April: Girl, I was Washing My Face Good

Have you ever read a book that just spoke encouragement and motivation and love into you?

That is how I felt the whole time reading Rachel Hollis's book, Girl, Wash Your Face. There was something so exciting, moving, and connecting about each chapter. Rachel's individual story is different from my own, as she is her own unique person, but there is also something that feels similar about our paths. She's experienced her own traumas, grew up around a negative environment, yet she always dreamed to be more.

The older I get, the more I see how my childhood has affected the person I am today. I'm not saying it was all bad and terrible, but I am saying I've dealt with my own personal issues. I'm 23 and there are still things, both mental and emotional, that I am working to overcome. I, unfortunately, grew up around people who were commonly negative--they usually fell on the "glass half-empty" side of life, and for a while I lived this way, too. I thought it was normal; I believed a mediocre, semi-happy life was reasonable. But those ideas were wrong.

In this book, Rachel reminds readers that we all face challenges in our lives, even ones that may take years to overcome. She doesn't deny that we can be affected by these tragedies, but she informs us that we don't have to, and even more, we shouldn't, stay stuck in our misery. We need to feel and overcome the heartbreak, but we also need to strive to be and do more for ourselves and this world. . .because we can be and do more.

If you're feeling stuck, feeling lost, or even believing you are made for something more, GO READ THIS BOOK. It is for any and every girl out there, and it has set my soul on fire. I want your soul to be set on fire, too!