I wanted to get my book recommendations up early so you have time to review them and plan what one(s) you want to purchase this holiday season. I recommend these books not only for widows but anyone looking to improve their life.
These books
- were not written for widows, but everything the author’s say apply to widows.
- require a pen, hi-liter, and journal for note taking.
I’ve also shared some video so you can get to know the author a little better.
Enjoy and all of these book links are non-affiliate – meaning I do not get anything in return except undying love and gratitude.
“My Little Buddy”
Healing After Loss: Daily Meditations for Working Through Grief – Martha Whitmore Hickman – Just get this book or give it to someone grieving. It helped me tremendously. It is not geared towards any one denomination and the meditations are short, easy reads.
Northeast Ohio Authors
UnMask: Let Go of Who You’re Suppose To Be and Unleash Your True Leader. – Jeff Nischwitz – This book will challenge the way you think, which for widows is good. Now that your life circumstances have changed, you need to rethink what you are going to do with life and who you are person and professional. Jeff asks the tough questions and his question will rattle around your head until you answer them.
Chapter 7 Exponential Believing (The Possibilities Leader) is the game changer for widows. This sentence really spoke to me.
“You are defined by what you believe is possible, and most people are narrowly or exclusively focused on limits and perceptions of possibilities.” (Kindle location 2358)
You have a new life ahead of you, filled with unlimited possibilities so take the blinders of what you believe is possible. I also liked Chapter 13 Silencing the Stories in Your Head (The Debunking Leader). We all have stories in our head that need to come out and be closely examined so we can move forward through grief.
I read this on my Kindle, but books tend to get lost on Kindles. So I will be buying the paperback and doing a re-read with pen, hiliter and a journal by my side. Highly recommend you do the same.
The one suggestion I have is not to read this book until you’ve made it through the first year of grief. Jeff is a former attorney so his style of writing is formal and professional. I know what my brain was like during the first year and doubt I could have handled reading this book during that time but that is just me.
30 Perfect Days, Finding Abundance in Ordinary Life – Claudia J Taller (Home)
Interwoven throughout Claudia’s quest to experience 30 perfect days is the story of her marriage – a marriage of ups and downs. There is nothing wrong with this, but for someone fresh in their grief it may not set well. Therefore I recommend this book for seasoned widows only. Widows who are 5 years out from the start of their adventure. Widows who remember that marriage is all about good and bad times.
Claudia does an excellent job of taking you with her through her quest and includes thought provoking question at the end of every chapter.
52 Weeks of Gratitude: Transformation by Appreciation – Lisa Ryan (Grategy.com Home Page)
No holiday season would be complete without recommending any one of Lisa Ryan’s books on gratitude. I know it is hard to be grateful when grieving but we are called to be thankful in all circumstances. Lisa’s book will give you practical tips and show you have to be more grateful. There is video of Lisa on her home page. I also have several other books by Lisa and have enjoyed each one.
She is a nationally recognized expert on gratitude and you can sign up to receive her weekly gratitude email on her home page.
Nationally Recognized Authors
All The Places To Go…How Will You Know? God has placed before you an open door. What will you do? – John Ortberg
Yes, this is a book inspired by Dr. Seuss. It is about going through open doors and as a widow,you now have a lot of open doors to choose from. His book is reassuring in that no matter what door you decided to go through God will use your decision to grow you into a person who reflects His light into the world. God also does use closed doors and bad decisions because He works all things out for good.
Let’s All Be Brave: Living Life With Everything You Have – Annie Downs – You have a new life ahead of you, one you may did not ever anticipate having, but here it is. It takes being brave to move forward through grief and start a new life. Go after your dream. Don’t spend your life waiting to live – life the good life now. God supplies all your needs, now get out there and craft your new life.
When I am feeling down, weary and wiped out this is the speech I listen to because even I need a pep talk about being brave.
The Encouragement Project (EBook Shorts) 21 Heart-to-Heart ways to Show You Care – Holley Gerth (Website Home Page) – Another book I would classify as a “just get it book.” I wish I had this in a spiral bound edition to keep on my desk. It is filled with lots of ideas for what you can pray, say and do for anyone who needs encouragement.
You can not go wrong with any book written by Holley, I’ve read several of her books this year and find each one to be very caring, nurturing and uplifting.
Final Thoughts
These are my recommendations for this holiday season. I hope you will purchase at least one for yourself or a friend.
Have a blessed holiday season and I will see you for 1 more post next week before my holiday break.
Don’t forget to check the Holiday Helps 2015 page for articles and websites to get you or a grieving loved one through this season. It was updated on 11/16 and will continue to be updated as I come across more resources for you.
JoyReturns 