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4.18 AVERAGE
4.18 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
this was really great! i really liked what jeffrey had to say about controlling your life and how life isn't reward and punishment - hopefully it'll help me let go a bit and be myself. also it was great to have this on audio as it felt like i was listening to an extended version of one of their tiktoks.
I really liked the advice: The only way out is through.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
inspiring
reflective
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-paced
I don’t agree with everything Jeffrey says in this book, but there is a lot about self acceptance that I think the world needs. This book is definitely written to a younger audience and those who haven’t figured out themselves yet. So I can’t say it was life changing. I accepted myself long ago. Jeffrey and I have different world views but even within those we have commonalities. The biggest one being that every person is valuable.
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
So, let me begin by saying that I give this five fab stars for its spirit and value to young people (saying that makes me feel old!), especially those figuring themselves out. To people who feel pretty confident about themselves, you're going to walk away with something, I promise, even if it's the overall experience of getting to know the author. That's what's important here: that Jeffrey Marsh, through their own life experiences and personal advice, validates and uplifts those who are desperately trying to find their way in the world.
I'm lucky to have been raised in a thoughtful, respectful household where I learned to value myself and others. It wasn't a perfect upbringing, you know, but Jeffrey asks readers to consider that our parents were doing the best they could with what they knew. My parents absolutely did and keep doing their best. I'm blessed.
Looking back, I have what many referred to as an "old soul," where I knew who I was from a young age. Which isn't to say I didn't struggle with people or myself; rather, because I knew who I was, I ended up being a beacon of sorts for kids who were trying to find their way. I gathered those people around me, helping them through abusive family relationships, bad friendships, poor self-esteem. The issue eventually became that those people wanted to keep me at a certain level so they wouldn't lose me--keeping me in my place, so to speak, which spiraled into toxic friendships that eventually had to be broken.
(If this sounds like I'm insufferably tooting my own horn of martyrdom, I apologize. Middle school was rough, and even my teachers saw what was going on.)
I knew who I was, and I knew I didn't deserve the kind of "friendships" these people were offering. I went into high school alone, and started completely anew, gathering friends that I still have today. They're confident, kind, flawed, absolutely wonderful people, and I am so thankful for them.
So, with all that being said, I could relate to Jeffrey's discussion on feeling like a bit of an outsider, or broken, but for different reasons. I needed so much time to push through school so I could finally get to college and be. It was like arriving at the point I'd always been at in some way, if that makes sense.
When Jeffrey talks about understanding the futility of perfection and using our quirky traits as strengths, I knew exactly what they were getting at. I felt we could have an awesome conversation. And, really, they make me want to be a kinder person in my every-day life. Thinking about those people who have moved on to who knows where, they needed kindness and love more than anything.
With that being said, while reading, I couldn't agree with many assumptions being made about my personal experiences. There's focus on how we're told to be less-than, to tone down, to be something else, and perhaps I encountered these issues to some degree? But, if you're going to write a self-help, self-discovery book about How to Be You, it's safe to assume your audience is coming to you with those insecurities. I suppose I was looking for something more in-depth, or just something else entirely.
And again, none of that is a downfall! It'll be great for a kid or young adult, especially with its repetitive affirmations and accessible, personal anecdotes. This is especially valuable for lgbtq+ kids who need to hear that, hey, there's nothing wrong with you and you're okay. (I just picture Jeffrey with their gorgeous eyes gazing lovingly out from a Vine sending confidence. If you don't know who they are, seek them out!)
So, yes, while I had trouble connecting to the whole of this text, as I'm not really learning How to Be Me, someone else absolutely will.
I'm lucky to have been raised in a thoughtful, respectful household where I learned to value myself and others. It wasn't a perfect upbringing, you know, but Jeffrey asks readers to consider that our parents were doing the best they could with what they knew. My parents absolutely did and keep doing their best. I'm blessed.
Looking back, I have what many referred to as an "old soul," where I knew who I was from a young age. Which isn't to say I didn't struggle with people or myself; rather, because I knew who I was, I ended up being a beacon of sorts for kids who were trying to find their way. I gathered those people around me, helping them through abusive family relationships, bad friendships, poor self-esteem. The issue eventually became that those people wanted to keep me at a certain level so they wouldn't lose me--keeping me in my place, so to speak, which spiraled into toxic friendships that eventually had to be broken.
(If this sounds like I'm insufferably tooting my own horn of martyrdom, I apologize. Middle school was rough, and even my teachers saw what was going on.)
I knew who I was, and I knew I didn't deserve the kind of "friendships" these people were offering. I went into high school alone, and started completely anew, gathering friends that I still have today. They're confident, kind, flawed, absolutely wonderful people, and I am so thankful for them.
So, with all that being said, I could relate to Jeffrey's discussion on feeling like a bit of an outsider, or broken, but for different reasons. I needed so much time to push through school so I could finally get to college and be. It was like arriving at the point I'd always been at in some way, if that makes sense.
When Jeffrey talks about understanding the futility of perfection and using our quirky traits as strengths, I knew exactly what they were getting at. I felt we could have an awesome conversation. And, really, they make me want to be a kinder person in my every-day life. Thinking about those people who have moved on to who knows where, they needed kindness and love more than anything.
With that being said, while reading, I couldn't agree with many assumptions being made about my personal experiences. There's focus on how we're told to be less-than, to tone down, to be something else, and perhaps I encountered these issues to some degree? But, if you're going to write a self-help, self-discovery book about How to Be You, it's safe to assume your audience is coming to you with those insecurities. I suppose I was looking for something more in-depth, or just something else entirely.
And again, none of that is a downfall! It'll be great for a kid or young adult, especially with its repetitive affirmations and accessible, personal anecdotes. This is especially valuable for lgbtq+ kids who need to hear that, hey, there's nothing wrong with you and you're okay. (I just picture Jeffrey with their gorgeous eyes gazing lovingly out from a Vine sending confidence. If you don't know who they are, seek them out!)
So, yes, while I had trouble connecting to the whole of this text, as I'm not really learning How to Be Me, someone else absolutely will.
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced