Just the other day I began packing up my bookshelf to get ready for my upcoming summer vacation and move to Maui. I was reminiscing on all the different chapters of my life that led me to read these books. I find it amazing how books offer us an affordable inside look into some of the greatest minds, thinkers, and creatives.  

I have decided to load up on books this summer to complement my free time. I invite you to join me and read along whichever one sounds supportive of your current phase of life.

Whether you are an avid reader or just wanting to explore a new past-time, in this blog post I am sharing with you my summer reading list.

I have organized the books by the different dimensions of wellness. I referred to these eight dimensions in my January blog post, check out here.  In brief, our health is determined by an interconnection of eight dimensions:

• physical
• emotional
• spiritual
• environmental
• relational
• financial
• occupational
• intellectual

The hope is to create a life where these are sustaining us and balancing out naturally and effortlessly.

The act of reading is in itself an intellectual exercise because of the combination of critical thinking, analyzing, interpreting, and integrating required as you read along.  Many of these books fall under a few dimensions of health but I have highlighted each one with respect to the dominant theme(s).

I welcome hearing from you if you add any of them to your reading list :)

This first book hits multiple dimensions of wellness for me, but I am choosing to highlight it in the physical & emotional category.

Physical & Emotional: The F*ck It Diet: Eating Should Be Easy

Dieting and restriction weight loss takes a HUGE toll on our physical and emotional well-being, and despite the influences, many of us grew up receiving, the toll is not for the better. 

I will be interning at an eating disorder treatment center next school year and this book was recommended by another clinician in the clinic. I have already read the first chapter and highly recommend you pick this read up for this summer. It is easy to read and packed with support.

It may just be the catalyst you need for lasting change and well-being.

What to expect when reading this book?

Support and scientific evidence about why dieting never has and never will work as a long-term health care solution AND the hope that is possible when you get yourself out of a famine state (restriction, reduced calorie, fear-driven eating).

Here is an excerpt from the book about how your daily life may look when you commit to feeding and nourishing yourself without restriction: 

• You can go through your day and pretty much only think about food when you are hungry.
• You will have a strong healthy appetite for lots of food, yet your weight will stay stable because your metabolism isn’t compromised from dieting.
• You eat what you crave, but you crave what you need. Sometimes salads, sometimes a cookie, sometimes fruit, sometimes steak, etc.
• You can eat a meal and stop in the ballpark of satiation and fullness without overthinking it.
• You can eat when you’re distracted or tired or stressed or sad and still stop once you get full.
• You will have a strong sense of what food you want, when, and how much, but it won’t be that important that you follow your cravings perfectly, because life is too short to obsess over food  (p. 41)

If this sounds far-fetched and impossible to you, know that, I too, struggled with believing food freedom was a possibility for me, yet I stand here today confident that it is possible because of my recovery from disordered eating.  I pray for all of this and more for your eating experience moving forward. Buy your copy now: The F*ck It Diet: Eating Should Be Easy

Spiritual: Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver
When I am feeling depleted, lost, hopeless, or confused I find respite in the poetry of Mary Oliver. She speaks truths of our common humanity so effortlessly while also weaving in the magic of the mundane. I am looking forward to keeping this book on my nightstand this summer and spending mornings meditating on the pure wisdom of her words. Purchase your copy here: Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver

Environmental A Terrible Thing to Waste: Environmental Racism and Its Assault on the American Mind by Harriet A. Washington
Our nation and our world have a long way to go to recover from the injustices of the past that are still creating negative health outcomes in marginalized communities.

This book seems to be a powerhouse of information about the injustices that have and are affecting communities of color and those living in poverty. To grow as a nation and global community, we must get honest with ourselves about what has happened so that we can create effective solutions. 

Purchase this book with me if you are ready to understand the HUGE role environment plays on one's well-being and how we can fight for justice in our communities. Buy your copy now: A Terrible Thing to Waste: Environmental Racism and Its Assault on the American Mind by Harriet A. Washington

Social/Relational: The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown
Brene Brown has been one of my role models for several years now.  I have enjoyed many of her videos and podcasts, and so I am thrilled to dive deeper into her written work. This book is one of her best sellers. In it, she breaks down how to live a wholehearted life. When are living a wholehearted life, our relationships with others can flourish with genuine love and respect. Buy your copy now to read along with me: The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown

Occupational: Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle
We use the term burn out A LOT in the social work profession. Likely because we are asked to be the frontline support for the various crises, which takes a toll on one's well-being.  I have experienced various stages of burnout in the past year as a second-year graduate student and know I am not alone in this stress cycle. 
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I heard about this book in Brene Brown's podcast, Unlocking Us. She had a great conversation with the authors of the book who happen to be two sisters.  I was wooed by their message of resilience and compassionate boundary holding. I know this book is going to be full of great information about proactive stress-relief practices. Buy your copy here: Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle

Financial: The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness
​Most people cruise through life with little insight into how their behaviors are impacted by their core beliefs. Even though these core beliefs drive our daily choices and lifestyles, most people let them stay in the unconscious. When our daily choices or lifestyles begin to feel misaligned with what we want or need, it may be time to explore those core beliefs. I am fascinated by psychology and the stories that make up people's way of life. I have studied this topic of wealth, greed, and happiness and so I am excited to lean into this book. Perhaps I may uncover more about my personal financial blocks and beliefs. Buy your copy here: The Psychology of Money: Timeless lessons on wealth, greed, and happiness

Leave a comment or send me a message to let me know if you will be reading any of these books along with me this summer!

​Be well,
Ashley Cipponeri
Licensed Massage Therapist & Wellness Coach

If you have worked with me for any amount of time, you likely have heard me refer to the "wellness journey." I want you to walk away from this blog post with more clarity about this phrase and a feeling of commitment to your personal wellness journey.

To be on a wellness journey is to have daily encounters with choices that will impact your overall well-being. Everyone is on this journey, but only some choose to be conscious, intentional, and self-aware of their choices.  Some days will be filled with positive choices for your well-being and yet on other days those choices feel so out of reach. When you embrace the ebbs and flows of this process, you are stepping into your unique wellness journey instead of a prefabricated definition of what wellness looks like. 

My favorite metaphor for this journey is the labyrinth. 

While many of us wish there was a quick fix or a strait and narrow path towards well-being, the truth is being human is complex and the sooner we embrace our complex nature, the sooner we can enjoy it.