Reader Views on 101 Tips to Lighten Your Burden by Jennifer Bonn

101 Tips To Lighten Your Burden

Jennifer Bonn
Loving Healing Press (2021)
ISBN: 978-1615996094
Reviewed by Diana Coyle for Reader Views 5/2022

In “101 Tips To Lighten Your Burden,” Jennifer Bonn enlightens her readers with plenty of tips, 101 to be exact, in helping us try to deal with the obstacles we are facing and burdens we may be carrying on our shoulders throughout our life journey. She sets out to help her readers discover new coping techniques to help make their difficulties more manageable. In supplying these tips, she also has reassured us that we are not alone in our journey. Just to know that others may be going through similar situations is comforting.

One of her points that really resonated is, “Believe You Can.” The author explains that although many people would rather avoid trying something new and failing at it, it is a necessity in life for us to step out of our comfort zones from time to time in order to change and grow as individuals. In doing so, we start projecting positivity in our thoughts, and it strengthens us as a whole and helps us continue to grow and move forward past our obstacles. One small step leads to the next transformational step.

Another point I love is, “Do Not Allow Anyone to Limit You.” In a nutshell, if anyone tells you that you can’t pursue your dreams or go after a career you always wanted, then work at proving them wrong. If you don’t have supportive people surrounding you, then find people who will support you and watch out for you while you work toward your dream. Don’t ever let anyone sabotage your hopes, dreams, and desires.

“Dare to be Different” is yet another one I love because as the author wrote, if we were to all be the same, we would just be carbon copies to each other. How boring would that be if we were all the same? Being different is how we all learn and grow in our environment. Instead of wanting the same hairstyle or clothes etc. dare to be different—in positive ways, of course.

One of my favorites is: “Music is a Healer.” How many times did you realize you were having a bad day and by listening to your favorite music, you eventually relaxed and found your mood changed as well? I know I can surely recall many times when I was down and needed to be uplifted a bit or I was having a bad day and I turned out to have a better mood after listening to my favorite songs. Music has power to it that can not only help you, but heal you as well.

Even though I mentioned all the above as important takeaways to me, my ultimate favorite from this book is: “Spending Time with Animals Is Good Therapy.” I am an only child and always had animals in my life, no matter what age I was. I always relied heavily on my relationships with all the animals in my life. To this day, that still holds true, the only difference being there’s only one animal in my life now instead of the menagerie I had surrounding me as a child. No matter my mood, I love being around my Labrador Retriever. We have an undeniable bond together and we’re so close, we both know what the other will do before we do it. No matter what my mood, I gravitate being around him as my comfort and I find he grounds me. My life’s journey wouldn’t be where I am now without his unconditional love and support he’s given me throughout the years. He is truly my best friend!

Overall, I really enjoyed “101 Tips To Lighten Your Burden,” by Jennifer Bonn and learned a few pointers along the way. The author’s easy, conversational tone and her offerings can be applied to young and old. This would make a great book to not only re-read from time to time but also it would be a wonderful gift to give someone special in your life. I highly recommend it!

J. Walitalo Woodburning

978-161599-618-6
$74.95
: Highlights from the First Five Years
In stock
1
Product Details
UPC: 978-161599-618-6
Brand: Modern History Press
Binding: Case Laminate
Edition: 1st
Author: J. Walitalo
Illustrator: J. Walitalo
Pages: 162
Publication Date: 12/01/2021

This book is the collected images of Joanna Walitalo's first five years of woodburning artwork. Pyrography, the use of heat or fire to create an image, is an uncommon and sometimes under-appreciated media in the art world and commonly considered more of a craft. Joanna, like many other Midwest kids, was given a craft wood-burner when she was young, tried it once or twice, burnt herself and subsequently put it away. Many years later, she picked it up again, and this time stuck with it, pushing herself to create high detail, realistic artwork. Her professional background in biology, environmental policies and forestry led her to the idea of incorporating what she had learned about wood products into this unique art form, using her skills as an artist to spread the message of love, beauty and respect for the environment and our natural resources. The concept that all of her work is done on scrap wood builds an ethic of recycling into each piece of art.

The name J. Walitalo was chosen because it covers both James and Joanna, a husband and wife team. The Walitalos enjoyed this hobby, where they could work together, James preparing and finishing the wood on which Joanna does her artwork. "It is very satisfying to work together to create something unique and special, especially when I can do it with my best friend," Joanna reflects, referring to her husband James. No two pieces are the same because of the wood--each piece is a different size, species and grain. Sometimes it takes a while to find the right piece of wood for a particular image or to find the right image to fit a particular piece of wood. Each piece of art is done freehand, either drawing from life or from looking at reference photos.

"Joanna's vision is honest and straightforward. Walitalo loves wood, and she thoughtfully integrates the natural design of the various wood grains and knots within her rendering. Under Joanna's experienced craftsmanship, scraps of basswood, pine, curly maple, etc. become her partners in the creative process. Walitalo's drawings are a wonderful example of the artist uniting her life's passions with her perfect expressive medium." --Michael Volker, Assistant Professor (Lecturer III) Painting and Drawing, CMU

"An extraordinary convergence of art, personal experience, growth and utilization of a renewable resource as a canvas. The narrative depicts and shares with the reader the thinking of the artist, her experiences in life and in her work. Joanna Walitalo has created a collection of artwork that utilizes pyrography to recognize people, nature and landscapes, and brought it to a single work that shares wood, nature and life." --Andrew J. Storer, Dean, College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science, MTU

"Joanna Walitalo has an amazing capacity to recognize the personality of her subjects-both animal and human-and infuse that element into the finished piece. Using fine lines in either ink or pyrography, she brings forth the character of the time and place in her art. Her ethics of recycling wood that has either been rejected or has passed its time of usefulness as a product, lends heart and value to her work. This is an artist who loves, understands and values the natural world and can bring nature right into your home. Incredible!" --Barb Rogers, Manager, Wildlife Recovery Association, and retired art instructor

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