Lisa notes

6 Standout Books I Recommend This Month

By LisaNotes May 5, 2026 Books I Recommend 7 Comments

“A word after a word after a word is power.”
— Margaret Atwood

My books this month were great for both stretching my imagination (like, Remarkably Bright Creatures) and reflecting on our humanity (like, How to Feel Loved).

Here are the four nonfiction and two fiction books I just finished that I recommend.

[See previously recommended books here]

NONFICTION

1. Braving the Truth
Essential Essays for Reckoning with and Reimagining Faith
by Rachel Held Evans

Even though we lost Rachel too soon on May 4, 2019, her words and messages live on. Her friend Sarah Bessey compiled some of Rachel’s writings into this book, adding in several current essays from Rachel’s friends and family. It’s a powerful and beautiful collection of ideas about wrestling with faith and doubt and humanity.

2. The Unfolding: Poems
by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer

Just wow. I’m not really a poetry reader (just a wannabe), but Rosemerry’s poems are short enough yet full to overflowing to keep me captivated. They remind me to notice more of the sacredness found in our ordinary moments.

3. How to Feel Loved
The Five Mindsets That Get You More of What Matters Most
by Sonja Lyubomirsky

This title caught my eye because we usually see books about how to be more loving, but this one was how to be more loved. Or to recognize and be aware of it anyway. Often we’re more loved than we even realize.

The five shifts to feel loved are adopting a sharing mindset, listening-to-learn mindset, radical-curiosity mindset, open-heart mindset, and multiplicity mindset.

4. Nations Apart
How Clashing Regional Cultures Shattered America
by Colin Woodard

This felt like a long book, but I think it’s because it was SO full of data. It was mind-blowing to me to see how America is divided so deeply along regional roots from the beginning of our country’s founding. We may intuitively know this, but to see it spelled out chapter after chapter through so many examples was quite startling.

If you care about this type of cultural analysis through history to better understand what’s going on in America now, this is a great book to sit with.

FICTION

5. Remarkably Bright Creatures
by Shelby Van Pelt

This novel is a breath of fresh air. It’s a tender (and surprising!) story about people finding their way in this world despite loneliness and life’s hardships. And it involves an octopus as a main character! A movie adaptation is set to release on Netflix this month.

6. Last Chance Live!
by Helena Haywoode Henry

On the other extreme, this novel shows a darker side of humanity. But also a tender side. I read it for a book club. And the author is going to join us when we meet this month! I’m so curious to hear why she wrote this book.

The premise: Ten death row inmates between the ages of 18-21 volunteer to compete for America’s votes in a reality TV show. The winner wins everything—total freedom and exoneration of all crimes. But the nine losers? They lose all rights to appeal their sentences and are executed within days of getting kicked off the show.

The contestants form bonds with each other, but still have to compete with each other to save their own lives. It’s a harrowing story that I hope would never happen in real life.

WHAT I’M READING NOW

A Thousand Ways to Die
The True Cost of Violence on Black Life in America
by Trymaine Lee
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
by Mark Twain
Give and Take
A Revolutionary Approach to Success
by Adam M. Grant
I Belong to Me
A Survivor’s Guide to Recovery and Hope after Religious Trauma
by Tia Levings
Big Time
A Simple Path to Time Abundance
by Laura Vanderkam
That’s Not How You Wash a Squirrel
by David Thorne

A Closing Reflection

Taken together, books like these remind us to stay curious and to keep connecting with each other.

What’s a good book you’re recommending this month? I’d love to hear in the comments.

I’m sharing at these linkups

Sharing 4 Somethings from April 2026

By LisaNotes April 29, 2026 Life updates 12 Comments

Some months go by faster than others—not because of big events per se, but because small, steady moments just stack up. April was one of those months for me.

Here are four things I’ve been noticing, savoring, and making room for lately. Each month I share favorite somethings from Jenn’s four categories.

I also share my previous month’s One Second Everyday video.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

1. Something I Loved

LEARNING TEE-BALL

Our little grandson continues to explore extracurricular activities, and this spring it’s tee-ball. It’s been an educational experience for this grandmother, who knows nothing about the game for this young age.

I’ve had such fun watching him and the other boys and girls figure it all out in real time—how to be part of a team while also navigating the very real distractions of childhood.

There’s dirt to play in, airplanes to watch overhead, and the occasional pull to just fall down on the ground or wrestle with a teammate . . . all the while also learning how to catch balls and run bases.

