Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

Eleanor Oliphant is thirty and lives a regimented and simple, single and solitary life. Every day is the same as the day before for Eleanor and she prefers it that way. She doesn’t socialize at work or outside and spends the weekends listening to radio programs or reading books whose covers have caught her attention at the library, regardless of their subject matter. The only other person she speaks regularly to is her abusive Mummy.

When Eleanor’s computer goes on the fritz, she’s forced to contact Raymond, the firm’s new IT employee, who insists on being chatty and walking her to the bus stop. Unfortunately, elderly Sammy has taken a tumble on the street. Raymond quickly rushes to his aid and convinces reluctant Eleanor to help as well. Despite her need to remain anonymous, Eleanor slowly finds herself drawn to Raymond and his mother, and to Sammy and his large family.

It’s rare that I can zip through a book in a day, but when I do, I know it’s because I’m absolutely in love with it. While there’s some undeniably depressing and tragic subject matter in Eleanor Oliphant, there are many, MANY truly delightful breaks of sunshine and happiness.

I adored Gail Honeyman’s writing. Deadpan, dry, yet highly intelligent humor, to me, is hilarious and there is definitely tons of it here. It’s not often that I literally laugh aloud while reading a book (especially in public) but I did several times while reading this one. Ms. Honeyman’s sense of humor is classic.

The characters are wonderfully genuine and realistically flawed. My heart ached for Eleanor. I know what it’s like to endure abuse and how it can destroy your spirit. Yet I also know that you can’t let that pain consume you, and that it’s okay to trust people again. 

This is touching, quirky and spectacularly splendid reading! I absolutely cannot say enough good things about Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine and I can’t wait for the movie to come out.

5 of 5 Stars, Review by Susan Barton

Kindness to Yourself, Kindness to Others Guest Post By Annelise Dixon

As a former Head Start teacher, special education assistant and substitute teacher, I have a great respect for educators. Shaping the minds and hearts of youngsters is truly a labor of love and an awesome responsibility. 

I recently reached out to teacher Annelise Dixon on Instagram. I LOVE her enthusiasm and outlook. I knew I wanted to invite her to the DIY Mom Blog to share a bit of her contagious enthusiasm. Annelise was a doll and wrote this lovely piece on kindness. Who doesn't need more kindness in their life? Take it away, Annelise...

“Give me knowledge so that I may have kindness for all.” – Native American Proverb

Kindness is Crucial to Our Wellbeing and to the Wellbeing of Others

When was the last time you showed kindness? What about generosity, tolerance, compassion, support, friendliness and warmth? How often do you do a good deed without expecting anything in return?  These are all traits of kindness that are crucial to our wellbeing and the wellbeing of others.

We live in a world that is constantly being bombarded by the latest social media websites and technological advances. It is important, now more than ever, that we cultivate kindness to bring our community together rather than driving everyone apart.

Kindness – It Starts with You

The first step to increasing your kindness involves being kind to yourself. Develop your inner voice to be nurturing and forgiving rather than harsh and critical. Looking after yourself, valuing your unique personal traits, being proud of your achievements, and forgiving yourself if you make a mistake are all ways of being kind to yourself. Implementing these suggestions will build your self-esteem and a sense of satisfaction in your life.

Celebrate Others

Celebrate the successes of others as well as your own. Remember that we have all had different experiences in our lives that shape who we are. We need to show empathy and respect to others because we don’t know what they have gone through in life. Avoid comparing yourself to others, as this will only lead to competitiveness, jealousy and spite.

 

Kindness is Action

Some suggestions to increase your kindness are using good manners, avoiding making unnecessary complaints, and listening to someone with your full attention. Write a note to a student, friend, family member, colleague or employee expressing your gratitude to them. Jot down what you love about yourself and others. Smile and laugh more to build relationships of trust and respect.

