Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives by Richard Swenson
And
The Blessing: Giving the Gift of Unconditional Love and Acceptance by Dr. John Trent & Dr. Gary Smalley
Margin was a good book, primarily about getting your life straight and decluttering, bringing back simplicity, peace & priorities. I have some things that I pulled away from this book that are quite great. I’ve got probably 6 dozen or so parts that stood out to me, but this “recipe for a better life” stood out most.
"SUGGESTIONS
The following are suggestions that will assist in simple living. Beware of the distinction between suggestions and rules, for if you make them rules, you will have converted simplicity into legalism and defeated its purpose before even beginning.
Possessions and Finances
• Cultivate contentment, desire less.
• Resist covetousness.
• Resist consumerism.
• Wage war against advertisements.
• Buy things for their usefulness rather than their status.
• I)e-accumulate.
• Develop the habit of giving away.
• Share possessions.
• Offer the use of your possessions-don't make others ask.
• Develop a network of exchange.
• Avoid overindulging-for example, toys, food, movie viewing, etc.
• Avoid impulse buying.
• Don't buy anything if the time and money spent on it compete with family, service, and God.
• Avoid debt if possible.
• Don't buy now, pay later.
• Avoid credit cards if they are a problem.
• Reject fashion, especially fads.
• De-emphasize respectability.
• Simplify your wardrobe-give away excess.
• Learn how to make do with a lower income instead of needing a higher one.
Pace and Atmosphere
• Slow down.
• Do not exhaust your emotional bank account.
• Lic fallow.
• Say no.
• Enjoy peaceful music.
• Control/restrict/eliminate television watching; surfing the net.
• Get a remote control and turn off advertisements.
Relationships
• Cultivate a closeness with God.
• Schedule "simple" dates with your spouse.
• Teach your children.
• Enjoy family field trips.
• Practice regular hospitality.
• Help each other, emphasize service.
• Encourage others.
• "Always speak the truth and you'll never he concerned with your menmory."
• Don't judge.
• Learn to enjoy solitude.
Appreciation
• Send cards of encouragement and appreciation when others are not expecting it.
• lie grateful for things large and small.
• Emphasize a joyful life.
• Appreciate creation.
Spiritual Life
• Make the Word central.
• Meditate, memorize.
• Pray.
• Encourage simple worship.
Activities
• Make your commitments simple.
• Don't overwork.
• last periodically from media, food, people.
• Elevate reading, go to the library.
• Simplify Christmas.
• Write down those things you need to remember and forget everything else.
Nutrition and Exercise
• Exercise.
• Bike or walk.
• Make your recreation active rather than passive.
• Develop healthy sleep habits.
• Avoid overeating.
• Frequent a co-op.
• Whenever possible, buy food directly from those who grow it.
• Garden."
I would highly recommend this book to the one’s who need it, mainly all those who “don’t have the time or energy or desire to read a book”.
As for The Blessing, it was more of a spiritually based book. Probably not something that a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints or Mormons would just go read. It’s by a Pastor of another Christian based faith. The main plot of the book is to bless the lives of others, starting with family.
The Blessing was mainly about parents giving their children their blessings to succeed in life. www.theblessing.com. Five things are included in a blessing to make it memorable and easy for others to embrace.
1. Appropriate meaningful touch (hug, hand shake, laying on of hand...)
2. Words (spoken)
3. Attach high vale (Emphasize a character trait(s) that you think is awesome and let them know how much better they are because they have that trait.)
4. They have a special future, and God knows it.
5. Genuine commitment. (follow through in giving more fulfilling your blessing)
Overall, The Blessing was a really good book. The world would for sure be a better place if all people, who do and don't have children, would read and apply it to someone(s) they know.
It's very similar to receiving a Patriarchal Blessing. In fact, a good follow up book to The Blessing would be The Power Of Your Patriarchal Blessing by Gayla Wise.
Check out the web site, sign up for their monthly newsletter, follow the three steps after signing up and check out the PDF files, and bless the lives of others.
Also check out the links to the chapters...starting with www.theblessing.com/chapter1
For more details, read the books. ;-)
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