Back when I started my blog in 2015, I came up with this super creative plan to do a series called ‘RnR’ or Read N Review where I would review books I have read. Sadly, my last Read N Review was April of last year. You could say I lost track of time as well as my fulfillment in reading. During this time, there was also a pause on my blog as I was getting ready to move overseas so I had more important matters occupying the space in my mind. The situation was similar to what I’m experiencing now, as I am heading back home soon and similar thoughts and anxiety are creeping up about what’s to come next.
Fortunately this time around though I have reignited the habit of reading after discovering I can read any book I want directly from my phone on the Kindle app. Part of the reason why I stopped reading to begin with is because I just didn’t want to accumulate books while abroad. Zoey is the one that introduced me to the Kindle reading app and is also the author of the book that I will be reviewing today, which is called ‘Beauty in the Breakdown‘.
I have known Zoey since September of last year. Since then, she has become one of my dearest friends in Rome. A person I can always count on with positive energy, a beam of light, someone who attracts only good vibes no matter where she is and who she is around. These are the type of friends everyone should surround themselves with.
About 2 months ago, Zoey published her first book, Beauty in the Breakdown, which is almost a diary of sorts recounting events in her life a year before she moved to Rome from Toronto, Canada. A Vancouver Island, BC native, she moved to Toronto shortly after graduating university to pursue life in the corporate world only to find out that lifestyle wasn’t for her.
This book is filled with key events, lessons, and themes from Zoey’s personal journey of ditching the path of working a 9-5 in order to live out her dream of living in Rome, Italy, a plan she hatched only months prior to making it happen. I could relate to this book in many ways because of my desire to get the most out of life, to break out of the stereotypical path in creating a successful future, and of course our never-ending love for Italy. All these things leading us here would eventually lead us to cross paths.
Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book:
“It is when we are our most vulnerable and ask for help, that the Universe grants us the loving and kind people we need to help us onto our next stepping stone.”
“If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later!”
“Nothing does a person wonders of advancement and improvement, when they are surrounded by like-minded individuals and nothing hinders their growth more than being surrounded by unmotivated or toxic personalities.”
“If you choose to accept signs, even in the most devastating of times, you will be granted with trusting answer.”
“I miss Europe every single day and it almost feels like it never happened to me because it was the only time in my life I felt truly adventurous and open to all of the possibilities of life.”
Reading this book was a grateful reminder to me about why I chose to live here in Rome, a place that some people can only dream of visiting. I count my blessings everyday about having the choice of where to live, believe me.
If there is a dream or passion you want to pursue, what’s stopping you? I hope that whatever it is you want in life, you do everything in your power to make it happen, because, frankly, life is too short not to.
All my love,
Estrella
Check out my other Read N Review series featuring: The Alchemist, #girlboss, The Sweet Life.
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