This past year I had made a sincere goal to read more than I had in a long time. Of course, being filled with good intentions without proper action plans can make such a goal not come to pass.
However, progress is progress, as this is the most I’ve read since becoming a Mom. So with that fact alone I am indeed proud, even if I didn’t hit my overall goal.
Each of these books helped to mature and better my perspective, helped me in striving to be kinder to myself and others, and to embrace changes needed to make my life more meaningful, even in the simplest of ways; whether that be in my work, in my creative endeavors, in my homemaking, my relationships, within my family, or with myself.
In this blog post I’ll be going over each book I read in 2021, what they’re about, and a few of my favorite things about each book. I hope this will encourage you in your reading journey, however extensive or humble that journey may be right now. The one thing that I do ask is that you never stop reading, learning, and progressing.
Reading truly opens doors of understanding and healing that few other things can. Books allow us to not only escape but grow and heal, and that’s what this past years’ reading did for me. 
1) Wintering: The Power of Rest & Retreat In Difficult Times by Katherine May
After all that has taken place the last couple of years, this was the book that I needed most to start 2021.
Katherine May’s Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times is a contemplative, consoling, hopeful read that will nourish your weary soul through your varying winters; or as she defines them as “a fallow period in life when you’re cut off from the world, feeling rejected, sidelined, blocked from progress, or cast into the role of an outsider.”
Throughout the book, she goes over different times throughout her life where she experiences such times, and the strategies and lessons from friends and traveling around the world that helped her to not only ease and endure those winters, but to embrace them.
Wintering, as she puts it, is an essential time for us to slow down, regroup, and heal. By the end of the book, you come to realize that wintering happens often and when we least expect it, but that the process, while painful at times, is necessary and fulfilling in the end.
Reading this brought me great insight, peace, and comfort that my weary soul needed from the pandemic, mothering, and personal struggles that made me feel heard, understood, and gave me tools to be more mindful and more apt to care for myself better.
2) The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
I first came across this book while going through some training for work that was recommended from someone I networked with. Reading it opened my understanding as to why it was a New York Times Bestseller for over a decade.
Throughout the book, Ruiz takes inspiration from ancient Toltec wisdom, offering an effective code of conduct enabling life to transform into an experience of freedom, joy, and love.
The book goes over how as children, we are born into a society that limits us to focus on the dream of the world and its restrictions, which in turn leads us to live up to the world’s expectations of ourselves and punish us for our imperfections, as well as to shame the imperfections of others.
We have also made several important agreements with ourselves, in which we have decided who we are, how we feel, what we believe, and how we should behave. Ruiz asserts that these agreements make us suffer; the key to joy is breaking them in order to embrace individual power.
So the key is to make new agreements and to ultimately, change. The first agreement is to “Be Impeccable with Your Word”. Language is a form of creative power and we exemplify who we are by our words. Therefore, we need to take responsibility for our words and deeds, but not to judge or shame ourselves for them. As we rid ourselves of toxic, negative language and replace it with awareness and positivity, we are set free and filled with peace and joy.
The rest of the agreements are all based on a great deal of mindfulness, change, and freedom that gave me a better understanding of cycles for myself to break, to give myself grace as I strive to overcome them, and how I can recreate my life for the better.
3) Atomic Habits by James Clear
This book was the clear (pun totally intended), constructive kick in the butt I needed heading into 2021 and beyond.
James Clear’s Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones made me more mindful of how I use and view time, helped in my planning and utilizing my days and weeks, looking and planning ahead by challenging what I’m doing now, such as asking the question, “is this serving me?”, and helped me little by little to create good habits in a natural manner.
I was given the tools to properly reevaluate my habits to see if they were allowing me to work towards and attain my goals, and to better adopt good behaviors to support those goals.
