Enjoy the quiet. Sit with Jesus. ( )

Sharing a personal journey—from busy, responsible, performance-based living to that of quiet reflection and connection with one's true self—means vulnerability. It also means that you join a cadre of writers doing just that. Add the twist of being a high-profile woman of faith and this book is an act of bravery in an already challenging field: Christian memoir writing. I recognize and honor the feat. Thank you.

That said, editing matters! Many times felt I was re-reading a chapter that I'd just finished. Several ideas repeated like a refrain over and over without a deeper insight. Don't stop writing, dear Shauna, but do keep winnowing through chapters so that readers like me don't feel that keeping company with you involves backtracking through dense woods just for the sake of page count. ( )

Do not read this book if you're not sick and tired of the way your life is going. If you're ready and willing to put forth changes in your life this book will help and support you. BUT you have to follow Shauna's advice. This book is perfect for women who don't know how to juggle everything from friends to careers to family. I highly recommend this book. ( )

Wow, there are some savage reviews of this book. I liked it. While I agree with some reviewers that some of it is hard to relate to given her station in life, I appreciated her reflections on the struggles she has gone through and what she has done to pare down her life to what is most important. Paired with The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, it is helping me be more present every day. ( )

The Short of It:

Are you a perfectionist? Do you try to keep all the balls in the air at the same time? Do you have trouble saying no? This book focuses on being present over perfect. Perfection is highly overrated and if you are like me and fail at it miserably, you will find much to relate to in this audio book.

The Rest of It:

What’s funny is that if you ask the people around me, they will say that I’m not failing at all. Because, on the outside, I look like I have it all together. I know this because I’ve been told this. I’ve even been referred to as a Stepford Mom and if that person happens to be reading, PLEASE do not be upset over it. I secretly enjoyed the comment and it has stayed with me for years. I mean, it was kind of a compliment, at least to my perfection-striving self.

Those who know me will also say that for years I’ve been trying to simplify and that my calendar is always a work-in-progress. Lord, I try. I try to cook real food, learn things, spend time with my family but I spend a lot of time driving back and forth, or holed up in a parking lot waiting for something to end.

A good friend gifted me this book on Audible and it could have been written by me. I could relate to every, single story within it. Present Over Perfect is a book of observations. Each chapter is an observation of what Niequist dealt with as she was trying to focus on being present with those around her, and not so perfect. Listening to this book was like a soothing balm to my soul.

My word for the year is Gather and because I am a perfectionist by nature, the idea of inviting people into my home when things are less than perfect is very uncomfortable for me but Niequist addresses that and of course everything she says makes perfect sense. While waiting for perfection that will never come, my home remains closed off to the people I’ve been trying to invite in. Ironic, no?

If you enjoy self-reflection and struggle with perfection, you will find yourself nodding to much of what Niequist details here. She comes across as gentle, but genuine. I’m so glad my friend gifted it to me!

For more reviews, visit my blog: Book Chatter. ( )