mad. Some choices will simply leave relationship collateral damage no matter which way you go, even with strangers who don't even know you.

Oh, and I liked all the fountains.

OK, book club. I see alot of hits here, so I think we may have quite a few silent readers. Can some of our silent readers just "check in" and let us know who you are? It isn't like you have to sign up for the post-of-the-day club!

Also, we are near to the end of another week. Please check in and let me know if 8 beads is good for next week or if we need to step-up the pace again. I'm open for anything. (As we really get into the book, it is a real page turner, so I'm sure we'll pick things up.)

Carry on!

[Sandra Bostwick]

Good Morning, Book Club! OK, C'mon, someone give a shout-out! I want to hear your thoughts! I'm looking like the crazy lady sitting and talking to herself!Well, actually, I usually look like that anyway.

OK, The week of the 15th through 21st, let's start off with the next 8 beads, beads 13 though 20. If the group wants to pick that up, just let me know and we will.

Have a GREAT day book club!

Carry on!

[Danielle Harmon]

HI everyone! I've been gone for the week with work. Trying to get caught up. I have read the beads, but still processing. I hope you are all well with the crazy weather y'all have been having there in the midwest and the east coast...

On to beads 13-20!

[DDuff]

Originally Posted by Sandra Bostwick

Good Morning, Book Club! OK, C'mon, someone give a shout-out! I want to hear your thoughts! I'm looking like the crazy lady sitting and talking to herself!Well, actually, I usually look like that anyway.

Gee - Sandra we must be twins. Sorry last week of school here so it has been crazy. Luckily, DH has been gone for work so lots of Kraft Dinner!

BEAD 9 - The voyage of self discovery in the midst of a divorce is really amazing to me. Her humour really shows through in the bead - I love the "Divorcees Without Borders" and the realization that she has chosen three countries that start with "I." She is so lucky to have a friend like Iva. The petition to God is a great idea and I love her statement "Where did you get the idea you aren't allowed to petition the universe with prayer?" My mother and I recently had a discussion about this very fact. I blame the puritans that settled the americas. Self sacrifce doesn't have to translant into self denial. I was comforted by the concept of having your loved ones sign the petition. Listing all of those people obviously did a world of good to her in that moment. I may put this concept into practice!

BEAD 10: Aah! Her personal miracle. I love the fact that she is playing a role in her miracle. She is an active participant in this without her writing the miracle could not happen.

BEAD 11: MMMMMMMM!!!! GARLIC!!!!!!!! Sorry I've been watching my calories lately and all these carbs are making me smile. How can you not be content after a big meal of pasta/bread/ and oh yeah a whole bottle of red wine. I love this woman.

BEAD 12: I also enjoy the interaction with the woman in the park. The "I'm sorry I don't speak Italian." only to realize that "You do understand." I think it is important to notice that you don't have to be fluent to understand. This is so true in so many things in life. I little understanding goes a long way.

This bead made me want to pick up some books on poetry, especially Louise Gluck: "From the center of my life, there came a great fountain..." I've been struggling with a little mid-life crisis (turning 40 you know). My petition to God would be for some guidance on the next step in my life (do I return to work, full or part-time, do I choose a different career path, or do I focus on volunteering more?) This quote gave me great comfort that even in the center of my life there can be a 'great fountain.' I too felt relief.

On to the next 8 beads!

[stretch2864]

Good Morning everyone!

I have started reading the book, but I'm hoping to have more of a chance to catch up this weekend. What I have read so far is really incredible. I am still digesting it, and thinking about exactly what it means to me. When I get a chance I will post my thoughts on the beads I've read so far.

[Sandra Bostwick]

Originally Posted by DDuff

Gee - Sandra we must be twins. Sorry last week of school here so it has been crazy. Luckily, DH has been gone for work so lots of Kraft Dinner!

The petition to God is a great idea and I love her statement "Where did you get the idea you aren't allowed to petition the universe with prayer?"!

Interesting! I often avoid praying for specific things to happen because maybe it is like giving God instructions, as if he is up there saying Oh, thanks for the tip. I didn't see that was how I should have been dealing with that issue.

I liked the argument, though, for asking for what you want. Maybe it is a balance and you have to ask for the sense to ask for what is in your best interests.

[Sandra Bostwick]

Originally Posted by stretch2864

Good Morning everyone!

I have started reading the book, but I'm hoping to have more of a chance to catch up this weekend. What I have read so far is really incredible. I am still digesting it, and thinking about exactly what it means to me. When I get a chance I will post my thoughts on the beads I've read so far.

Thanks for checking in, Vicky!

[BelmontBelle]

I've been keeping up on the reading, I just haven't really had a chance to give it all a lot of thought. I'm used to just reading for pleasure and not dissecting each little bit, so I'm having a bit of a hard time there. I'm loving everyone elses thoughts though!

One interesting thing I find is that anyone would be afraid to petition God for something. I ask all the time and always have. The power of prayer is a very strong thing! I know that He may not answer the way that I want, but I know He's always listening and when He doesn't answer the way I want, it's only to make me stronger. I also found it interesting that she wrote it in a letter form and heart warming that she added signatures of everyone who cared about her and would also desire the same outcome.

I'll be out of town for most of next week, but I'll keep reading and try to contribute more next time.

[Sandra Bostwick]

Originally Posted by BelmontBelle

I've been keeping up on the reading, I just haven't really had a chance to give it all a lot of thought. I'm used to just reading for pleasure and not dissecting each little bit, so I'm having a bit of a hard time there. I'm loving everyone elses thoughts though!

I'll be out of town for most of next week, but I'll keep reading and try to contribute more next time.

Please don't feel pressured to contribute in any way other than what makes you happy! The last thing anyone needs is more demands in life, right? If you are enjoying everyone else's thoughts, but don't have anything to add, give us a and go right back to reading for pleasure!

OK, this week we are reading beads 13-20.

Bead 13 made me think about all the amazing people I've met so far in life. I think people are so much fun!

Bead 14 made me think about how much fun it can be to be a student of something.

Bead 15 got me to thinking what would I like to do just because I want to? Not because it is related to work or obligation? What is wierd for me is that the lines between work and fun are often blurred, so it is really hard any more to separate them.

Bead 16 REALLY was a masterful personification of depression and loneliness. I don't know about you all, but every once in a while I throw myself a massive pity party with just the three of us.

Bead 17 made me think about the sheer fearless honesty of the writer. WOW! There must be something actually empowering about putting all your darkest thoughts into a best-selling book. What must life be like with everything out there and very little left to hide? I liked the one question she asks when caught up in a bad spell of sorrow and hopelessness: "Is there anything about this scene you can change, Liz?" It is funny what she came up with, but I think the next time I find myself stewing in my own negative juices, I might try to throw a few positive things into the pot and see if I can't turn things around a bit.

Bead 18 introduces the private notebook. I love the concept of being able to go to myself and saying I need your help! WOW!

Bead 19 was short and sweet. It sort of reminded me of when I am writing a piece and I have a GREAT paragraph that does not quite fit into the final concept, but it is such a cool idea and I like it so much that I try to fit it in there anyway, even if it is kind of random.

Bead 20 AHHHHHHHHHHHH! Frozen rice pudding!!!!!!

I can't wait to hear comments, yeah thats, or anything else that's coming.

Carry on, book club!

[Sandra Bostwick]

Good Morning book club, and a special shout out to our silent readers!

Hope you have a great Sunday, Happy Father's Day to any Dads who pop by.

[ItsMe]

Ok Sandy, I am online. I have the book. What's next? Careana

[Sandra Bostwick]

Originally Posted by ItsMe

Ok Sandy, I am online. I have the book. What's next? Careana

Hey everyone, this is my friend Careana. Careana, meet my library friends!

