I really liked the premise of this book. I liked the idea of taking Stepford Wives and turning it on its head. And bits of the execution was excellent. I liked the way the story was set up with the wide variety of careers the women had and using each other and that as a way to build a network and power, which is something many men do. I thought the story was setup well with many examples of all the ways big and small that women carry the load and all the ways big and small that they worry/think nonstop about life as a family and all of its bits. How they carry a disproportionate amount of the load by such a large margin.
And yet. I also thought it was more stereotypical than I would have liked it to be because when it’s that two-dimensional the story doesn’t have as much of an impact as it could. It makes it easier for people to write off the points the author was trying to make. I do wish there were more combinations of couples and marriages.
Overall, I liked the time I spent with this story. It was a fast, fun read.
with gratitude to netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced audio in exchange for an honest review.
This book had such mixed reviews. Especially as a follow up to Daisy Jones which was so good. So I walked into it thinking it was going to be terrible. It was perfectly enjoyable. It wasn’t deep and layered as much as her previous novels but I still enjoyed it. A perfect example of how expectations can color the reading experience.
This was a mixed bag for me. I enjoyed some of the parts of it and thought other parts dragged a bit more than I preferred. The premise was interesting and felt similar to Ready Player One a little bit and at parts it was fun like that book. I liked the idea more than the execution at times.
Weekly Intention: My intention this week is to go slow. I need the re-entry to be slow and intentional. So I need to make sure to slow myself down each time the instinct to run rises.
This month’s intention is:July: Yes to adventures: Create some adventure. Go places. Do things. Hug your people. Take chances. This is an interesting provocation. I’ve already done one adventure in July. Can i do smaller adventures? Is there a way I can take some chances?
One way I will leap this week: maybe finally find and start taking a class?
One boundary I will set this week: I am going to try hard not to leap into working all the time.
One area where I will go deeper this week: I will attempt to do the exercises in the DYL book.
What do I need to sit with this week? the numb feeling i seem to have a lot lately.
I am looking forward to: having my hubby back.
Focus onCore Desired Feelings (lighter, kinder, enough, magic, wild): i did get to have some wild and magic last week so this week will be about feeling lighter and enough.
This week’s challenges: just easing back into work will be challenging
Top Goals:
Work: clean all email, get to work on FOW, meet C.
Personal: continue journaling plan, come up with art plan, find one class.
Family: climb with J, get david to enroll in class, plan milestones for N
This week, I want to remember: there’s enough time for it all.
The Best Part of this Week: Vacation was wonderful and it was really good to disconnect for a bit. I needed it and ideally I need more of it.
I celebrate: Not checking any of my email the whole time!
I am grateful for: paid vacation, i know it’s not something everyone gets to have.
This week, I exercised: No climbing this week and I didn’t ride the bike for the two days I was away but otherwise, I did the core, arms, riding, stretching and yoga daily. I did do a long hike (8miles) and some outdoor climbing with my hubby.
This week, I said yes to: taking downtime.
I said no to: staying connected to work.
I honored my values (love, learn, peace, service, gratitude):I love these values. I think I am not leaning into learn as much as I would have liked so that’s the one that’s top of mind for me at the moment.
Top Goals Review: (these are a few weeks old but that’s ok)
Work: i did a bunch at work, not sure if I’d say I am caught up but I am close.
Personal: I did restart journaling plan and sort of came up with art plan, I did not find one class.
Family: spent a lot time with J, did not yet get david to enroll in class, also did not plan milestones for N but he’s doing well
My mood this week was: it was calm though I’ve been feeling crabby for the last two days
I am proud of: i am proud of taking a break when i needed it.
I release: i am working on constantly releasing things because it’s what I need most in this moment.
Here’s what I learned this week: life is complicated and beautiful all at the same time.
I was feeling super unmotivated and blah all day today. Vacation is ending and I am tired and i.dont want it to end. I was whiny and lethargic all day.
I finally dragged myself out of the house to go food shopping with the little boy. After we returned I figured I might as well make some food for the week.
I made steak, ground beef, salmon, zucchini, yellow potatoes, sweet potatoes and corn. And I cut the watermelon.
And I bought some beautiful flowers.
I still feel mostly blah but at least I have some fresh and delicious food in the fridge now.
Tonight I am sitting in the back yard, a hummingbird just passed by me, it’s quiet with just enough breeze for my chime to go off occasionally. I just had a delicious salad and I am listening to a good book. This is the kind of moment where I close my eyes and say “yes” and feel so grateful for being here and now.
Back home and excited to be playing with paint again.
I have three more days before I go back to work and while I definitely feel more rested and calmer, I certainly wouldn’t say no to another few weeks off. Each time I think about vacation ending I can feel the stress of going back.
Today we got the first laptop email from school which reminded me that we’re also halfway through summer. Not excited about summer ending either. This coming year will be challenging and busy for my kids. I am not ready to be in the office or doing school drop offs just yet.
So instead I am reminding myself to be here now. I still have three more days, no reason to spend them stressing about what’s to come. I still have half a summer with the kids. No need to worry about the fall just yet.
There’ll be time for all that. That time is not now.
View from the top of Mt. Tam is breathtaking. An 8mile hike was today’s adventure. It was hotter than we expected but we made it and the views were rewarding.
Vacation almost over, grateful to get to sneak a few adventures in there.
