Books The Widower And I: How to Talk to a Widower Book 10:54 PM The Widower And I Though Doug is a widower and I'm a single woman in my 20s, his raw, honest journey through grief in "How To Talk To A Widower" mirrored my own struggle with loss so perfectly that it made me realize I wasn't alone in pretending to be okay while falling apart inside.It´s rare for someone to say something to you just a few words really and actually make you see yourself from a completely different vantage point. -How To Talk To A Widower The Widower and IThe main character in the book How to Talk to a Widower is Doug.Doug is a guy and he is a widower! I'm a single woman in my 20s.But I felt a soul connection while reading about his story and struggles. Doug was devastated when his wife, Hailey, died. He tries to live and stay normal, but he can't escape the ruthlessness of being lonely at night. He hates it when people feel sorry for him. He knows he'll be okay soon, but that doesn't mean he'll stop feeling the pain. He doesn't hurry up; he lets time heal him, he lets Hailey's memories comfort him, and he allows himself to feel his love for her even after she's gone. He trips, he fails, he struggles through the cruelty of life, but he doesn't stop living. He tries to be okay. He knows he'll be OK. He’s so human. So authentic, so gritty... so me. You'll laugh at his boo boos, you'll grieve with him, you'll feel his love, you'll love his imperfections. Let me write here again why I love Doug: I know exactly what it means to act as normal as possible for the world to see. I know how hard it is to hold on to something you used to have but isn't there anymore. I know how awful it is to deal with something that happened so abruptly, so sudden, and how cruel it is that the world would not even give you enough time to let it sink in first before it goes on. I know how crazy it is to get pissed and then feel guilty about getting pissed and then get pissed about feeling guilty. I know how difficult it is to cry yourself to sleep, wake up without feeling the purpose of waking up anymore but getting up anyway and showing the world you're still okay. I just know how messed up Doug felt and I’m glad that he made me realize I’m not alone, even if he’s just a fictional character. Reading this book made me realize that I may not be a widower, but we all have a Doug in us.Recommend it?If you haven't read How To Talk To A Widower yet, please PLEASE do!Especially if you like unpretentious characters like Holden Caulfield in The Catcher In The Rye.This post contains affiliate links so we'd get a commission if you purchase through the links at no additional cost to you.
Lux Thinking Aloud Chillux. Cook, Chat And Chill With Lux 4:35 PM The Single Woman’s 30-Day Blogging Challenge Day 21: How would you pitch a reality show about yourself? To what network? Chillux. Cook, Chat And Chill With Lux One of my fleeting childhood dreams was to have my own TV. show. Ironic because I've always been a timid kid. If I'd pitch a reality show for myself, it will most likely be shown on TLC or Food Network. It will be me welcoming friends at home or going to a friend's house and us cooking, eating and chatting the day away (got the idea from one of my fave local T.V. shows Spoon). No script, no by-the-book measurement of ingredients and just casual, sensible and fun conversation. Sharing interests, opinions and what-have-you's. I think that's what people need to SEE at the end of a very busy stressful day. I seldom cook now because I'd rather spend my time online, read a book or catch up on some zzzz's on my free time. I miss it though. Especially when I get the taste right and I see people enjoy the fruit of my labor. I also love simple, honest and casual conversations shared during a meal. It's where you really build relationships and get to know people. A heartwarming meal shared with people close to your heart. No complications, just good food, good times with good friends...exactly the way I want things to be. I think that's what people need to HAVE at the end of a very busy stressful day. Welcome to "Chillux". Let's cook, chat and chill with Lux! Not bad for a tagline, huh? Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Lux Thinking Aloud 5 Things About Me That Will Surprise You 10:46 AM The The Single Woman’s 30-Day Blogging Challenge Day 19: What is something about you that people would be surprised to learn? A few things about me that (some) people would be surprised to learn: 1. I curse like a sailor. Family and old friends know about this because they already heard me drop some expletives before. It will be a surprise to those I met maybe 3 years ago. I've stopped inserting swear words in my sentences a long time ago. But piss me off real good and I can bring out that foul mouthed bitch in me. 2. I've gone through a LOT of rejections, disappointments, betrayals, accusations and whatnot, (hey, who hasn't?) but I can still manage to smile, keep walking, keep moving forward, keep on living. 3. I am an investor. 4. I can punch really hard despite my small frame and skinny arms. 5. I am very intuitive. I sometimes dream about something before it happens. Sometimes I start thinking about someone out of the blue and later learn that something's going on with this person. Especially if we have a deep connection. Or most of the time I know what's going on but I refuse to say it because I want to hear it first from the person or I want to know how honest that person is. So most of the time if someone tells me something, it's not a confession, it's a confirmation (but of course I act surprised). I know, women. It's our gift and our curse. There are more, but I don't think I would want the world to know. How about you? What's your little secret? Surprise me. Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