Hi Careana! I'm so glad you found us! We are reading the book bead by bead! It is alot of fun to read other people's thoughts here.

What's next? Hopefully that you will enjoy yourself! We are finishing up to bead 20 this week for discussion, but I know many of us are reading ahead.

[stretch2864]

I'm just getting caught up on reading this book, and so far I am really enjoying it.

Beads 2 and 4 remind me of myself a while back. Two and a half years ago, I was in a terrible job. I was under a great deal of stress, and I felt that I had nowhere to turn. Whereas the author holed up in her bathroom at night; I would frequently go to my favorite place in the city, a lake in Minneapolis, to do some soul searching. I would walk half way around the lake, and then I would stop and sit on one particular bench on the west side of the lake. Here I would have a personal conversation between myself and God. I didn't know what I needed to happen, but I knew that something had to change in my life. I went frequently over a period of weeks between Valentine's Day and St. Patrick's Day that year. Things came to a head on St. Patrick's Day when I was told to clear out my desk~the day after I had turned in my resignation. I felt like a ship alone at sea~wandering aimlessly in a vast ocean. I had found a job in the meantime, but it was a step down in terms of pay and status. I needed to take it, though, as I still had to support myself and my DD.

If I could have looked into my crystal ball, I might have seen that there were eventually better things in store for me. I took the job and quickly became friends with two of my co-workers. Since we were all single, we would talk about dating. One of my co-workers told me about the online dating service, Match.com. I had my doubts about it, but she had told me she had met a lot of guys and gone out on a lot of dates. At that point in time, I thought "Why not?" I put my profile on there and started corresponding with a couple of guys. One in particular seemed really nice, and so after emailing back and forth several times, we agreed to meet. It was my one and only date through Match.com! We have been together for almost two years now!

Less than a year after I left the other job, I was laid off from the clinic where I was working. While I was devastated at the time, it turned out to be the best thing that could have happened. DBF really helped me deal with the loss that I was feeling over being laid off. I took six months off from the working world, and spent the time trying to reconnect with myself. I decided that I didn't want to continue down the same path that I had been on, so at DBF's urging I applied to graduate school. Much to my surprise I was admitted for the program that fall! At the end of the six months, I found a part time job which would allow me to attend school on a full time basis. The pieces were falling into place.

That was a year ago. I have now completed my first full year of school, and I love it! I'm in a great job working with some really nice people. I can say that I am truly happy!

Like the author, I think all of us at one time or another find ourselves in a place in our lives that we don't want to be. Sometimes I think it takes turning our lives over to a higher power to help us find a new path~one that we might not chose or find on our own. If someone had told me three years ago that my life would be totally different, I might have had my doubts. But the changes that occurred, both good and bad, have made me into a different, stronger, and ultimately much happier person.

I can't wait to read more of this book as it is a wonderful book for reflections.

[Sandra Bostwick]

Originally Posted by stretch2864

I'm just getting caught up on reading this book, and so far I am really enjoying it.
Like the author, I think all of us at one time or another find ourselves in a place in our lives that we don't want to be. Sometimes I think it takes turning our lives over to a higher power to help us find a new path~one that we might not chose or find on our own. If someone had told me three years ago that my life would be totally different, I might have had my doubts. But the changes that occurred, both good and bad, have made me into a different, stronger, and ultimately much happier person.

I can't wait to read more of this book as it is a wonderful book for reflections.

WOW! Glad you are enjoying the book. When I see how cute your DD is, I'll bet you are glad you took such good care of her. Loved the thoughts. I especially liked what you said about being where we don't want to be for a time. I guess we ALL go though it!

[DDuff]

Preparing for a trip this week - but I hope to post my thoughts on the next beads before I leave. Wanted to welcome ItsMe and tell Vicky I enjoyed reading her reflections. This book really does speak to each reader on an individual basis.