One Book, One Fab Female

 

Yippee!  Gretchen Rubin's coming out with a new book, Better Than Before!  An article in Live Happy gives a taste of what will be available as of 03/15/15 - just in time to take with me down the Leading To Well-being Conference!  Certifiable goose bumps over the timing.

 

Gretchen was the indirect cause of a major project & shift in my life.  John & I went down a talk she gave when her first book, The Happiness Project, was published.  Going to Center City to hear an unknown author was not typical of us (although I wish it was!).  I must have heard her interviewed by Terry Gross or Marty Moss-Coane.  In any case, she spoke at The Bellevue, sponsored by the Joseph Fox Bookshop, two additional factors that would have beckoned.  (Happy connections with both.)   And down we went.

The talk was everything I'd hoped for, the author was delightful (although she presented herself as an average human, she was/is anything but!), it was a lovely drive down & back, we found just-around-the-corner parking at a super low rate, enjoyed drinks at the city-view bar where we met a charming young couple.  It was an unforgettable night.

As we edged out of the parking garage onto Chestnut, banners along the street  - One Book, One Philadelphia - caught my eye & imagination.  (Orphan Train is the 2015 book)

One Book, One City; One Book, One City; One Book, One City; One Book, One City.... ~  One Book, One FAMILY!  Had lost contact with my older sister & oldest brother since Mom died in 2001.  Was a challenge, figuring out how to reconnect - they are very similar, but I am VERY different from both, easily get on their nerves.  Here was a non-pushy, not too in-their-faces way to approach.  And there was no down side.  I love win-win!

Lockharts are book lovers from way back.  Every other month, I'd send them a book!  No note, no fussy inscription - just One Book, One Family & the date. 

Took nine books, eighteen months, but connection made!  The ninth book was destined to be the last - hadn't heard a peep from either one, plus buying & mailing a book wasn't cheap.  Made the best pick I could, the one I thought had the best shot at a response - Play Their Hearts Out.  

Didn't hear from my brother, but Mim sent a card with a few words of thanks.  And that was our opening.  Over the past five years, we've developed a fun post office relationship, cards & notes winging back & forth.  And that lead to reconnecting to Peter - who, to this day, has never mentioned the books.  

 

I have wonderful heart connections with Gretchen Rubin that her books have nothing to do with, yet always will.  And now she's out with a book about mastering the habits of everyday lives.  Which I find sort of a hoot, since Gretchen strikes me as a quintessential Type A personality who nailed productive habits from her cradle.  But if the short article in Living Happy is any indicator, she understands the gnarly character of habits & how to transform lousy ones into better, even great.

One book, one fab female!