Personalized Book Gift Idea

One of my favorite gift books, it features a chapter a day focusing on the good and positive.

Personalized Book Gift Idea

I forget now who first gave me a copy of this book. It was years ago, when I was going through a very difficult time in my life, and the last thing I was doing was - well, focusing. As I started to read a chapter a day, I found myself thinking about the good things I had in my life, being reminded of how blessed I was. That little shift in thought the book reinforces helped me move past the overwhelming feelings of loss - that, and the good friend who gave me this book.

Since then, my original copy has been shared, and re-gifted so many times I have lost track of the original one. Now I pick up copies whenever I find them, keeping one in reserve for those times when I know the book can help someone else.

I had two last fall and now am down to none again. One copy went to a friend who lost her husband to cancer, and this copy was mailed to a friend who's husband had an accident that resulted in debilitating brain injuries.

Only this particular copy, and the accompanying book mark note, didn't make it to its destination. I received a notice from the Post Office a few weeks after it was mailed, with the original address label attached, saying the item had been lost. The notice also gave me instructions on how to file a claim and my first thought was, I have to drop my friend a note, she must have thought I was not thinking about her.

She emailed back quickly a thank you for thinking of her and said her husband had given her this book years ago but she had not read it. She found it in her family library and thanked me for giving her something to look forward to reading every day.

This is one of my many favorite chapters, this is one about the "world is too much with us."

A sample chapter, one that reflects how I feel some days, and how I focus on my blessings.

Over the years when I have mentioned this book, friends who have read it have smiled. The book sharing has created a supportive community of women who understand - the need for the book, the message of the book and the caring that goes into sharing the book.

Doesn't matter what book you share, I love sharing a sweet garden book about flower names. Now I have something else I can discuss with gardening friends who also enjoy knowing something about the history of flowers.

It's not the book that's so important, it is the sharing that connects us.

Charlotte