Well, it is summer and a chance to kick back and reflect a
bit. Here are three texts which deal
with being good to yourself – and the first two offer some travel ideas as
well.
ALONE TIME by New York Times columnist Stephanie
Rosenbloom is the non-fictional account of her solo travels to four cities:
Paris, Istanbul, Florence and New York, one in each of the four seasons.
Rosenbloom advocates for time alone and cites research that says, “even fifteen
minutes spent by ourselves, without electronic devices or social interaction,
can decrease the intensity of our feelings, leaving us more relaxed, less
angry, and less anxious.” Although her
text is a kind of reflective travelogue, with varied focus on food, beauty, knowledge
and home, she does devote about fifteen percent of the book to notes and refers
to social science writing by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi (Flow) or Pew
Research Center, for example. ALONE
TIME is a diverting read and I would be curious to also see her
thoughts about less urban destinations. Her chapter with advice about tips and
tools is definitely worth a look – places to stay, games and apps, etc. are
outlined – and she again promotes the ideas of trying something new and valuing
unscheduled time so as to better focus on the present moment. 
TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES by Ben Feder is about “One Man’s
Journey from the Boardroom to Bali and Back.” Feder is a Harvard Business
School graduate and formerly CEO of Take Two Interactive (publisher of Grand
Theft Auto) and this debut memoir chronicles events surrounding his
decision to take a months-long sabbatical in order to foster self-improvement
and rebuild family relationships. TAKE OFF YOUR SHOES is another
text about personal growth and living in the moment; however, it also shows how
family members reconnected and even goes further to addresses environmental
concerns and cultural differences. Sadly, we cannot all stop work and head to Indonesia’s
Bali with “just about the friendliest people on Earth,” but do take advantage
of overseas assignments if offered. In
the meantime, one can learn from Feder’s observations about the value of yoga,
meditation and drawing as we continue our own journeys to balance personal and
professional lives. 
JUST AS YOU ARE
by Michelle Skeen and Kelly Skeen is subtitled “a teen's guide to
self-acceptance and lasting self-esteem.” It fits perfectly with the recent New
York Times article that we have shared with many of our high school
advisories (homerooms): “Why You Should Stop Being So Hard on Yourself” by Charlotte Lieberman. She
suggests 3 steps to self-compassion: meditation to let negative thoughts go,
consciously being kinder to oneself, and reflecting on how it feels to engage
in self-criticism versus letting it go. No doubt, the Skeens would agree and
they, too, offer numerous exercises (Try This! Sections) in JUST AS YOU
ARE. They, too, remind readers that
“mindfulness can help you stay present with your current experience rather than
reacting based on past failures.” Other main messages include "Stop
comparing yourself to others--you're special just as you are!" and “You
are not alone.” The mother-daughter authors offer timely, relevant examples and
speak directly to teens although the tone turns a bit of a preachy at times (“when
you are solid in your values, you are less likely to feel overpowered by the opinions
and criticisms of others”). This publisher (New Harbinger) offers numerous
titles geared for teens and members of our faculty especially liked The Grit Guide for Teens.
So … deep breaths… happy thoughts … and keep reading as you enjoy
your summer!
