Note to Self

Posted on June 13, 2020 by Laurie Buchanan

TODAY ONLY — Sat, June 13, 2020 — Note to Self: A Seven-Step Path to Gratitude and Growth is the featured eBook deal on BookBub. Grab it on Amazon, Nook, Google Play, or Kobo for 99𝇍.

Winner of six literary honors, including Foreword INDIES Self-Help Book of the Year, Note to Self closes the gap between where you are and where you want to be.

AMAZON
https://www.amazon.com/Note-Self-Seven-Step-Gratitude-Growth-ebook/dp/B01M63I2EM/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1592029065&sr=8-1

NOOK
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/note-to-self-laurie-buchanan-phd/1123466904?ean=9781631521140

GOOGLE PLAY
https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Laurie_Buchanan_Note_to_Self?id=SThjDQAAQBAJ

KOBO
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/note-to-self-23

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Joie de Vivre

Posted on January 1, 2019 by Laurie Buchanan

Rather than make New Year’s resolutions, each year I select a single word to focus on in the upcoming year. In 2019 I’ve selected a brief phrase—Joie de Vivre! Joy of Life!

At not quite three months old, this brief video clip captures one of our granddaughter’s first laughs. Luna’s expression of joy is the epitome of Joie de Vivre!—Joy of Life!

JOIE DE VIVRE—A delight in being alive; an exuberant, keen, or buoyant enjoyment of life; an exultation of spirit.

JOIE DE VIVRE—A philosophy of life; a sentiment that involves one’s whole being.

Do you have a focus word this year?

Women and Leadership

Posted on October 3, 2017 by Laurie Buchanan

Jumping on the opportunity, I was fortunate to purchase a ticket for the Women and Leadership Conference hosted by the Andrus Center for Public Policy at Boise State University before they quickly sold out to over 800 attendees. This annual conference is dedicated to promoting women’s interests, causes, and rights

I invested September 27 and 28 like a sponge—soaking up as much information from the presenters that I possibly could. Designed to educate, motivate, and inspire, the high-energy keynote presentations were delivered by Hattie Kauffman, Captain Gail Harris, Janice Schneider, Anne Doyle, Susan Sygall, Meredith Walker, Tara Russell, and Natasha Lamb.

Additionally, I attended three skill-building workshops:

Life by Design
The Language of Leadership
Practicing Mindfulness & Finding Balance

On top of all that, I had the opportunity to connect with like-minded women at the morning and evening reception events. I came away with relevant and actionable techniques that I can implement, delicious food for thought, and an even more highly polished admiration for people who contribute; people who make a positive, uplifting, constructive, and healing imprint on humanity.

When did you last connect with a like-minded person?

Sankalpa

Posted on January 3, 2017 by Laurie Buchanan

Rather than make New Year’s resolutions, each year I select a single word to focus on in the upcoming year. In 2017 my focus word is Sankalpa—a Sanskrit word that means determination; a practical step to harness willpower. With this resolve I’m going to plant, cultivate, and and nurture three seeds:

Seeds by Laurie Buchanan at TuesdaysWithLaurie.com

HOPE — optimism, joyful expectation

GRACE — the immediate presence of spirit, be the change

PEACE — reconciliation, unity

My practical and idealogical steps to ensure a good harvest include exercising intentional kindness. To build up, not tear down. To unite, not divide. To accept, not merely tolerate. To be better informed. To be transparent and vulnerable, not guarded and closed. And to actively listen, not passively hear what people with opposing viewpoints have to share.

Do you have a focus word this year?

My Cup Runneth Over

Posted on November 22, 2016 by Laurie Buchanan

When we saw this trailer overflowing with bicycles galore, I thought, Holy cow, that’s a lot of bicycles! I don’t know who owns them or why they have so many, but clearly their “cup runneth over.”

Bicycles Galore by Laurie Buchanan at TuesdaysWithLaurie.com

For the rest of the walk I wondered, what do I have a lot of? Certainly nothing tangible in that quantity. But I have a heckofa lot of intangibles to be grateful for: peace, joy, and whole health—body, mind, and spirit. In fact, my cup runneth over!