Start practicing kindness today. It is possible to become a kinder person but don’t expect it to happen overnight. Start small with some of the suggestions in this post and build up from there!

“Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible” - Dalia Lama

ABOUT ANNELISE DIXON

Annelise is a beginning teacher, working in Newcastle, Australia. She has a Bachelor of Teaching (Primary) and is currently studying the Master of Special and Inclusive Education at the University of Newcastle. Annelise is passionate about teaching music and reading. She also has a passion for learning as much as she can about topics and blogging about them! Annelise is inspired by the work of Nelson Mandela, Sir Ken Robinson and Paulo Freire. She hopes to inspire wellness and happiness in all people. Readers can connect with Annelise on her website.

Using Your Imagination to Ground Yourself and Focus on What Really Matters in Life Guest Post By Children's Book Author Daniel Linsteadt

I'm all about finding holistic ways to calm and ground ourselves. I'm also a HUGE fan of children's books. When I reached out to children's book author Daniel Linsteadt to request an author guest post, he really nailed it. He managed to give us a post that addresses both of these topics and more. Take it away, Daniel!

The other day, my coworker said in an excited tone, “Come check this out!” There was a colorful image on the computer screen that I was to relax and stare at. As I looked, the colors on the screen faded away. Unable to hold my gaze, I blinked or readjusted my eyes and the color would reappear. The physical world around us is truly a miracle. This is the playground for my stories.

In my new Nila series (Water, Air, Fire), I toy with all our senses. Our first scent of the ocean is exquisite, but quickly fades with each exhale. Taking in your first breath of pine scented air in the mountains is strong and vibrant, but this too dissipates with time. Why does this happen? What other sights or smells am I missing that are right before me? I believe love for another person is the same, which requires us to readjust and refocus on that person to rekindle that sensation back into a flame.

           

I adore nature and all the wondrous sights, smells and textures she provides…life-giving properties that are just as important as water, air and food. Nature grounds me from all the static I absorb throughout a busy day. Our bodies and mind need that calming energy to stay vital, like the first day we opened our eyes to this world and our life.

© 2018, Susan Barton

You only need to watch a child place his fingers in running water for the first time—wow! First, there’s a slight frown from not being able to possess it, then a smile at how it flows over his skin. Water reflects color and light from the world around it, as well as the temperature…another sensation that is acute at first and then dulls—we call it getting used to. The young child then begins to laugh and talk to the water as they splash themselves and others with their newfound water friend. But as we age, water becomes, well, just water.

© 2018, Susan Barton

     

To bring that child back into me, I only need to step out into the sunshine with bare feet and breathe in the fragrant air. My imagination runs rampant with stories as I gaze at colorful flowers, multi-shaped leaves and fluorescent dragonflies darting through the air. Isn’t this what we did when we first arrived on planet Earth?

My second Oaf story, Oaf in Bear River, was born in this way. As I watched dragonflies bouncing off the glinting water’s surface and I rested my back against a log in the middle of the river, an idea began taking shape. A rainbow of light fluttered just beyond my arm’s reach on the streambed, and boom! My mind was off to the races, and the story was practically written before I came ashore.

I have a folder on my computer called “Stories” that contains many Word documents. Each saved with a title, and its contents a budding tale discovered when out in play. If I only had enough time write and give attention to each fantasy that has popped into my head. Going to work is important, but it does get in the way….

ABOUT DANIEL LINSTEADT

Daniel Linsteadt is the author of the Nila children’s book series and the Oaf children’s book series. He has a BA degree in Environmental Studies (emphasis Geology) and a BA degree in Geography (emphasis Remote Sensing) from UC Santa Barbara.

Daniel has spent most of his career as an IT programmer and administrator. His joy has always been creating tales, so now he shares his passion for life with inspiring and uplifting stories.

Daniel can often be found sipping coffee in the foothills of Auburn, California where nature is still wild ... if you know where to look.

Readers are invited to connect with Daniel on his author website.