Growing Up & Liking It: 13 Steps to a Happier Self [Perfect Paperback]

"Growing Up and Liking It" by Dolores Ayotte is a delightful read that can be read straight through, or as I did, snippets at a time. Dolores shares many anecdotes and quotes meant for contemplation. If applied to life, the advice outlined here can take one from unhappiness and despair to joy and fulfillment. You will love this book and this author! A quote at the end of the book from Mother Teresa of Calcutta sums it up best. Dolores is just "a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world".

Dolores's book is filled with the wisdom gained from the painful experiences that came her way. Her ultimate goal in writing her book is to help others in their own suffering, so they may see a light of hope. Dolores's advice is practical and doable. I think that anyone who gets their hands on Growing Up & Liking It, will gain some tools to help them cope with life with a little more humor and a little less stress.

Growing Up and Liking It - 13 Steps to a Happier Self is the perfect sequel to I'm not Perfect and It's Okay. The author, Canadian Dolores Ayotte, once again gives down-to-earth practical advice that any woman would find valuable.

I'm Not Perfect and It's Okay, the author's previous book, left me with the feeling that I had just sat down with Dolores over a cup of coffee to get some good advice. Growing Up and Liking It, had me feeling much the same way. The advice is still sound and something we can all benefit from and Ayotte in her personable and likeable way, instantly makes the reader feel at home as she doles out her advice with anecdotes and quotes.

In fact, I don't think I've seen so many quotes in one book before. If anything, the author's pen name should be "the quote lady" as I'm certain she has a good one for every occasion! But,as she explains in her book, "Over the last 25 years, I have collected numerous quips, quotes, stories and newspaper articles." This is something that comes naturally to her and has helped enormously in her writing. Without the quotes, the book just wouldn't be the same.

I love the author's easy style of communicating with her readers. I can picture her at her desk, as she often stops in her writing to tell us what she is doing, or what her husband is doing while she is writing to us. Truly, she has a unique way of engaging the reader.

At the end of each chapter Ayotte has provided questions or suggestions on how to get started on having a happier life. I found that I took a long time reading this book, not because it was a large book, it is only 192 pages, but because I wanted to meditate on her suggestions.

I believe this is a good book for a woman's study, combined with her first book you would get a good dose of wisdom and timely advice from a woman who loves the Lord and genuinely longs to share what she has learned from following Him.

Growing Up and Liking It - 13 Step to a Happier Self, is one book you will want to add to your shelf!