"Fierce, Free, Fire: The Guide to Being a Glorious You" by Jen Hatmaker

 I think I've read every Jen Hatmaker book that has come out. Some of them have really hit for me, like 7 and some have hit a little less for me like Of Mess and Moxie. (Part of that could be because the word moxie makes me roll my eyes so much, I don't even know why). I think this one was a win for me, I think because it feels a little more instructional and grounded then some of her other books.

There was a couple of chapters and takeaways that I really felt, like:

-There's a section on how we feel about our bodies. And some of the staggering statistics on how early in our lives we are made to feel bad about our bodies and who makes us feel bad about our bodies and how it's so hard to shake that once it is ingrained in us. It's truly the work of a lifetime. But even if we hate our thicc thighs or our arms that never look unflabby - our bodies are miracles. Every great idea, every kind word, every overloud laugh, every heart stopping kiss, every walk through a foreign country was made possible by that body that you are talking so much shit about. Your body is an ally to your glorious life, not something that you need to beat into submission to fit an idea that the world has held up for you. (Oh man, such an easier thing to say or do. Amirite?)

-There's a section about how sometimes it's easy to put an idea about something you are passionate about out there into the universe ("I'm going to start a nonprofit to end homelessness! I'm going to write that book! I'm going to do this thing that I always wanted to do that I always told myself that I couldn't do because of whatever reason!" ) - even though being vulnerable in that way to the people in your life might not be easy- but the next step is critical. No one will do that hard work that comes next to make that dream a reality but you. And it might be a straight up GRIND. Your dream doesn't work unless you do. 

-She also talks about our need for connection whether it's romantic or friends or work or family. Humans aren't designed to live in our own little vacuums of space. My relationships are of just paramount importance to me. If I have a fight with a friend it ruins my days until we work it out. If I know my sisters are irritated with me it makes me sad. So sometimes I struggle with having healthy boundaries on how my relationships make me feel. I'm not a good compartmentalizer when it comes to things like this. In the section about connections Jen had this wonderful quote that gave me pause and it is still lingering with me because it's something that I feel so deep in my soul too :

"A connected life drunk with rich relationships is central to my soul theology...if all I was left holding were my relationships with my family and closest community, if that is all that remained I would still consider myself the luckiest girl on earth. My life derives it greatest meaning, its power and energy, from the people I love who love me too". 

Just so lovely.

Jen is always one for frank honesty and vulnerability and that's why I keep coming back to her. If that is something that you are looking for check this book out!