I recently used the phrase "sunshine & rainbows" with someone who was up to their ears in frustration with their colleagues. I like the phrase, which did bring a smile, because it implies that the storm is over. The rain has passed & now we might have very soggy ground, not the place to build anything on, but we also have startlingly long sunlight and vibrant surprising rainbows to admire. It is important to appreciate this & when the ground is dry to build things up again.

As I have started feeling better I have begun reading books again. Those of you that know me well, or have known me for a long time know that I LOVE BOOKS! Always have & always will. When I was younger the most grievous punishment my parents could inflict was to ground me from my extracurricular reading.... #NERDALERT I hadn't even realized I was no longer pursuing long form reading, thinking that perhaps my interests had shifted & that I was no longer into books. Nope, that was pernicious bacteria taking over. I LOVE BOOKS! Some wonderful books I have read in the past few months include, Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card, The Dirty Life by Kristen Kimball, Dirt Work by Christine Byl & Midnight in Siberia by David Greene.
The crux of each book
​Ender's Game; "When I understand my enemy well enough to kill him, in that moment I also love him." I recommend reading the entire series! 
The Dirty Life: Sometimes the life you think you want is not the life for you. And the life for you might be much more complicated & hard, but it will be satisfying. 
Dirt Work: What does it mean to labor? Is there value in physically draining work? 
Midnight in Siberia: Excellent perspective shifter on Russian values. 
John Green posted a Vlogbrothers video this week that I have included below. It is the inspiration for this post.