Book Review: "This Just Speaks To Me" By Hoda Kotb

How can words help create a comfort zone, inspire, and thrive even in the darkest of days?

Hoda Kotb set out to find out by conducting research among her closest friends and allies, creating a wonderful artistic palette of color, and drawing inference with motivational quotes when we need it most.

This pandemic has torn through the heart and soul of this nation. It's exposed some ugliness that many didn't realize existed. It's shattered dreams, uprooted families, and created a nation of chaos. Yet, it's also shown the greater good of humanity. The goodness that comes from helping a loved one, a neighbor, a complete stranger.

What good is living if you don't give back while striving to always improve upon one self and one's personal outlook in life.

As a domestic violence survivor I help others globally to overcome adversity, to seek the good in others, to realize that we're not prisoners to our past.

We must face our fears. Act upon our conscious choices. Hope for brighter days ahead.
One of my past grievances with Hoda was her inability to connect to her readers by way of tossing out quotes and not adding any personal touch to it.

This time I have nothing but praise for this lovely 'Self Help' novel because it has captured what many of us are experiencing not just on a personal level, professional level, but also a deeper thoughtful more reflective level.

We've certainly had plenty of time to get it right. To understand that time is precious, scarce, and vastly limited. We cannot take one second for granted. Ergo, why we must change our ways.

We must learn to expect the unexpected. To head the warnings. To honor our guests. To love one another. To face adversity as a stepping stone to greatness. To be better not bitter.
This is the time America to -wake up- and be present.

Don't be afraid to take the chance. To live out your dreams. To go big or go home.
Failure is not falling when you're in the game.
"Mistakes are proof you are trying."

There was so much gratitude, goodness, compassion, and love in this one that I couldn't help but take pictures as momentos like a reality board if you will - to remind myself- to never veer off course.
Stay in your lane.

Or, as Hoda quoted so beautifully -You are not lazy, unmotivated, or stuck. After years of living your life in survival mode, you are exhausted. There is a difference. "If this is you, may it be a point in time, and one that passes very soon. Revival mode is close..."
Hang in there folks, better things are on the horizon.

Thank you to my local library for this curbside pickup marathon read.