Life Lessons 20 Things I Would Tell My High School Self 9:48 AM You may feel like it's the end, but it's only the beginning. The Single Woman’s 30-Day Blogging Challenge Day 18: If you could have a conversation with yourself in high school, what would you say? There are things I would like to tell my high school self. Don't we all wish we have a time machine so we can go back and redo or undo a few things? I bet if we could, most of us will go back to high school. That's when majority of our boo boos happened. It's also when we met great people who became our lifelong friends, when we couldn't care less, when we learned some of the best life lessons, and when some wonderful moments happened. 20 Things I Would Tell My High School Self 1. You've got brilliant ideas! Don't be afraid to speak up and share it to the world. I used to always hold back in sharing especially during a class. I know the answers while the rest of my classmates would stare back blankly when a teacher asks a question. Then I'd hate hate hate it when the teacher would reveal the answer because it's exactly what I was thinking. This did not happen just once, but all throughout my student life. 2. Time is important. Discipline begins now. 3. Don't cut your hair too short! It won't be as lustrous as it is now when it grows back. 4. Haters are confused admirers. Enjoy the attention but continue to work on improving yourself. 5. Watch T.V. less. 6. Learn to say "no" as early as now. 7. Careful who you trust. Not everyone who calls you friend are really your friends. 8. ALWAYS wear lotion. 9. Eat more veggies! You'll thank me later. 10. Sleep, sleep, sleep. 11. Don't take life too seriously. You're only young once. 12. Sweet Valley is nice, but read more John Grishams and Sidney Sheldons. You'll never have enough time to read. 13. Now is the best time to start tithing and investing. 14. Go take that risk! 15. Don't use that product. 16. Everything will make sense a little later. 17. Keep on dancing! 18. It will sometimes suck, but just hang in there. 19. You are the only one stopping you. 20. You may feel like it's the end, but it's only the beginning. High school is a beautiful prerequisite to the real world. It exposed us to different kinds of people, allowed us to experience different things, gave us our highs and our lows, gave us a preview of what life is going to be, provided us our first taste of hellos and goodbyes. My high school self had a blast. I know I could have done better, I could have made wiser decisions and I could have been more cautious. If I could go back, I'd tell my high school self all these 20 things. But maybe I would also just let myself be, and watch myself trip, fall, laugh and discover life the way I did. That's where the fun really was.
Lux Thinking Aloud Inside My Time Capsule 6:26 PM The Single Woman’s 30-Day Blogging Challenge Day 16: If you planted a time capsule right now of your life to be opened in 20 years, what would be in it? Twenty years from now I would like to look back in my life that has been with a smile on my face and warmth in my heart. If I were to plant a time capsule right now, these are the things that I'll include so when I open it 20 years from now, that's exactly what I'll do---smile, maybe shed tears of joy with a heart full of gratefulness. Inside My Time Capsule 1. Pictures of the people in my life, places I've been and things I like. 2. My favorite books. I have a long list and if the space inside my time capsule is limited, then I'll just choose a few that has really impacted my life; inspired me, entertained me, spoke to me, I stayed up late reading, I dreamed about and made me laugh or cry. a.) Cliche as it may sound, I'd put my Bible in. It's a gift from my priest friend (when he was still a seminarian). Every lesson you need in life is there. It is our Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth. b.) Simplify and Live Abundance by Bo Sanchez. It taught me how to live simply (live within or under my means), stay contented but strive for a better life and become rich without robbing your soul. c.) To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee d.) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Among the 7 books, this is my favorite. e.) The Single Woman by Mandy Hale. It taught me to appreciate, affirm, celebrate my single life and be as happy as I should be regardless of my status. f.) Where We Belong by Emily Griffin g.) Master Of The Game by Sidney Sheldon 3. My brother's stuffed bear who we consider as family. Every time I go home I borrow it from him and we sleep with Bearbear on our bed. 4. My journal with all my dreams, struggles and even everyday mundane whereabouts recorded. 5. My laptop (let's assume that it will still work after 20 years). This is like cheating though since most of the things valuable to me are kept in my files here. My "unpublished" blogs, pictures, favorite songs, movies, T.V. shows and important files are stored here. I can only be excited as to what my life will turn out 20 years from now. So I'm cherishing the things that are in the present and even feel the pain if it's there. I am preparing for the worst but definitely expecting only the best. Hey, did you find this post helpful or entertaining? Please go ahead and share. Share buttons on the left and at the bottom of the article. Big thanks! Subscribe to About Life And Love by Email
