Living Well

  Wabi Sabi by Beth Kempton is a book that inspires you to love yourself, as you are, for every imperfection you have. The book follows Beth Kempton through Japan, where she learns about Japanese culture and seamlessly translates it to the Western mindset.       The cover of the book is what initially drew me in. It showcases kintsugi art in shimmering gold. I didn't know it at the time, but kintsugi is the art of cracked pottery, where the artist incorporates the cracks into the final finished piece of art, adding dimension and beauty to the overall piece. This is what wabi sabi is all about; seeing the beauty in aging and imperfection, lovingly showcasing how each mark tells a story and should be celebrated rather than hidden.           Coming from the West, I was born into the mindset that aging is something we want to fight against, something to be ashamed of; t eaching me t hat there is an expiration date on beauty and tha...

Discipline is Destiny  by Ryan Holiday is a comprehensive, easy to read modern guide to Stoicism. Using  famous people  as examples, from sports stars to the Queen of England, Holiday effectively draws the reader in and gifts them with a can do attitude where anything feels possible. This book is a manual to self-discipline; combining ancient wisdom from Marcus Aurelius' meditations, and other ancient Stoics, with modern day Stoics who we can all identify with. This book is a valuable and inspiring guide to becoming more disciplined in our own lives.        While reading this book, I became aware of the gratification I granted myself through doing the hard thing and showing up for myself. Holiday uses some extreme examples of self-discipline in this book and highlights the drawbacks of such extremism, as well as the advantages. He emphasizes moderation in the book, highlighting that in a balanced lifestyle, there is space for both discipline and f...