Utilizing examples and facts from neuroscience, sociology, psychology, sports, and the arts, Clear outlines strategies for reinforcing habits that enable you to reach your full potential. He shows how success is not a singular goal, but a process of gradually improving and refining your craft. Establishing good systems is truly the best way to succeed.
4) Scriptures
Every year I take the time to spiritually rejuvenate and grow myself by reading my scriptures: the Bible, Book of Mormon, and other spiritual works.
My reading, however, has become much more than that but has evolved into a time to study and reflect. As I aim to start my day reading my scriptures, it allows me to open myself to strive to gain a kinder and more humble mindset and to take the time to ponder my choices.
As I constantly focus my study on how to be a better mother and how to better treat and view the world and the people around me, my mind and heart are open to thoughts that lead me to improve and to strive to do and be better.
I am grateful for the example of my Savior Jesus Christ outlined in these sacred works, for how the scriptures have made me more teachable, have brightened my perspective on life, the world, others, and my loving Heavenly Parents and Savior, and for the peace and comfort it gives me in a sometimes harsh, loud, and confusing world.
5) Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson
So I’ll be honest, until this past summer I had never read Bridge to Terabithia, nor watched the movie with AnnaSophia Robb and Josh Hutcherson. Admitting that to my friends floored many which made me even more curious as to what all the fuss was about prior to reading it for the first time.
As I came to the last page, the theme that continued to circle in my mind was that of childhood awareness and the need for imagination, as a child and as an adult. The unlikely, transformative friendship between Jess Aarons and Leslie Burke was intriguing and a joy to see develop, the change in Jess’s values and renewed values is heart-warming, and their adventures in and out of Terabithia remind you of the joy and power of childlike wonder.
For a short read, I was impressed by its strong themes of friendship, childhood, and individualism, and loved how in the end, the legacy of our own Terabithia can live on as we not only remember and keep it to ourselves, but embrace and share it with others. Allowing the magic to reignite us and enliven others. 
6) Coraline by Neil Gaiman
This book has been such a childhood favorite, as well as one that continues to haunt and teach me as the years go by.
Coraline is an incredible children’s literature fantasy story about a young girl who discovers that some doors should never be opened and what true bravery is. Reading this as an adult, compared to when I read this when it was first published as a twelve year old opened my eyes to Coraline’s curiosity, determination, and immense bravery; traits that I hope to encourage and teach my own child as he grows, but hopefully in a less creepy way.
This simple, yet profound quote from the book, “When you are scared, but you do it anyway, that is brave.” enlightened my mind to the countless times, even as an adult, that we are faced with such a decision.
When life is overwhelming and frightening, this doesn’t mean we have to put on a mask of having it altogether or having all the answers, but choosing to simply try and choosing to do something in spite of being scared. Setting aside our fears to comfort and give courage to others and choosing to press forward is an incredible trait that Coraline showcases in a way that made me pause, reflect, and become determined to strive to do the same.
Reading this book was an absolute pleasure, but that sure as heck didn’t mean that it didn’t still chill me to the bone like it did the first time I read it as a child.
7) The Power by Rhonda Byrne
The Power has hands down become one of my absolute favorite books that every time I pick it up I feel like I find something new to reconsider and apply into my life. It is an absolute must read!
You may know the author Rhonda Byrne best by her bestselling, world rocking book The Secret that goes over the Law of Attraction. For me, however, The Power has given me added insight towards love and gratitude that has made my life more full.
The Power builds off from The Secret explaining how love is the force that determines our lack of or abundance in our lives. Rhonda Byrne goes over in great depth how when we use the power of love towards every area of our life, we attract the life and things we want, and in turn create the life we deserve. Rhonda Byrne’s sincere wish and vision for the world is for all to know, understand, and apply such principles to give us endless abundance and joy.
Each time I read this book, I come to view heartache and hardship with greater meaning, as well as coming to better recognize what I am allowing into my life, giving me the strength to hope, heal, and improve, and to not stop looking up, so to speak. This life is truly meant for us to receive and to give love.
