I was reminded again this morning of this beautiful quote from Marianne Williamson in A Return to Love: Reflections on the Principles of A Course in Miracles:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There’s nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us, it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

I get goosebumps every time I read that! What about you?

Now here’s how I was reminded…

Joyful, Jubilant Learning is that wonderful community place where I sit in awe of the wisdom, generosity, acceptance and love of those who contribute and those who join in the conversations. And for the month of March, and half way into April it’s A Love Affair With Books time! My favourite time of year at JJL…

The book I read and selected for review this year is Marianne Williamson’s The Age of Miracles: Embracing the New Midlife.

I have to admit this book sat on my shelf for quite some time while I came to terms with the fact that, yes, I probably am in midlife now… and not something younger. Sigh…

After reading this book, I’m no longer in such fear of being ‘older’ and not quite so ‘cool’ as I used to be. In fact, being cool was never something I aspired to. My kids have words for me that I don’t think will change with age. Words like weird, hippy, and crazy.

You can read the full review, and the wonderful comment conversation on JJL here. Will you join in the conversation?

Why not check out the rest of the book reviews while you’re at it. We’ve had an amazingly diverse range of books reviewed so far – and many more to come! Here’s to an overflowing list of books to be read!