By Irene Conlan -

I’m getting more and more requests to review books about self improvement and write about them on this blog.  I always cringe a little before I agree to do it because many of the books are just – well – BAD. They are full of misspelled words, grammatical errors, and sentences/paragraphs/chapters that don’t say anything.  But now and then I am sent an absolute gem of a book and Appreciative Moments is one of them. It’s whole title is Appreciative Moments: Stories and Practices for Living and Working Appreciatively. It is a gentle book that makes a powerful impact on your response to the happenings in your day.

I love this book.

Each chapter tells a story, offers some wisdom, makes you smile or laugh out loud and ends with some questions that bring the wisdom home – “up close and personal ” as they say on the news. It applies to everyday life without being preachy or pushy – gently bringing a powerful idea to you for you to savor and digest. (My favorite chapter, by the way,  is on savoring. Read it and you’ll understand why I chose this delicious chapter to favor).   The questions – or practices – at the end of each chapter give your mind something it can chew on all day and it’s wonderful upbeat energy feeds your soul.

In a time when many of us struggle to stay positive while being  bombarded with negativity from all sides, this book is a beacon that gives insight, wisdom, and humor to help us stay balanced and upright.  On the back cover it says “Don’t settle for the ordinary when you can have the incredible.”  The incredible is already all around you – this book helps you open your eyes and heart to see it.

This is a book I will recommend to all  my clients. And it is a book I recommend for you.