There's been a shift starting to gain serious traction in our culture lately, and it's a move toward simple living. From the "life-changing magic of tidying up" to minimalism to capsule wardrobes, we're gravitating toward the simpler, easier, more meaningful and intentional ways of living. These four books help capture some of the scope of that movement, from more practical applications to more spiritual ones and in between.

Today's flight of four: boundaries, balance, and sweet simplicity:

Present over Perfect: Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simpler, More Soulful Way of Living by Shauna Niequist // Shauna, I just love you. I've always loved you. I'm convinced you can write no wrong. This was as beautiful as all of your other books, and so applicable to probably everyone's life, too. Props on writing such a great book on such a relevant topic and making it heartfelt and honest the whole time. This book follows her typical writing style of a collection of essays more than a chapter-based book with a particular flow or outline, but that's what I love about her. The threads weave well throughout all of the pieces, but it's also easy to read in chunks. I did miss a little bit of her typical food-talk, but the focus of this one was different, and I appreciated that. This one just feels refreshing and real.

Slow: Simple Living for A Frantic World by Brooke McAlary // This one is a super helpful tool to start simplifying and living more intentionally, and if you have no clue where to start living more meaningfully and minimally, it’s a great comprehensive and practical guide to doing so! Also isn’t this cover PERFECT?!

Simple Matters: Living with Less and Ending Up With More by Erin Boyle // Adored this one. Erin's voice is a gift, a breath of fresh air, a guiding light— her words here feel like such a balm to my too-stressed soul. I read this book thoughtfully (as you should), taking stops along the way to purge my bathroom cabinets, my closet, my bookshelves, my kitchen, my life, really. And I’m grateful. Simple does matter. Simple is better. And while my life and style may not look quite like hers, I’m finding my own was to meaningful simplicity, and I’ll treasure this book’s wisdom for a long time as a tool on that journey.

Boundaries: When to Say Yes, How to Say No to Take Control of Your Life by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend // This book will change your life. Enough said. ...But I'll say more... This book was one I have heard about for years, but resisted reading. (That totally should have been a sign I needed to read it!) No matter who you are, what relationships you have, or what your personality is like, this book will absolutely help you to create boundaries in the best ways, in order to help you (and others) live your best life. It's helpful, encouraging, wise, and thorough. This book helped dispel any myth you might be believing about setting boundaries, and it gave such helpful perspectives on what healthy, solid boundaries look like. I appreciated how many stories and anecdotes were included-- it made it feel like there was less pressure on me, and that I wasn't alone in the need for creating better structure and boundaries in my own life, work, and relationships. I'll be changing and implementing so many things in my life because of this book, and I know I'll be so much better for it.

more flights: