arianna huffington « Covet Living

Arianna Huffington

-Arianna Huffington, by way of Live.to.the.point.of.tears

Wow. Uh… yeah, that one strikes a chord.

According to a 2008 report, when asked what was important to them, 68% of Americans said “having free time.” THEN “having children” at 62% THEN “having a successful career” at 59%. So why don’t we as Americans allow ourselves that free time we so want and so need?

I am 1000% guilty. I’m constantly in a state of motion, and not just physically. I’m always thinking of what’s to be done, what to do better, what to do faster. My brain is a compartmentalized machine always tracking things I can be doing.

Even as I write this, I’m watching the clock on my computer as it’s time to go to work. Time to dive headfirst into the day and into the job that’ll take me mentally and physically to another place for the next 10 hours today.

I’m only in my mid-30s (cough), but already I’m looking back at my 14 year career which has whizzed by me, but more importantly at my LIFE, which is flying by so fast that I’m starting to notice that my memories now dominate my mind rather than the excited thoughts of what’s to come.

Pretty soon, as my wonderful uncle told me last summer, I will wake up and I will be his age (late 50s). And according to him, it’ll literally seem to happy overnight.

Something’s gotta change… not sure what, but at least I’m conscious of this… right?

Anyone feel the same? Anyone have advice on how to slow down enough to create some space in your mind? In your life? Please, do tell!

xoxo,

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Ahhh, Fall. The temps are dipping, and football’s constantly on at home, and THAT means I have ample excuse to head to my bedroom and burrow under the covers and read, right?

Right. Amen. So just in time for hibernation, I’ve come up with the list of books I’m hankering to read, right this moment. Here we go:

1. Not That Kind Of Girl: A Young Woman Tells You What She’s “Learned” by Lena Dunham. I wasn’t on the Lena Dunham bandwagon until a couple weeks ago when I found myself stuck in LA traffic listening to her as Howard Stern lobbed questions her way. The girl is off the charts sharp, we all know that, but she’s also super relatable, humble, and funny. And oh-so honest about everything in her life, which I really appreciate, and which you’ll find in this candid collection of personal essays written by her. She’s one of the new female voices of my generation, and you know what? That works for me.

2. Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight – Our newest book club book and I am SO excited to read it. It’s drawn comparisons to Gone Girl, because it’s part crime novel, part relationship story. Successful NY attorney Kate thinks her 15 year old daughter Amelia jumped to her death, and then she gets a text saying “Amelia didn’t jump.” Written in both Kate and Amelia’s first-person narrative, this sounds like an absolute page turner.

3. Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer – Yours truly first read this book 20 flippin’ years ago, and even as a hard-to-impress teen, I found myself tearing thru this gripping tale over the course of a couple summer days. Krakauer writes first-hand about the ’96 expedition up Everest (which he was on) that led to eight people dead. It’s hard to not feel the terror and anguish while reading it.

4. Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom and Wonder by Arianna Huffington – I have huge respect for Arianna Huffington (Founder of Huffington Post). But even as successful as she is, she found herself one day with a bloodied face after coming to on the floor of her living room. She’d been so exhausted from overworking that she’d fallen on her face and broken her cheekbone. This book is both a cautionary tale for burnout and stress, and working so much we lack the quality of life we deserve, with our relationships and our health – and a guide on how not to let this happen.

5. As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales From the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes – Gasp! You mean to tell me I get to re-live one of the seminal films of my very young life? The movie my dad took me to on Father’s Day when I was 7 (which remains one of my fave memories with my Pops so far!)? This first person account from Cary Elwes, aka Westley (swoon), tells his side of the story. Bee-tee-dubs, did you know he had a mad crush on Princess Buttercup (Robin Wright) during filming? I DIE.

6. The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer – A coming of age story about a group of teens who meet at a summer camp in 1974 and stay friends thru the ups and downs of growing up. Supposedly full of hilarious, heartwarming and heartbreaking moments.

7. Friendship: A Novel by Emily Gould – A novel about Bev and Amy, best friends who find themselves at a crossroads at 30. Bev’s a Midwesterner, stuck in a lackluster life; Amy’s an East Coast princess who’s cruised through life. But life starts to catch up to them when one gets pregnant, and when they start to grow apart.

8. Fat, Drunk and Stupid: The Inside Story Behind the Making of Animal House by Matty Simmons – Just, yes.

9. Yes Please by Amy Poehler (out today!) – I’ve read a few reviews saying this is funny – and I wouldn’t expect anything less.

COMING SOON:

10. The Andy Cohen Diaries by Andy Cohen – Out November 11th. YES. If you love pop culture and Bravo and knowing which Real Housewife peed in the Clubhouse at a Watch What Happens Live taping, read this.

11. There Was a Little Girl: The Real Story of My Mother and Me by Brooke Shields – Out Nov. 18th. I’ve always heard stories of Brooke Shields’ super intense stage mom/manager, and this will finally tell the actress’ side of the story. Count me in.