Debra Mann

Are you feeling it? That strange combination of holiday stress on the horizon and “lagginess” left over from the time change? November isn’t everyone’s cup of tea; it can be a bit of a trial to deal with the demands of the season when your schedule has been interrupted and you’re not feeling your best. Fortunately, our friends at Novelist Plus have put together some reads that can help you find your peace of mind in an otherwise dreary month. Below you’ll find five actions that might make your month feel a little better, along with a book that can help you explore that idea further. Which one speaks to your soul?

Take some time just for you:

The Art of the Wasted Day, Patricia Hampl 

“Modern life only seems to become increasingly hectic and stressful, as we try to cram more into each day. In her sparkling new book, acclaimed author Patricia Hampl argues for the necessity of daydreaming and leisure in our over-amped lives. The job of being human, Hampl suggests, is getting lost in thought, and only leisure can safeguard reflection. The Art of the Wasted Day is a timely, compelling, beautifully written celebration of the purpose and appeal of letting go.”

Give people the benefit of the doubt:

Find the Good, Heather Lende

“As she was digging deep into the lives of community members, Heather Lende, the obituary writer for her tiny hometown newspaper in Haines, Alaska, began to notice something. Even the crustiest old Alaskan sourpuss who died in a one-room cabin always had Halloween candy for the neighborhood kids; the eccentric owner of the seafood store who regularly warned her about government conspiracies knew how to be a true friend-his memorial service was packed. When Lende started intentionally seeking what was positive and true in people and situations in her own life-whether it was finding common ground with her opponents on the school board or accepting that her unmarried daughter’s pregnancy might be a blessing-she felt happier and life seemed more meaningful, too. Awful events-from a recent school shooting across the country to a fisherman drowning in Haines-are always followed by dozens and dozens of good deeds. When tragedy strikes we can choose to focus on the first responders rushing toward the scene or the guys grilling hot dogs for hurricane refugees, and, like yawning, caring is contagious. There’s so much to gain by taking responsibility for your own happiness and nothing to lose. In stormy times like these, we have to make our own good weather, and Find the Good shows us how.”

Read out loud:

The Enchanted Hour, Meghan Cox Gurdon

“A miraculous alchemy occurs when one person reads to another, transforming the simple stuff of a book, a voice, and a bit of time into complex and powerful fuel for the heart, brain, and imagination. Grounded in the latest neuroscience and behavioral research, and drawing widely from literature, The Enchanted Hour explains the dazzling cognitive and social-emotional benefits that await children, whatever their class, nationality or family background. But it’s not just about bedtime stories for little kids: Reading aloud consoles, uplifts and invigorates at every age, deepening the intellectual lives and emotional well-being of teenagers and adults, too.

Meghan Cox Gurdon argues that this ancient practice is a fast-working antidote to the fractured attention spans, atomized families and unfulfilling ephemera of the tech era, helping to replenish what our devices are leaching away. For everyone, reading aloud engages the mind in complex narratives; for children, it’s an irreplaceable gift that builds vocabulary, fosters imagination, and kindles a lifelong appreciation of language, stories and pictures.

Bringing together the latest scientific research, practical tips, and reading recommendations, The Enchanted Hour will both charm and galvanize, inspiring readers to share this invaluable, life-altering tradition with the people they love most.”

Simplify your life:

Slow: Simple Living for a Frantic World, Brooke McAlary

“What is slow living? It’s a way to find happiness by stepping away from the never-ending demands to constantly succeed and acquire more and more. It’s easy to get stuck in the carousel of frantically wanting, buying, and upgrading the things in your life. The philosophy of simple living is about finding the freedom to be less perfect and taking time to enjoy the pure joys of life: a walk in the forest, sharing laughter with family, a personal moment of gratitude. Reconnecting with the living world can help you integrate moments of peace, joy, and mindfulness into an otherwise rapid life.

Simple living: After being diagnosed with post-natal depression, Brooke McAlary learned about the power of minimalism and found that the key to happiness was a simpler, more fulfilling existence. She put the brakes on her stressful path and reorganized her life to live outside the status-quo, emphasizing depth, connection, and meaningful experiences. Brooke shares the story of her journey alongside practical advice for simplifying in ways that work for your life.”

