Tuesday, April 17, 2018

Sacred Mornings and Book Review: Almost Adulting by Arden Rose

Let me drop this pipe bomb for you: The most important thing in life is to FEEL GOOD. Feeling good is priority #1. If you do not feel good, you will drag those negative feelings with you throughout the day and you will pick up more negativity along the way and will continue to go down the spiral. Why would you want to feel like that? I sure do not want to feel like that.

I want to say back in November 2017 I learned about sacred morning practices through the radical self love guru herself Gala Darling. I have learned that if you start your day off on the right foot, your day just flows with positivity and warmth. I actively work on raising my vibration in the morning right before work and as soon as I get up out of bed. Imagine your day if you made the choice to feel joy first thing. I promise you -- it is delicious.

So, what exactly is in my sacred morning practice? What helps me feel joy and feel good? Now I will tell you first -- this is what works FOR ME. This might not work for you. If you want to learn more about sacred morning practice go here: Sacred Mornings: Experience Your Full Radiance While the Sun Comes Up

I get up out of my bed and open my black out shade to let the sun in and take a big stretch. I set up my morning tea (It fluctuates between either Numi Organic tea, Snarky Tea, or green tea) and "do my business". Let my tea steep while I go and make my bed. My bed is my temple and I love knowing that I have a nourished loving place to come home to so that is done first thing. I turn on Spotify and depending upon the day, I put a playlist on and shake my booty on my faux fur rug. Get dressed and go get my tea. Then I light a candle, change my calendar for the day and relish in its delicious offering, and crack open my daily awemanac which is chock full of quotes, toasts for the day, journaling, etc. I do the toast for the day, do some writing, and some gratitude practice. Then I do my morning mantra courtesy of The Morning Mantras. Finally -- I crack open a non-fiction book; whether it is a self-help book, something inspiring, something motivating, a memoir, etc. Thats where this book review comes in.

I discovered this book through one of the many book release newsletters that I receive and laughed at the word "adulting". Who really knows how to adult? I sure do not even though I have my shit together. So here walks in a book that is relatable. I added it to my Sacred Morning Practice bookshelf where it sits with Text Me When You Get Home by Kayleen Schaefer (another book review in the works) and other nonfiction/self help books.

Here is what the book is about: For fans of Grace Helbig and Alexa Chung comes a fresh, hilarious guide to growing up your way from social media influencer and lifestyle vlogger Arden Rose.

In Almost Adulting—perfect for budding adults, failing adults, and eaters of microwave mug brownies—Arden tells you how to survive your future adulthood. Topics include: Making internet friends who are cool and not murderers, Flirting with someone in a way to make them think you are cool and not a murderer, Being in an actual relationship where you talk about your feelings in a healthy manner??? To the other person???????
Eating enough protein, Assembling a somewhat acceptable adult wardrobe when you have zero dollars, Going on adventures without starting to smell,How sex is supposed to feel, but, like, actually though. By the end of the book—a mash-up of essays, lists, and artwork—you'll have learned not only how to dress yourself, how to travel alone, how to talk to strangers online, and how to date strangers (in PERSON!), but also how to pass as a real, functioning, appropriately socialized adult.

I will tell you -- this book is not as advertised. It reads more like a memoir than a how-to guide but I have learned that the more you read about others lives - you can take the information given and make it work for you as well as make it relatable. I did read through this fast as it is a quick read. It was a really funny, encouraging read that related to my sense of humor. I enjoyed finding comfort in seeing my similar life experiences expressed as a normal, awkward part of growing up. She mixed tips in with her own experiences and I really loved the way she took the time to express her different ideas about happiness as happiness is my number one goal; the goal that I am in control of. No one else. Every time I turned the page either I smiled or laughed at a quip or metaphor. This book is geared towards a wide range of people which is another thing I love. While some of the tips in Arden's book I already knew about, and have done before in my whole 40 years of living, I still found this book entertaining. I do wish books like these were around when I was in my late teenage years, possibly even twenties, but there is always a time to grow and change. I ended the book with a new found confidence in my abilities to adult as well as more tips to my arsenal to keeping my shit together. Definitely recommended.