You're starting an intimate, supportive relationship, not joining the circus”, “You're not a performing seal. Catherine Gray is the single friend i wish i had, reassuring me that everything is more than ok. Today I choose life. Augustine of Hippo. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. “We’re all a little weird. “I learn that we become our thoughts, which is why it’s so important to believe in a friendly, rather than a hostile universe.”, “I've now learned that when you share the darkest parts of your life, and find that thousands of people say 'Me too', it transmutes those black memories into spun gold. God provides the wind, but man must raise the sails. Sci-Fi, Fantasy & Graphic Novels - Buy 1 get 1 50% off. A witty take on why its okay to be single. “I don’t think people understand how stressful it is to explain what’s going on in your head when you don’t even understand it yourself.”. When I saw this book on the shelf at Foyle's, I immediately groaned. Have just finished reading your book and thought it was amazing! It’s an ever-moving destination.”, “On playing games in relationships "You're not a performing seal. What I got was a book of “don’t worry that you’re almost 40, you still have time to find a man”. PaperBack by Catherine Gray. I expected a book about how to love yourself outside of relationships. I expected a book about how to love yourself outside of relationships. Kevyn Aucoin. “Dear mind, please stop thinking so much at night, I need to sleep .”. After the day one. – Robert Fulgham. I’ve had it on my shelf for months and months but have been to afraid or sceptical to read it, and now I’m upset that it took me so long! “Don’t expect anyone to understand your journey, especially if they’ve never walked your path.” If you need to perform tricks to keep his/her attention, you never really had it to begin with. “The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. I am currently enjoying a dating app sabbatical circa Dec 2018 and it really is freeing and so healthy x, Some of the messages in this book really resonated with me. Refresh and try again. Jennifer Louden Tweet this Quote! What I got was a book of “don’t worry that you’re almost 40, you still have time to find a man”. Mom blogger, special needs parent, coffee fiend, dog lover, and recovering perfectionist interested in balance, humor and self-care. An honest account of the pros and cons of being a young-ish, single woman in today's society. This wonderful, insightful and life affirming book was part of my @iamawildwoman_ subscription this month and I could not be more grateful to have recieved it.. As the title suggests it is about celebrating all things ordinary and finding joy in … Locating unattached happiness. )”, The Unexpected Joy of Being Single: Locating happily-single serenity. “If overthinking situations burned calories, I’d be dead.”. I wish she would have interviewed women from various backgrounds (single moms who love it, single bipoc, etc). I particularly found the chapters on therapy the most interesting and thought provoking. Not everyone is single because they are working on themselves or waiting for the right man, some of us are experiencing lives that are so rich that it simply does not matter whether we are partnered or not. She never existed before. Memoirs and autobiographies consistently deliver some of the most compelling reading on the virtual shelves. "Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. ~Bruce Willis. I wish she would have focused more on being single as an act of freedom and self love rather than a response to a terrible dating life. This is an incredible book. Good surprises energize and bad surprises teach. Be the first to ask a question about The Unexpected Joy of Being Single. Spent most of 2018 as a serial dater, dating the just looking for fun, thinking I could convince them otherwise haha! The world needs it. . You also get the whole bed ! I’ve had it on my shelf for months and months but have been to afraid or sceptical to read it, and now I’m upset that it took me so long! Without that scaffolding, we feel insecure, wobbly, like we’re a building that’s about to rumble to the ground.”, “I don’t know yet, but that is the hallmark of addiction, that flashing neon sign in your brain that blinks and fizzes and demands MORE. When I was a child, I thought it was easy. The writing style is accessible and fun to read, Catherine Gray is like your best friend throughout the book. While the author does an excellent job in dispelling the myths of when a woman ceases to be valuable, I wish she had talked more on the importance of non romantic relationships, and how to practice self respect and acceptance. January 15th 2019 2 likes. Every morning when I wake up I can choose joy, happiness, negativity, pain... To feel the freedom that comes from being able to continue to make mistakes and choices - today I choose to feel life, not to deny my humanity but embrace it. I don't know why it took me so long to read this book, but I finally finished it yesterday and I truly believe it's one of those I'll recommend to anyone I know who is single and struggling to accept it and understand how to deal with it. Since then she has published The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober Journal and the critically acclaimed Unexpected Joy of Being Single and The Unexpected Joy of The Ordinary. One of books that has completely changed my outlook on relationships and