I met up with a friend I wish I got to see more often and she asked me, “What three books would you recommend right now?” Nothing like being put on the spot. I read a lot of books. She knows this. In fact, she has often said she doesn’t know anyone who reads as much as I do. What she doesn’t know is I have a slight addiction to purchasing books. Some aren’t even half-read. Which is a bigger problem, but not one I plan to address anytime soon. Most of the time, I do read what I buy. Like I said, most of the time.

After giving this question some thought, I suggested Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth. I had two other suggestions which I may or may not cover in another blog one day, but they are both pretty “woowoo” and I knew she wasn’t asking for something too out there.

Years ago, when Eckhart Tolle’s book A New Earth came out in 2005, I rushed out to add it to my collection. At the time, I didn’t even half read it. I could barely get through one chapter. There were few reasons for that:

1. It was beyond my comprehension.

2. I wasn’t ready for it.

3. I had no clue what the heck he was talking about (oh wait, that is basically #1).

Fast forward, 14 years (YES, it took me 14 years to pick it back up) and NOW I understand it. It wasn’t without some serious going back to school. I mean the note-taking, resource finding, support-needed kind of go back to school. Thank you to Audible, Oprah and another copy of A New Earth , I was able to really understand it this time. This time around, I listened to a chapter, read a chapter and then, thank goodness, listened to Oprah’s class with Eckhart where he explains chapter by chapter and answers questions from those lucky people who somehow got to ask him questions on this podcast. Total game changer. My biggest takeaways:

1. Live in the moment - I know, we are all supposed to be striving for this. But this book, taught me how to do that.

2. The power of the Ego and the TRUTH that we are not our egos. This was a big one for me and it has helped me be more present and grateful for every moment, without judgment (or at least I’m striving for that).

3. That everything is illusion. WTF? What does that even mean? It means that all of the past, simply put, is gone and to hang on, suffer or judge anything about the past is not living for this moment right now. And in this crazy world we are living in, NOW is all we have and will ever have. So live it and love it.

4. I need to listen to it again and again to continue to learn from it. Simply put - FABULOUS.

I’ve included the first chapter above from Oprah’s podcast I found on YouTube with Eckhart. If you are ready, you will get a lot out of it. If you aren’t, that’s ok. Just maybe don’t wait 14 years to pick it up again, like me.