Embrace balance – not too much, not too little:

Lagom: the Swedish Art of Living a Balanced Happy Life, Niki Brantmark

“In a fast-paced world, wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could slow down and enjoy a life with less pressure, less stress, and more time for the things you love?

Sweden is ranked in the top three of the world’s happiest places to live, and lagom, which means “not too much and not too little–just right,” is the Swedish philosophy for enjoying balance in every aspect of life–from work and leisure to family and food, and everything in between. Experienced bakers know by touch when the dough they are kneading is lagom–not too moist and not too dry. At the office, professionals who work hard–but not to the detriment of other parts of their lives–are following the lagom ideal. Lagom is moderation, balance, and equality.

By using the Swedish lifestyle as an example, Niki Brantmark offers insightful suggestions and bite-sized actions to help you make subtle changes to your life, so you too can make time for the things that matter most and find greater happiness.”

Last year around this time I blogged about how CPL usually has a few events a year when we can all read the same book at the same time, but that I couldn’t remember a time when we’d ever had two right in a row before. Well, guess what – it’s happening again! We’re featuring back-to-back read-together activities: Together We Read runs from  Oct. 17-30, and then Big Library Read runs from Nov. 2–16. Both reading events provide unlimited digital copies through CPL’s Overdrive collection or the Libby app. Here are this year’s titles:

On October 17, Together We Read kicks off with Still Hopeful: Lessons From a Lifetime of Activism, by activist and conservationist Maude Barlow: “The author offers lessons of hope she has discovered from her lifetime of activism. She draws these lessons from her participation in three movements: second-wave feminism, the battle against free trade and globalization, and the global fight for water justice, making clear that effective activism is not really the objective. It is about forming a movement and finding like-minded people to carry the load with you”.

On November 2, Big Library Read follows up with A Snake Falls to Earth by Darcie Little Badger. This award-winning title draws on traditional Lipan Apache storytelling structure to weave an unforgettable tale of monsters, magic and family. Awards include Newbery Award Honor, American Indian Youth Literature Award Honor and National Book Award Longlist: “Nina is a Lipan girl in our world. She’s always felt there was something more out there. She still believes in the old stories. Oli is a cottonmouth kid, from the land of spirits and monsters. Like all cottonmouths, he’s been cast from home. He’s found a new one on the banks of the bottomless lake. Nina and Oli have no idea the other exists. But a catastrophic event on Earth, and a strange sickness that befalls Oli’s best friend, will drive their worlds together in ways they haven’t been in centuries. And there are some who will kill to keep them apart. A Snake Falls to Earth is a breathtaking work of Indigenous futurism. Darcie Little Badger draws on traditional Lipan Apache storytelling structure to weave another unforgettable tale of monsters, magic, and family. It is not to be missed”.

For both events, CPL card holders can borrow the ebook and audiobook for free without waiting by downloading the Libby app or by visiting https://odmc.overdrive.com/odmc-caledon/content.

So your kids are back in school. Whew! You’ve given them everything they need to succeed for their academic year – but did you do anything for you? Aren’t you just a little bit jealous that they get to have all of the new experiences and learn all of the new things?

I don’t know about you, but every September I still get the urge to learn something new – it’s the time of year that I start looking at course catalogues and local clubs to see what new skills I might want to develop. If that sounds like you too, let me save you a few steps!

CPL gives you free and full access to lots of great learning tools, all of which you can find on our website: https://caledon.library.on.ca/borrow-download-stream/learning-and-languages/

Ready to do some travelling again? Check out Mango Languages and brush up on your language of choice.

Want to accelerate your career? Check out LinkedIn Learning (formerly Lynda) and elevate your professional game.

Need a bit of structure and accountability? Check out Gale Courses, where you can register for six-week instructor-led online courses on a variety of professional and recreational topics.

And that’s not all! We’ve even made this online guide to help you connect to even more local educational opportunities. Whether you’re brushing up on your financial literacy, looking for creative hobbies, or updating your credentials, there’s something for everyone.

We hope you’ll find something that sparks the joy of learning something new. After all, why should kids have all the fun?