why I want to be a relationship. ~Jo Brand. A breath of fresh air after a difficult break up and wrestling with the idea of 'facing being single again' it really made me reassess my attitude about being 'alone'. The woman existed, but the mother, never. Plenty of advice to follow and activities to practice our ultimate goal - happiness. Buy Now on Better World Books: The Unexpected Joy of Being Single I particularly found the chapters on therapy the most interesting and thought provoking. Surprises are the joy of living. It was a bit self-help manual like for me at times, but I imagine others less familiar with a lot of the theory would get a lot from that. Author Laurie McLean. Nevertheless, I decided to buy it as knowledge is power and if someone can convince me that single is amazing, I would be very thankful. I adored this read, and whilst a lot of the reviews indicate it’s a read for us singletons, I genuinely believe everyone could benefit from this subtle (and at times not so subtle) shift in perspective. Short Meaningful Quotes. We’d love your help. Welcome and entertain them all! 2. Leo Tolstoy. For someone who doesn't like being told how great single is, that's quite impressive. They can... if you hit them in the goolies with a cricket bat for fourteen hours. There is a lot more to being single and dating to what is discussed here. If there is one thing you should take from this book its that being single is not something to be ashamed of and it's okay to be 'picky'. We all want to be happy, right? This book had so much potential, and it occasionally ventured in that direction for brief paragraphs. It was very self indulgent and I just couldn’t get along with it. It’s positive and upbeat and gives some good advice. Catherine's hit debut, The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober, was a Sunday Times top 10 bestseller. I’m not 100% sure that the chapters work as quite a lot of information seems repeated, but no matter, it’s an optimistic book that is upbeat and fun, but ultimately has an important message. by Aster. Not only did I enjoy this book, I LOVED it. Sometimes, we forget important lessons throughout life that can help us through tough situations. Plenty of advice to follow and activities to practice our ultimate goal - happiness. I see a lot of people in relationships that I don't envy for a second and I know that I am better off. Thank you for this book, Cath. Really didn’t enjoy this book. ‘What will life be like if I quit? Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. And life is a little weird. Here are 25 quotes about kindness to inspire you to help others and be happy as well: 1. That pathway of choice has only recently been blasted wide open, particularly for women.”, “South Korean universities are now running ‘Marriage and Family’ courses in which it’s mandatory for students to date three classmates, for a whole month, each. The start especially was inspiring and I delighted in the spirit of the book. Joy Quotes - BrainyQuote. There’s something about the... To see what your friends thought of this book, Great read for those of us “still on the shelf”! Really worth the read, not just for the single and worrying about it (I’m not one of those people atm) but for anyone who has uh... extreme reactions while in relationships or dating or casually seeing someone. The writing style is accessible and fun to read, Catherine Gray is like your best friend throughout the book. “The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, … I d. This book had so much potential, and it occasionally ventured in that direction for brief paragraphs. I loved the fact there's plenty of references to research, sociological views, which was very interesting. 1. Fifteen Funny Quotes on Marriage. On the one hand, we'll never experience childbirth. I can wait. There are few things I hate more than people trying to convince me just how amazing being single is when I'd rather not be in this state. The unexpected joy of the ordinary was a complete and utter joy. There are few things I hate more than people trying to convince me just how amazing being single is when I'd rather not be in this state. Alev Oguz This human being is a guest house. That moves further away, every time you inch towards it. 59. On the other hand, we can open all our own jars. I really enjoyed Catherine Gray's writing style in The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober, so I read this. Originally Published: February 05, 2021 Refresh and try again. Been single for 8 years now and I’ve dealt with a few of my gremlins but I still struggle with a bunch and this book was a gem. That you’re always trying to reach, and never successfully get to. Imagine how exhausting that would be long term. Sharing is like alchemy.”, Going Solo: The Extraordinary Rise and Surprising Appeal of Living Alone, Singled Out: How Singles Are Stereotyped, Stigmatized, and Ignored, and Still Live Happily Ever After, Ah, Yes, I Remember It Well—48 New and Upcoming Memoirs. (It’s unclear whether they get to choose who they date for four weeks. Read 364 reviews from the world's largest community for readers. Joy: Being stuck at home can be heaven for the introverted crafters, home gardeners, tinkerers, and jigsaw puzzle enthusiasts who normally have to … Therefore, I shall call this review "The Unexpected Joy of Enjoying This Book." The pursuit of happiness is real. 2. Surprises directly touch the soul. Error rating book.