Does your cup runneth over?

Happy Thanksgiving from our house to yours.

Official Release Day

Posted on November 1, 2016 by Laurie Buchanan

Today—Nov 1, 2016—is the official release day of Note to Self: A Seven-Step Path to Gratitude and Growth. Like a hovercraft, my feet haven’t touched the ground!

In an article featured on BuzzFeed today, Note to Self is listed as one of the 5 Self-Help Books To Keep You Centered During Election Week. Here’s what they wrote:

“Lugging around emotional baggage is something that we’ve all experienced and something that no one enjoys because it can hinder our journey through life. But, in this seven-step guide Laurie Buchanan explores the significance of unpacking that baggage in order to begin a healthier stage of living. This honest and open guide gives readers the knowledge, techniques and real world examples they need to discover a happier version of themselves.” —BuzzFeed

Hosted by The Present Moment, my book launch party is scheduled for Nov 12 at the Civic Center in Libertyville, IL—just north of Chicago. Click HERE for details. I hope to see you there.

I’m delighted to share that Note to Self was selected as a 2016 Idaho Author Award winner in the category of inspiration.

Tonight we attend the awards reception and ceremony, so let’s just say my feet won’t touch the ground for the next week or seven!

Note to Self is additionally in the running for the Nautilus Award. This distinction is for books with exceptional literary contributions to spiritual growth, conscious living and green values, high-level wellness, responsible leadership, and positive social change.

For those who can’t attend the book launch, you can still get a signed copy of Note to Self. Simply call my local bookstore—Rediscovered Books—at 208.376.4229 and let them know you’d like to purchase a signed copy of Laurie Buchanan’s Note to Self. They’ll ship it to you within 24 hours.

If you live in the Boise area, Rediscovered Books is hosting me at a market style event from 11:00 am to 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 7. I’d be happy to sign and copy for you there.

If you live outside the United States, you can order Note to Self through Amazon or Barnes and Noble.

Ways you can help me launch Note to Self:

Please buy a copy of the book.
Leave an honest review on Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads / Riffler. Readers want to know if Note to Self is relevant, compelling, actionable, vibrant. Simply cut-and-paste the same review wherever you post it.
Tell others about Note to Self—word of mouth is the best advertisement.
Please ask your local library to order a copy.

What is the title of the book you are currently reading?

Book Trailer

Posted on April 5, 2016 by Laurie Buchanan

Created by the award-winning talent of Rucinski & Reetz, I’m excited to share with you the book trailer for Note to Self: A Seven-Step Path to Gratitude and Growth.

Available for pre-order on Amazon

Transforming intention into action, Note to Self equips you to shed your baggage, bridging the gap between where you are and where you want to be—body, mind, and spirit—empowering you to step into joy-filled living now!

“Laurie Buchanan has a knack for helping others find positive, creative, and clear solutions to life’s challenges. Reading this book was like watching the sun rise for me; every page had bright rays of wisdom that made me smile. Delightful indeed!”
—Christine DeSmet, author, screenwriter, and writing teacher at University of Wisconsin-Madison Continuing Studies

What book are you currently reading?

Available for pre-order on Amazon.

Book Cover Reveal

Posted on March 15, 2016 by Laurie Buchanan

Baggage! We all carry it with us through life. It comes in a wide variety of styles, shapes, and colors—more than enough to accommodate the stuff that we accumulate through life. And no matter how we dress it up, it’s frustrating, inconvenient, and slows us down. In fact, it’s downright disruptive.

This book is about offloading emotional baggage—something that’s especially important when we realize that we don’t just pack for one; we pack for seven. Each of the seven selves—self-preservation, self-gratification, self-definition, self-acceptance, self-expression, self-reflection, and self-knowledge—has characteristics, wellness types, and shadows. Each plays a vital role in harmony, overall health, and well-being.

Chock full of real-life emotional examples, as well as “keys” at the end of each chapter offering actionable tips, techniques, and exercises designed to help you unlock baggage, examine it, and offload it permanently, Note to Self will help you discover a lighter, joy-filled you!

Here’s what two of the advance readers had to say:

“While we are all passengers on a planet called Earth, we can choose to enhance the way in which we travel: emotionally, spiritually, intellectually, and physically. In fact, we can, through the pages of this book, discover new ways to travel that are lighter, more fluid, and life-enhancing. The author, a wise and dedicated traveler, is also the right kind of kind of guide—caring, inspiring, uplifting, knowledgeable—for your journey of self-discovery. I recommend this tremendous book to anyone seeking the companionship of good energy and joyful presence. A five-star read in every way!”
—D.A. Hickman, author of The Silence of Morning: A Memoir of Time Undone

“What a dazzling rainbow of wisdom Laurie Buchanan has assembled into one volume! Drawing on a wide range of spiritual teachers and scientific discoveries, Buchanan guides the reader on an exciting journey of self-discovery. She is a modern oracle at Delphi, and this book a modern temple with ‘Know Thyself’ written on every page. Highly recommended for daily spiritual practice (a list of 365 questions at the end will guide journal writing). Leaders of retreats, and spiritual seekers will be sharing well-thumbed, dog-eared copies soon.”
—Shirley Hershey Showalter, former president of Goshen College and author of  Blush: A Mennonite Girl Meets a Glittering World

I’m looking forward to November 1, 2016—the publication date of Note to Self.

What’s the next date/event that you’re looking forward to?

When Breath Becomes Air

Posted on February 23, 2016 by Laurie Buchanan

When my friend, Shirley Hershey Showalter, wrote about When Breath Becomes Air in her blog post, When Time Shall Be No More: Kalanithi and Kairos, on February 10, 2016, I read it immediately following the book I was currently reading. Shirley’s wisdom and track record are such that when she recommends something, you don’t hesitate.

It’s rare that I use my blog to share about books that I’ve read. An avid reader and reviewer, I use Goodreads and Amazon for that purpose. However, I feel so strongly about When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi that I’m sharing it here.

After ~~reading~~ devouring the book, this is the review I posted on Goodreads and Amazon:

“For over two decades a particular book held the highly coveted all-time-favorite-book place in my heart. In one fell swoop, WHEN BREATH BECOMES AIR single-handedly took its place. Each word chosen with tremendous care, the writing is exquisite. A call to action, the reader can’t help but sit down and carefully examine the nooks and crannies of their essence to discover what it is—exactly—that gives their individual life meaning. A call to action, this book is going to change your life!” —Laurie Buchanan

To date, what is your all-time favorite book?

Unleashed Imagination

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Laurie Buchanan

Artists come in all sizes, shapes, colors, and age groups. They’re creative people who produce art: photographers, potters, painters, actors, chefs, fashion designers, writers, singers, illustrators, sculptors, musicians, and the list goes on…

Last year when I applied for a writer’s residency, I was asked for my artist statement. What?! I’d never given it a moment’s thought. They wanted to know the why behind my writing. So I got busy and crafted one:

Artist Statement — Laurie Buchanan

Writing to me, is what an empty box is to a child—a key that unlocks the imagination, transforming empty space into a race car or stage coach, fort or castle, spaceship or submarine. For me a blank page is transportation to a world of my own, one where anything is possible.

Early on, the process of painting word pictures struck me as magical. Over the years that spellbinding practice led me from writing lyrics, to magazine articles, blogging, short stories, and finally to writing books.

A vehicle for transforming inner vision to outer reality, writing fills me with a sense of completion. Though I work quite deliberately, consciously employing my muse—brevity, concision—my unconscious is the one who holds the reins.

Never without a notebook or laptop, the concrete nature of writing—pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard—frees my imagination and provides opportunity for serendipity and grace to influence the finished product.

I didn’t set out to become a writing alchemist—an author whose words affect positive change—but as my portfolio developed and my reading audience grew, that description emerged.

One of the most wondrous aspects of writing is that each reader enjoys a different takeaway from the same word picture—therein lies the magic.

Have you had to craft an artist statement, mission statement, or perhaps a life statement?

Tuesdays with Laurie

"Whatever you are not changing, you are choosing." —Laurie Buchanan

Category Archives: Inspiration