It’s equal parts chaos and charm, and I’m loving every minute I get to watch.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

2. Something Sustaining Me

SAVORING THE BERRIES

I love strawberry season.

With the gallons I bought, I’ve been making all the things. Last weekend was strawberry shortcake. This week we made several batches of strawberry jam, followed by a strawberry pie. My favorite strawberry cake is still to come.

And in between all of that, I’ve been eating plenty of berries straight from the bowl.

It’s been a steady culinary delight (and might also explain my occasional tummy ache the past few days, lol).

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

3. Something Carrying Me Forward

SHOWING UP FOR EACH OTHER

Over the past two months, I’ve been spending more time with a dear friend. After having a serious skin cancer removed, she’s needed help getting to and from doctor’s appointments.

As I expected, what started as simply offering her a ride has turned into treasured time catching up. Our weekly visits have felt like old times.

My friend is one of those people who brightens a room the moment she walks in—friendly and full of compliments to friends and strangers alike.

Being around her again has been a gift I didn’t realize I was in need of.

~ * ~ * ~ * ~

4. Something I’m Making Space For

SURPRISE OR NO SURPRISE?

Jigsaw puzzles have always been a stress-reliever for me—they’re my guilty pleasure. This latest puzzle though, loaned to me by a friend, has been a challenge.

It’s a Mystery Puzzle by Odd Pieces.

Odd Pieces Mystery Jigsaw Puzzle – Snack Attack

The trickiest part?

The image on the box doesn’t exactly match the finished puzzle. It’s close, but not the same. The box shows a “before” scene of a school day, while the completed puzzle reveals a mystery that happens 15 seconds later as the “after” scene.

I struggled with it, moving so slowly for a while that I was almost ready to give up. Then I decided I could break the rules and work from the “after” image.

It made all the difference!

Once I could see what it was supposed to look like, it moved along quickly—and the fun came back. Sometimes a shift in perspective is all it takes to move forward again.

What’s something you enjoyed in April?

Share your thoughts in the comments.

I’m linking at these blog parties

This Month’s Wordy Invitation: Write a Poem or Blessing
{One Word 2026 April Linkup}

Maybe you chose a specific One Word for the year. Or maybe you didn’t.

Either way, here’s a way to reconnect with something that feels meaningful to you right now. It need not be permanent.

For the new few weeks, try this :
Play with your One Word (or any word that is capturing your attention) by creating more words around it.

Write a Poem

You don’t have to be a poet (I’m not) to write a poem. It can be small and simple. Or not.

You might:

Write a 3-line haiku
Create an acrostic using your word
Jot down a few lines of free verse
Try blackout poetry with a page from a book or magazine

Or, if writing feels like too much, find a poem that already exists and notice how your word shows up in it. Is there any word or phrase you’d like to change?

Here are a few of my playful creations with my One Word Shift:

FREE VERSE

SHIFT

While we weren’t looking
After the lean winter
The tree swells fat again

Our gaze turns round to see
The brown skinny limb
Now muscled up green and full

Without our endorsement
With none of our guidance
The leaves create the perfect shift

BLACKOUT POEM

I revisited my first blog post on Shift from New Year’s Day and printed it out. Then crossed out words to make a blackout poem from it.

You can read it easier here:

I open cold.
Practice noticing deeper breaths.
Looking for differences
stirred on the lungs, heart, brain.
Traveling on ordinary changes
affects my world,
speeding or slowing.
Important shifts
align underneath
the direction freely designed
Plans accommodate growth.
Certainty changes.
Stay grateful for
shifts.

Write a Prayer or Blessing

If poetry feels intimidating, try a prayer or blessing instead.

Think of it as a gentle offering to yourself or someone else.

It could be:

A hope for your day
An offering of support
A line of gratitude
A phrase to carry with you

It can be one sentence. Or maybe a paragraph. Maybe you’ll write it down or maybe you just keep it in your head.

You might even take a favorite quote, scripture, or passage and weave your word into it.

Here’s the blessing I wrote for you:

A BLESSING FOR LIFE

May your turns swing smooth,
May your winds sway slight,
May your path spin forward,
And may your love shift deep.

Share What You Discover

However you choose to engage with a word this month, I’d love to hear about it. You can leave a comment below or add your own blog link here through Sunday, May 10.

Looking ahead: our One Word linkup for May opens Tuesday, May 26.

Question for you:
What word have you been hearing lately?

