Hunger: A Memoir of (My) Body by Roxane Gay
If you’ve read previous posts of mine and heard the name “Dr. Reynolds” then you know that is my nickname for a therapist I had a few years back. He helped me through some very dark and difficult times in my life. One of the suggestions he gave me was to read the book Hunger by Roxane Gay. I absolutely hated it because I understood her in a way I didn’t want to. I understood what it was to want to be undesirable so that I would no longer be an object of sexual desires. I hated it because I didn’t go through the same thing she did so I felt like a fool or a fraud feeling the way I did. I hated it because it opened my eyes to what I hoped was not a real problem in our country.
But it did do all those things. Like a scary movie, I needed to get to the end of the book as quickly as possible so I could get some closure. What it did instead was help me see cause and effect in my actions, emotions and lack of trust.
Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis
This book is a motivating, in your face, pep talk from the girl next door. (She’s not next to my door but she’s next to someone’s right?) It breaks down the lies we tell ourselves and how the author overcame each of those lies. Take it or leave it-it’s a good one! Sometimes when I see a Monstrous following of something I shy away from it. Rachel Hollis has had millions of followers (not sure what her count is currently) and I wasn’t in the mood to drink her koolaid. Turns out her book can speak for itself. It showed me that I tell myself lies. Seeing her process of how she flipped her lies laid out for me how I can analyze my own lies and do the same. Shortly after finishing this book, I started to write down the lies I tell myself. It was quite eye opening.
On Combat, The Psychology and Physiology of Deadly Conflict in War and in Peace by Dave Grossman and Loren W. Christensen
Ok true confession, I haven’t finished this one yet but it’s such a must! I have always been fascinated with the human body and this book didn’t disappoint. My husband actually recommended it to me while I was going through afore mentioned trauma and therapy. Understanding better why I would be paralyzed with fear while drowning in PTSD flashbacks helped…a lot! I hated this read because I don’t want others to go through trauma, war, fear, and this book let me know that the world doesn’t care what I want, it’s going to chew up and spit out whoever it wants. I loved it because I truly saw the physical and psychological tolls that our bodies go through. It showed me ways to “combat” those emotions but more importantly that I’m not broken! My trauma was real. It has left scars and imprints but I can choose to be made stronger.
There are many books I could add to this list but let me just start with these three. Here you are on my design and creativity blog wondering why I posted something like this. The truth is I don’t know. I only know this post has been swirling around in my conscious for sometime. So if it helps you to understand better why creativity is SO IMPORTANT to me or if it helps someone find answers they are seeking then I am glad!
Much Love,
Amy Lou
amyloudesigns.com 