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!
Sherry Lynn Jones
Why you are uniquely qualified to write this book?
I can tell these stories because I have lived them and know the difference between dramatic representations and real life. Like many, I grew up watching the EMS and ER shows on television that focused on the hero aspect, providing predictable outcomes, and an unrealistic percentage of happy endings. Although television and movie depictions are more factual these days, the truth about how the emergency worker feels remains mostly hidden. My slant is in telling another side of the story: what responders think and feel during calls, how they internalize tragedy, what happens after the call, and how our world turns upside down when the patient is someone we love.
Why did you write this book?
When I tell people what I do, they focus on the gory side of life, like those who cannot look away from the scene of a bad accident. What they do not realize until it happens to them is that trauma affects someone who is loved and cherished, and lives are forever changed. I want people to see the world for a moment through my eyes, to walk with me through the broken glass, to sit next to me and hold the hand of the injured or dying, to fight against death thinking that sometimes we just might have the power to win those battles. And then I want them to see the complete lunacy of it all and laugh.
What do you think readers will get out of it?
I am hoping that readers will see emergency service workers in a new light and realize we are human, too. We have our own challenges, pains, and sorrows. We have had surgeries, major illnesses, broken bones, and our share of emotional scars. We have been in accidents, our backs are killing us from lifting, and our feet ache after shifts that last from 12 to 24 hours, often without a break. We also realize the importance of last words, how sometimes the sound of an “I love you” has to last a lifetime.
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