#40things - Books!

So, it's the end of May.
And how is my list of 40 things to do in my 40th year going?
Best not ask...

But, as predicted, I am merrily chomping through my goal of reading at least 12 books. I thought I would share some highlights of them so far.

Firstly - I have just finished reading a sneak preview of Sheridan Voysey's book, Resurrection Year - due out in a week.
Thank God for Sheridan and his wife Merryn - daring to share not only their story of struggle, perseverance, strength and hope, but for sharing their interior world, their spiritual journey and their love of travel and life in the midst of it.

Whatever your own particular challenge, whether is be childlessness, or disability, or redundancy, or whatever - just walking with them, in such a beautifully written and thought-provoking book, will encourage your socks off. Honestly - when it launches in a week - just go and buy it, or pre-order it now. Sheridan is a phenomenal broadcaster and writer, Merryn a brilliant mind working at Oxford, and we are blessed that they have fairly recently moved from Australia and made the UK home - I really look forward to seeing and hearing much more of him and his ministry.

www.sheridanvoycey.com

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Resurrection-Year-Turning-Broken-Beginnings/dp/0849964806/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1369211286&sr=8-1&keywords=resurrection+year



Secondly, Soul Detox by Craig Groeschel was a tonic. I love this guy - so full of faith and life - and so blunt! Love it!
So many things here stand out from this US church leader and communicator. But I particularly liked the bit on anger - are you a stewer or a spewer? (Or maybe you stew and THEN spew!!!)
I also like the picture of the vulture and the hummingbird. These 2 birds both find what they are looking for. One looks for decay and death, and one looks for sweet nectar and life. The same is true for us - we find what we look for too - whether we look for negatives in people and life - we will find that easily enough, or whether we look for the positive - and guess what - we can easily find that if we decide to focus ourselves too.
Great book.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Soul-Detox-HB-GROESCHEL-CRAIG/dp/0310333687/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1369211325&sr=1-1&keywords=soul+detox



And finally, Patrick Lencioni and his 3 big questions for a frantic family.
I have heard Patrick speak in his leadership capacity - he is exciting, fun and focused. So I was interested in this book - transferring, essentially, some business strategy into our families to make them more effective. But, most  unusually, it is written as a narrative or fable. This has some strengths and weaknesses when you get to the nitty gritty bits, and I am not sure we could ever create the family plc he describes - but it was very very helpful for me.

I thought more deeply about what are our values - which should inform our actions, our giving, our time, our priorities. What are the things we should be prioritising in these next 6 months. How are we making sure we are doing what we really think is important - or do we never think about what is unique or important about our family and to us? Excellent tool for engaging with our family in a different way, and perhaps one that both men and women would find accessible.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Three-Big-Questions-Frantic-Family/dp/0787995320/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1369211366&sr=1-1&keywords=3+big+questions+for+a+frantic+family

I've read others too - Condaleeza Rice's autobiography - great but deeeeeeeeeeeetailed! Julie Walters' autobiography - absolutely first class writing from our top comedy actress, and some tosh too. But, I still have a stack to get through....

Will this be the one of the only part of my 40 things list I will accomplish!?!?!?

40things

I am 40 this year.

I don't think I am a particularly hysterical or emotional person, but this still feels like a significant milestone. Like I should know myself and what to do with my life for example. All the normal stuff, you know, am I making a difference, am I spending my influence wisely, are my priorities straight, is my time being well spent, am I developing in the right direction (the waistline certainly is not)?

As usual I wrote a list (I know, it's an addiction - especially since discovering Wunderlist) of all the things I hope to achieve this year, and the projects I am involved in, the goals I need to achieve for the house, for church, my work projects, and I saw that I have a busy, interesting and, as usual, massively underpaid year ahead!

I also wrote my 6X6 (thankyou Bill Hybels) - which are my six priorities for the next six weeks (or half term more realistically).

All good.

But I don't want this year to pass in a whirlwind of work, volunteering, teenage diaries and chaos without feeling I had done something special. However, I don't have the funds for a trip to New York or Prague, and I really am not interested in climbing a mountain or cycling across the country.

So I decided to make the year more interesting, by including 40 different things. Some easy, some a bit more challenging, some free, some which might be a bit more financially dependent, some which will seem ridiculous to others who can easily do these things, but are significant to me.

And here they are. I want you to know, so you can check up on me to make sure I am making time in my life for them! And I will be writing each month to let you know how it's going - that's one of the #40things anyway!

1.       Eat at Wagamamas (no, I never have)

2.       Eat at Nandos (no, I never have)

3.       Have tea at the Savoy or somewhere equally lush

4.       Write a book

5.       Write a song

6.       Go Sailing

7.       Have a family picnic in the middle of nowhere

8.       Paint a picture

9.       Go to a London show

10.   Take Naomi and Izzy away overnight for a girly trip

11.   Celebrate 20^th Wedding Anniversary by doing something special

12.   Go to the Cinema during the day on my own armed with chocolate

13.   Write a poem with 40 public speaking tips in it

14.   Play the accordion in front of people (even if people laugh!)

15.   Start a family tree

16.   Put all the photos into albums

17.   Take up Photography

18.   Kayak along the Hamble

19.   See a live orchestra/band

20.   Fly in a hot air balloon (well, we will see....)

21.   Watch a series box set

22.   Lose at least ½ stone (OK, not a fun goal, but I will like the result)

23.   Go to an auction and bid

24.   Spend at least a day on retreat

25.   Bake a posh cake (seriously, I have never even tried)

26.   Cook a curry from scratch (ie - not from a jar!)

27.   Speak at a youth event

28.   Have a 40^th birthday celebration

29.   Host/Present 2 training events

30.   Host a minimum of 4 pudding parties to get to know people better

31.   Visit Wales at least 3 times

32.   Do something new for work/business/public speaking

33.   Visit Brownsea Island

34.   Eat Mussels and Crepes in France (we're going anyway to speak there)

35.   Read 2 classic books, 2 Autobiographies, 2 faith-focused books, 2 self development books and 2 fiction books.

36.   Volunteer at something new

37.   Write 12 blog posts

38.   Build something amazing out of lego

39.   Visit a museum

40.   Go on a long walk

 

I must thank all the people on facebook and twitter who helped with suggestions and encouragement. I have, at almost 40 got the most incredible bunch of friends. I am very grateful for them all.

So here is to a fun-filled, fruitful and fulfilling fortieth year!