Category: Book Club

I posted on Wednesday about Cheryl Strayed’s book Wild and the movie that’s out now starring Reese Witherspoon. Here’s a clip that I particularly liked.

The book describes Cheryl’s journey on the Pacific Crest Trail, which she started after her life fell apart. Her mother died young from cancer, she got into a pattern of sex and drugs, got divorced all before the age of thirty. It got me thinking about how physically being in the wild calms the wild parts of our lives. Have you noticed a difference in your mood when you connect to the outdoors?

In my daily efforts of motherhood I regularly have to step outside. My young children are great mess makers and fighters at times. I yell and nag at them more than I care to share and when they choose to be naughty out of spite I have to give us all a “timeout” to calm down. What the outdoors does for us is force me out of  get-‘er-done mode and into vacation mode even if just for a few minutes. We’re all happier as a result.

So how does being in the wild affect your mood? Life? Please share a comment by 12/17/14 and if you do you’ll be automatically entered to win a copy of the book Wild as well as a copy of the movie soundtrack! Thanks #WILDmovie!

One of my favorite reads of 2013 was Cheryl Strayed’s WILD. I was lucky to attend the Sundance Author Series luncheon where she spoke about her book and loved reading it in the weeks that followed. It’s a great memoir about finding purpose in life through experiences in the outdoors. Here’s my original post.

Now there’s a movie version out starring Reese Witherspoon.

Cheryl Strayed hiked the Pacific Crest Trail after her world fell apart around her. Although I have not lost my mother, gotten divorced or struggled with drugs I can relate to her desire to find solace in the outdoors. Experiencing wilderness, either with an epic thru-hike or a backyard campout, rounds out my life, lifts my mood and makes me a better person.

To celebrate the #WILDmovie release fox searchlight offered to host a giveaway of Cheryl Strayed’s book and a copy of the soundtrack. Just leave a comment after this post by 12/17/14 about what you get from being in the wild and you’re entered to win!

This giveaway is now over! Our randomized selection has concluded. Congratulations to Linda McGurk author of the blog Rain or Shine Mamma for winning this book and soundtrack!