My Christmas Wishlist
People close to our family know that we all, including my dad (and my mum until her last Christmas in 2020) still write letters to Santa each year. We take the time to reflect on the year, as well as provide small gift suggestions for any elves who might be needing inspiration. I like to think that if you read all the letters over the years you would get insight into both our own lives and wider society. Given that people seem interested in what books I’m reading, I thought I’d use this post to share the books that would sit very happily on my Wishlist for Christmas 2020. I’ll spare you the commentary on the wider world at the moment, but keep an eye on Instagram where my Santa letter may make a fleeting appearance on my IG stories! Books inform, educate and inspire and, vitally at this time of the year, allow me to escape a little into a world of imagination and make believe. I used to hide under the covers reading late at night, despite many reminders from my mum that it was time to go to sleep. Nowadays I have to remind myself that it’s time to go to sleep, but in the holidays there is more time to curl up under a blanket and lose myself for a bit.
Nigel Slater, A Cook’s Book by Nigel Slater
I like Nigel Slater and I like cooking. His recipes, attitude to food and way of narrating all seem to be soothing for the soul. Who doesn’t need that this year?
The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Jenny Bayliss
I’m actually a hopeless romantic and have definitely found solace in books with a ‘…happily ever after’ ending since my mum died earlier this year. This one caught my eye because it’s a novel concept and is set at Christmas. Perfect for reading under a blanket, sitting next to the Christmas tree.
Heart Minded by Sarah Blondin
Lovely Lisa Swiatek from Solis Coaching recommended this on our recent joint Instagram Live where we talked about mindfulness in the madness so it had to go on the list. How to hold yourself and others in love sounds like a lesson that is important for all of us. With many books I read, I absorb the content for me and for potential use with my clients. I have a feeling this one might get signposted next year and beyond.
Master Mentors by Scott Jeffrey Miller
I heard Scott being interviewed on the Chasing the Insights Podcast recently and I thought this sounded great. Scott has worked for the Franklin Covey company and brings together experience from 40 mentors in this book, delivered in bite-sized chapters. I love learning so this one sounds accessible and with the right amount of depth for festive reading.
The Mistletoe Pact by Jo Lovett
This year I discovered Jo Lovett and, as another happy ending I’m looking forward to sitting down and enjoying every page of this romantic comedy. Light-hearted, tender and funny. For me that’s what fiction needs to provide right now.
Other titles on my list are similar in nature, Christmas for Beginners by Carole Matthews, Just Haven’t Met You Yet by Sophie Cousens, and The Christmas Bookshop by Jenny Colgan. I also have my copy of Atlas of the Heart by Brené Brown to really get stuck into. And that might be one for the New Year since I do try and switch off from work over the Christmas holidays (as much as an entrepreneur and creative person ever can do!).
