Giving the gift of wellness

At a seminar recently, the speaker confessed to the audience his personal indulgence. It wasn't shoes (he was a HE after all!), it wasn't chocolate, it wasn't expensive scotch or cigars, it was books. Books of all sizes, covers, topics and purpose. He said his wife told him, "No more!", or they'd have to buy a bigger house. His minimum order of two new books a week is now sent to his office.

I can relate to his fetish (and to the need for more shelf space!). I also find books to be a perfect gift for so many occasions. They require some personal effort on the part of the giver but not financial effort (which may leave the recipient feeling like "you shouldn't have" because perhaps you really shouldn't have) but the kind of effort that says, "I put some time and consideration into this gift. It was chosen especially for you."

For gift inspiration, here is a list of some of my favorites:

1) For parents/families:
~The Healthiest Kid in the Neighborhood by Dr. William Sears
~Sports Rx: Your Child's Prescription for the Best Experience by Dr. Paul Stricker
~The Crazy Makers by Dr. Carol Simontacchi
~Deceptively Delicious: Simple Secrets to Getting your Kids to Eat Good Food by Jessica Seinfeld
~Making the Most of Today: Daily Readings for Young People on Self-Awareness, Creativity Self Esteem by Pamela Espeland and Rosemary Wallner
~The Seven Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey

2) For anyone wanting to lose weight or eat healthier
~The Vice Busting Diet by Julia Havey
~You on a Diet by Drs. Roizen and Oz
~How to Eat, Move and Be Healthy by Paul Chek
~The 150 Healthiest Foods on Earth by Johnny Bowden
~The China Study by T. Collin Campbell
~The Prescription for Nutritional Healing 4th Edition by Phyllis Balch

3) Powerful personal growth titles
~The Biology of Belief by Dr. Bruce Lipton
~The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
~Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
~The Gift of Change by Marianne Williamson
~25 Ways to Win with People by John Maxwell

4) Other gems - some new some not
~Same Kind of Different as Me by Ron Hall and Denver Moore
~A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini
~The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom
~The Last American Man by Elizabeth Gilbert
~The Red Tent by Anita Diamante

Happy shopping everyone!!