Devan Zimmerman

Ahh Leo season. This month was personally and professionally challenging for me. Most of the challenge was focused on re-evaluating my life, removing the things and people that were holding me back and really taking a look at what I wanted. I was promoted to a new role that I had very little experience in, so I spent a lot of my time outside work hours dedicated to figuring out what the hell I got myself into, and how to do it well. If there is anything I pride myself on, it’s being good at my job. That being said, my reading time was limited to 20 minutes or so during my lunch break. I still managed to fit in two fantastic books this month, though.

All I can say is WOW about Cheryl Strayed’s Wild. This was SO GOOD and honestly, her journey was beyond inspiring. I have always wanted to drop everything and disappear for a few months in the woods. After a few major pitfalls in her life, Cheryl decided she needed to get her shit together once and for all, so she went backpacking on the Pacific Crest Trail on the west coast. By. Her. Self. I mean, wow. Just wow. The fact that she did that and survived to tell the tale…major props. I loved this book so much and it lit something within me that I’m sure won’t be doused anytime soon. Overall rating: 10/10

I’ve had Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat Pray Love sitting on my bookshelf for a little over a year. My grandmother passed away and this was one of her books that I managed to scoop from her collection and add to mine. For some reason, I was especially drawn to this after I read Wild. Maybe it was the idea of going on a journey to find oneself and I felt like I was going on a similar journey. What with the new job and being newly single, things were changing for me. Honestly, I don’t know the exact reason as to why I decided it was time, but boy, it was time.

This is one of the few books that I can say has given me a different outlook on life and, to some extent, changed my life. I am not by any means a religious person, but it was truly a joy to read about the spiritual journey and personal discovery of a recently divorced woman. It even made me think a little more about spirituality in my own life. I also have an insane love for food and Italy is at the top of my bucket list to travel. This book might not have (or had) the effect on you as it did for me, but it opened up my eyes to many things I needed to cut from my life, and even some to add. Overall rating: 11/10