Everything I've Ever Done That Worked author: Lesley Garner Hay House 2005 ISBN #1-4019-0339-8 Lesley Garner has been writing in various ways her entire life - working as a free-lance journalist, art critic, book and film reviewer, columnist and social commentator. In Everything I've Ever Done That Worked, she gives us insight into ... well, everything she has ever done that worked! The "work" that she is referring to here is life itself, and her connection with it. Rather than following a coffee table book venue, this book functions as a bedside book - something that is kept handy for quick reference, something that will help shed light on life, and how to live it in the best possible fashion. In her introduction, Garner refers to her book as a "resource", something that can be turned to during times of darkness, times when fear and anxiety take over our lives and we are paralyzed. Here we will find a helping hand, a means to dig ourselves out of the chaos of life. This is not ego talking - this is Garner at her free-flowing, stream of consciousness best! The resources that she presents here are gleaned from a lifetime of learning - a lifetime of success, with a few failures thrown in for good measure. It fascinates me that one part of her life consists of being very drawn to music - as a listener, and as an active participant in choral groups. Music carries its very own unique energy, with the ability to move us, and to heal us. For Garner, it was not something she sought out, but something that came to her naturally. There is no particular structure to this book - it is a free flowing, stream of consciousness presentation of life situations that Garner has been through and learned from. Garner herself terms it a "circular" book - the reader can pick it up and read whatever they want to read, wherever it appears in the book. What better "bedside reader" could we have! There are a multitude of stories presented here - short stories, on average two to four pages in length. A short sound-bite that can be placed anywhere in our day, whenever and wherever we need help and guidance. Below are a few of the life issues that have been addressed, and a little bit about what she has to say, just so that my readers can get the tone of this book. Be Glad You're Free: The story that Garner presents here is when she was at a crossroads in her life. Her job had ended, and she was looking for work. She was looking for work in the same field (as a newspaper columnist), but nothing seemed "right". Through the auspices of a book that she had picked up on Guardian Angels, she was able to communicate with hers. What she learned was that she needed to be glad that she was free! The price of freedom was insecurity, but security itself is often an illusion. She choose to do things that made her happy, such as going to art school, so that when she did go back to work, it was something that she wanted to do and was happy about. "To Do" Lists: Did I ever identify with this one! All of my life I have lived by these infamous lists (to the point that on one job my assistant would check the list on my desk to see if there was anything that she could do, so that I wouldn't have to). Garner explains that how they work is to reduce internal clutter and panic. All I can say is - they do work! Make Friends With Money: I think this is a big issue for most women. Not money per se, but making friends with it, accepting it in your life and making it work for you. Garner advocates taking charge of your money - know where it is coming from, and where it is going. Know what your money can do for you. Embrace The Dragon: The Dragon is all of those shadows inside us - all of the things that cause us fear and anxiety. The story that she tells here is of a week spent in the countryside of North Wales, doing things like jumping from the top of a waterfall and rappelling down the side of a dark slate mine. Embrace your fears - and take life one step at a time! Find Your Own Rhythm: The story here is about an experiment that Leslie carried out on herself. Working from home, her time was her own. She decided to get up when she was ready, start work when she was ready, break when she was ready, and determine what her natural rhythm was. We can all do this, to great benefit. It often happens that we cannot totally live our lives by our own natural rhythms, but we can adapt to them as much as possible. The Beauty Way: The discussion here is about the Native American principle of t he Beauty Way. It is a way of thinking that puts the magic back into life, that shows the connection that we all have to all of the rest of life. The Beauty Way is actually a poem: "There is beauty above me. There is beauty before me. There is beauty to the left of me. There is beauty to the right of me. There is beauty below me. There is beauty behind me. There is beauty inside me. There is beauty all around me."1 Running-Away Money: Every woman needs to understand this principle! Garner tells a wonderful story concerning her Great Aunt, who is the person that gave her this advice. Running away money (money that you have stashed away secretly) is what gives us a sense of freedom, as well as a modicum of control over our own destinies. Flower Remedies: This section is about the Bach Flower remedies, and the effect that embracing them had in Garner's life. This is a very empowering section! Talk To A Tree: I certainly advocate talking to trees. Trees carry wonderful energy, energy that is specific to that type of tree. I am blessed in that I live in the Pacific Northwest, and can easily commune with the graceful, towering Evergreens that abound here. By sitting and listening to them, you can ground yourself and attune yourself to their wisdom. Life Is A Work In Progress: Amen! This section is all about how we see ourselves, and the fact that we often live up to our own view of ourselves. So choose to see yourself as successful, rather than a failure. You are not a failure - you are a work in progress! I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and feel that it acts as a wonderful reference for experiencing life. Perhaps we could all have written this book - but the point is, Garner did! She is willing to share the wisdom that came to her along her path, and does so with humility, honor, and a grand sense of humor. Join her, and clarity will come to your path also. The only bump in this book for me was a typo - but a typo that meant something. For all editor's and proofreaders - when referring to the United States by its illustrious initials (U.S.), said initials are capitalized! (See page 182.) Footnotes: 1. Ibid pages 153-156. © February 2005 Bonnie Cehovet Personal Lifestyle Reading - I offer a Personal Lifestyle Reading using Tarot that looks at past, present and future influences in your life, at the energies that are currently available to help you along your path, and at those energies that are appearing as challanges. My goal is to offer you insight into your decision making process, as well as tools that you can use to both better understand your path and make conscious, choice centered decisions. Home Personal Empowerment links Personal Empowerment articles View My Guestbook Sign My Guestbook Graphics by Art for the web