Alan Cohen

I love this book. It is not the kind of book you read cover to cover, you read a page a day (sometimes I read more to catch up) and you can re-read it continually year after year.

As a writer, my ideal morning ritual starts with journaling three "Morning Pages" (as suggested by Julia Cameron in her "The Artist's Way") rewarded by reading today's (yearless, dated) page of Alan Cohen's "A Deep Breath of Life" - and maybe journaling some more after thinking about that.

Of course, I'm not perfect. ;-) So I miss lots of days (weeks and months sometimes!). If they have been particularly stressful or crazy, I look back on what I missed for any insights that can be gleaned but sometimes, I am delighted to leave those pearls of wisdom and inspiration laying in wait to be discovered fresh next year.

I have bought this book many times over to give as gifts to fellow writers or friends needing inspiration. Sometimes I'll scan a page I've earmarked from somewhere else in the year and email it to correspondents who need a boost or validation. My own copy is drenched in highlighter and crunches now as I've left it out in the rain accidentally. But that just adds to its character.

When I open up to an already very highlighted day, I am surprised to find that sometimes, it doesn't have the same impact upon re-examination when I'm at a different place in my life but often, the passages ring as true and as clear as they have for years!

It's just a great book.
Highly recommend. ;-)
With delight! ;-(… (mer)