"Living an Alive Life" Book Review

Scrapping my career and work life and starting over is something I've done a number of times, so I was glad to see that it is part of what Tara Schiller includes in "Living an Alive Life."

Tara will be joining other bloggers on my book tour for "At the Corner of Magnetic and Main," so we agreed to a book swap since I liked the look of her book as well. Our books have similar themes: LIVE! Get out and find your life and do what you love and find love and stop worrying so much about making other people happy.

A book like "Living an Alive Life" is geared to take readers from an unhappy and confused place to one of joy and freedom and enjoyment of life. In general, I'm not Tara's target audience because I've already done much of the journeying she suggests. Maybe that's just part of what happens when you are pushing 50. I've come to terms with not worrying so much about what others think of me and worrying more about making myself happy. But I guess, from this vantage point, I can say that she is right on track.

One portion that really spoke to me was about being a bit more "selfish" and understanding that word in a new way. The expectations of wife and mother that I take great pride in accomplishing definitely butt heads with being selfish, but I'm getting better at standing up for what I want when it really isn't an imposition on someone else. Guilt. Ah, guilt. Getting over making everyone else happy at the expense of my own happiness and being "good" can be the journey for the next decade of my life. It's a slippery, mine-strewn slope--and also a theme of "At the Corner of Magnetic and Main." Yes, we write what we know.

I'm a big fan of lists and goals, and I credit them with keeping me focused on my current ten-year plan. If you are not this kind of person, this book can help you start at the beginning and break down what you really want from life into attainable goals and baby steps.

"Living an Alive Life" is a short read, but Tara adds activities and "to do" lists to create along the way. You can also follow her blog at Absolutely Tara to interact with her and other adventurers along the way. Grab a copy of her book today by clicking on the book cover above and get started on living your own alive life with purpose and meaning and joy.