If you’d like to receive our monthly One Word emails and ideas for 2026, join here.

- Get more One Word ideas here

Link Up About Your One Word

Feeling Off? Try These 6 Small Physical Shifts for a Reset

By LisaNotes April 21, 2026 Shift: One Word 2026 21 Comments

We all have moments when we feel a little off and can’t quite explain why.

Maybe you’re a bit tired. Or a little anxious. Or you just can’t quite get motivated to start the thing you meant to do.

Lately, I’ve been noticing how our bodies are always shifting—quietly, subtly—without us having to think about it. Like the small adjustments we make when we’ve been sitting in one place too long. Or our breathing slowing down as we start to fall asleep.

Our bodies are always working to bring us back into balance—even without our conscious help.

But there are also shifts we can choose.

They don’t have to be big, dramatic changes. Just small, almost invisible ones. The kind you can do anywhere, anytime. The kind that won’t necessarily fix anything—but are still powerful enough to gently nudge your day in a better direction.

Here are six of my favorite physical shifts for a mental reset:

1. Soften your face

Pause for a second and notice your face. Is your jaw tight? Brow furrowed? Eyes strained?
Loosen it all. Unclench your jaw. Smooth your forehead. Close your eyes. Maybe even let a small smile show up, just for a few seconds.

Sometimes releasing tension on the outside creates a little more ease on the inside too.

2. Drink a glass of water

You don’t have to wait until you’re thirsty to benefit from a drink of water.

It’s such a simple thing, but it’s easy to forget. When your body is hydrated, everything works a little better—including your ability to think clearly.

3. Step outside for a minute

Fresh air has a way of resetting things. Maybe you’ve noticed how a crying baby often gets quiet when you walk them outside.

It doesn’t have to be a long walk or a hike through the woods. Just stepping outside for a minute or two—feeling the air, noticing the light—can shift something small inside you.

4. Drop your shoulders

I don’t usually notice my shoulders until I do—and I realize how tense they are. Let your shoulders fall. Roll them back. Sit or stand a little taller.

It’s a subtle shift, but it can send a signal to the rest of your body: you’re allowed to ease up and lift your heart to the sky.

5. Take a couple deep breaths

When my grandmother was nearing the end of her life, I noticed her breaths became so shallow. Watching her breathe made me want to take deeper breaths myself.

Try it now. Slow down for a couple full inhales and long exhales.

Sometimes that’s enough to remind you to appreciate what’s still working, still moving.

6. Stretch your body

Reach your arms overhead. Roll your neck. Stand up if you’ve been sitting.
Stretching is a quiet way of noticing: I’ve been contracted. And then responding: I can expand a little now.

Not just physically—but mentally too. Our minds often follow where our bodies lead.

“Make the ordinary come alive…The extraordinary will take care of itself.”
—William Martin

None of these shifts will solve your problems or change the world.

But stepping out of autopilot—even briefly—might change you a little in this moment.
It might remind you that you do have some say in how you move through your day.

And sometimes one small shift is enough.

What’s one tiny shift your body is asking for right now?

Share your thoughts in the comments.

Read more Shift ideas here. It’s my One Word for 2026.

Let Go of Being Right – When Being Right Is Wrong (and Dangerous)

By LisaNotes April 14, 2026 Grace, Trust 51 Comments

“Yes, the mind is very useful, but when it does not recognize its own finite viewpoint, it is also useless.”
– Richard Rohr

When We Think We Know

It was mid-day on a Friday. Jeff and I finished touring inside the Mid-America All-Indian Center in Wichita, looking at the pottery and drums and Native artwork by Blackbear Bosin.

Now we’d walk the grounds of the Outdoor Learning Center to sit in the tipi and look at the gardens. The afternoon was pleasant. We kept walking.

We left the Center’s property, walked beyond the gate to nearby Keeper Plaza to see Bosin’s famous Keeper of the Plains statue. Time slipped away.

It was now after 4:00, the Center’s closing time.

Behind us, a Center employee was about to lock the gate behind us. We quickly slipped back inside the Center grounds so we could return to our truck.

But which way now? With the Center closed, and the grounds gate now locked, how could we get back to the parking lot?

Oh, I knew the way. Jeff didn’t agree, but he didn’t argue (he’s good like that). Let’s just go to the right, I said.

But I was wrong.

I just don’t always know right away that I’m wrong.

Thinking we’re always right can be dangerous. I know. It’s gotten me in trouble many times.

“We do not see things as they are; we see things as we are. Take that as nearly certain.”
– Richard Rohr

I’ve been sharing four statements that I try to live by. I keep them posted on my bedroom mirror. They are agreements with myself.

Today I’m sharing #2 of the four:

#2. Let go of being right.

(See #1 here, Give the Benefit of the Doubt, “Do You Assume the Best or Worst? And a Barking Lady.”)

Three Dangers of Always Being Right

Danger #1: Losing Friends

Nobody likes a know-it-all. Insisting that we’re right is obnoxious.

Being overconfident in our knowledge is dangerous to our character. And to our relationships.

We incorrectly assume we’ll gain prestige and authority if we are all-knowing. But the opposite usually happens. Pride destroys. It causes us to see ourselves as right and judge others as wrong, which is not just off-putting; it is wrong.

Solution: Practice humility.

Be aware of your ability to get things wrong, even when you think you’re right. Worry less about protecting your reputation and more about being humble. Instead of being combative, listen to others’ opinions and find common ground. If it matters, discuss it graciously. If it doesn’t matter, let it go.

Danger #2: Losing Security

Thinking we have to always be right is also dangerous to our mental and emotional health. When we think we have to be perfect in order to be loved, we live in fear. And we can’t flourish under a spirit of fear.

Nor a spirit of self-dependence. Relying on only our self-knowledge leads us away from engaging with and learning from others, and into a life of loneliness.

Solution: Trust the process.

Not your own perfection. Remember there will always be mysteries you’ll never understand. Trust that you’ll know enough when you need to know it, and be content with the unknowns yet to be revealed later or never at all.

Danger #3: Losing Maturity

While in the moment it feels good to be proven right, the quest to be omniscient can rob us of growth in the long term.

A taste of knowing it all can leave us greedy to be right all the time. And once we think we’ve arrived at perfect knowledge, we lose our ability to learn more.

Solution: Know what you don’t know.

The best way to know more is to realize you know less. Even if you already know a lot, there is always more to learn. But only if you’re teachable. Learn more by listening more, reading more, loving more. Stay open.

Benefits of Not Being Right

Not only do we not like pride in others, neither do they like it in us.

When we let go of our need to be right, we are more respectful of those around us.

We grows in our relationships,
in our love,
and in our knowledge.

Send more compassion into the world with your humility.

It’s better to be more loving than always right.

How did we find our way back to our truck at the Indian Center?

We asked someone who knew.

Thankfully, an outside employee gratefully showed us an unlocked door back into the building. We walked through, out the front door, and straight to the parking lot.

Being “right” had gotten me lost.
But being humble set me free.

* * *

We all like to be right. But sometimes we don’t do it well.

Do you like to be right, too? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

revised from the archives

See all 4 agreements (click on individual infographics)

1-Give the benefit of the doubt | 2-Let go of being right | 3-Don’t take it personally | 4-Just show up

Whatever Happens, We’ll Handle It

By LisaNotes April 9, 2026 Mantras, Shift: One Word 2026 7 Comments

This is a statement I like to repeat to myself:

Whatever happens, we’ll handle it.

The whatever moments in life are unpredictable. There’s no way to adequately prepare for all the unknowns.

But regardless of our shifting situations, we’re never completely helpless. In most any situation, we can still:

hold onto our values
work on our character
nurture our relationships

so that whenever the whatever hits, we’re as prepared as possible, even if that preparation qualifies only as barely.

And even if our handling it is a barely adequate description of what we’re doing.

Handling it doesn’t mean we find it’s easy. Or that it’s not painful. Or that it will go away quickly. There are some things we have to handle for a lifetime.

But handling it does mean we get through it, one day at a time, maybe one hour at a time.

And the “we” in “Whatever happens, we’ll handle it“?

Sometimes the we may be just me and my thoughts.

But usually there are more. Almost always there is at least one or maybe many more people to also help us through.

Those we may vary from season to season. They may include immediate family or wise friends or health care workers or online support or sometimes even a complete stranger we meet once and never see again.

Yet regardless of whoever and whatever our support network looks like, we’re never totally alone with no resources.

So I continue depending on this:

Whatever happens, we’ll handle it.

Share in the comments.

This is #23 of the series: Find Your Mantra {28 Daily Mantras}

revised from the archives

Previous:
“Love matters more” {Mantra 22}

Next:
“They don’t have to understand” {Mantra 24}

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