8) The Mushin Way to Peak Performance: The Path to Productivity, Balance, and Success by Michael Veltri
This was another read that I was encouraged to read by a past business associate that has given me the added tools and clarity to better succeed in my business and personal life.
Michael Veltri teaches tools and techniques, as well as inbetween chapters, gives you the opportunity to attain and apply what is taught in the book through action plans. It is a remarkable book that uses examples from the martial art of aikido to help you move forward in your life.
This art, he explains, was not meant to be used simply as a physical form of combat, but as a way to discipline, overcome conflict, and manage the complex, crushing world faced by the busy individual. Utilizing these principles can lead to our success, to an increase of peace, and to find better balance amidst our hectic lives.
9) The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady by Edith Holden
A YouTuber I enjoy watching, Darling Desi, recommended this book and boy am I ever glad I picked it up and read it throughout the year. The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady went over not only the seasons during the early 1900s found in the English countryside, but with each month, allowed me to pay greater attention to nature and the changing of the seasons in what others would consider mundane, but what I grew to find intriguing, beautiful, and even important.
The world we live in offers us so much in abundance, as well as in lessons on the proper process of growth and being on a united front as human beings with nature.
If we would truly stop and smell the flowers more often than we do, I truly believe that our mental health would improve, that we would be kinder to ourselves, that we would enjoy our lives more, and that we would have a greater respect and mindfulness towards the kind of lives we are striving to live.
I always looked forward to the simple, detailed description by word and drawing by Edith Holden of the changing seasons, of nature’s happenings, and then looking out my window, or better noticing on family walks and hikes the countless beauties of the Earth. I would breathe a little deeper, smile a little wider, and look a little longer, and appreciate this place I called home.
10) Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke
Ending 2021 with this book I received as a gift for my grade twelve graduation from my incredibly mindful aunt was an absolute Godsend. Letters to a Young Poet is a series of letters between the young poet and Rilke focused on encouragement and development, specifically concerning gaining an understanding of, and connection, to his inner creative soul through solitude, the relationships between creativity, nature and sexuality, and the importance of living a full life.
Rilke’s manner, language, and overall honesty never came across as condescending, but rather wise, thought-provoking, inspiring, and even humble; which as a young adult I understood and appreciated greatly.
This short yet profound book was filled with gold nuggets that I feel will continue to ring true at any stage of my life. Currently being in my late 20s, this book has left me asking and pondering deeper questions to guide me, on a personal and creative level, that have been difficult yet beautiful and necessary towards my growth and progression.
This is a must read to take in line upon line and to not be rushed. Drink in each word and take time to pause along the way is my advice as you read this gem of a book.
Read Well and Often
In every stage of my life, I have found that surrounding myself with good literature is what gives me success and relief to face each struggle and enjoy the journey well. The older I get, the more I appreciate the need to read to not only be educated, but to have greater compassion towards myself and those I come across, to better care for my mental health, to allow my brain to breathe and problem-solve, and to fill my soul with light and insight.
We often inundate our brains and our time with mindless activities that we often forget to unplug and reconnect with real words, ideas, and even old friends found within pages where we can find relief, purpose, and belonging in.
Let us mindfully take the time to read, to read often, and to read well the books that line our shelves or that are at our disposal. We could give ourselves no greater gift than to read, for then we will be truly free and more able to live, forming a bridge from misery to hope.
Now I’d love to hear from you, what was one book that you enjoyed reading in 2021? 😌 📖
Please comment below and share this post if it has been of value to you or could be to someone else.
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About the Author
Hi there! I’m Stephanie Tracy, a freelance writer, blogger, and copy-editor for hire. I specialize in physical and mental health, parenting, and self-development. I create engaging, inspiring, and useful content to help businesses progress in making their viewers into customers. When I’m not writing, you can find me happily playing with my toddler, walking in the park with my family, or indulging in a movie marathon with my husband.