Tuesday, October 6, 2015

I loved this book (Sort of...Not Really)

"I'm Happy for You (Sort Of...Not Really): Finding Contentment in a Culture of Comparison"


I really, truly wanted to love this book! It has a catchy title and the subject matter is fairly encompassing. I mean, who hasn't compared themselves to their best friend? Or even to a stranger on social media? But, before the end of the first chapter, I was exhausted. 

"I'm Happy for You (Sort Of...Not Really): Finding Contentment in a Culture of Comparison" by Kay Wills Wyma is a book about comparison. We compare ourselves to our friends, our family, random people on the street. We envy others' homes, cars, lives, jobs, bodies...you name it and we envy it and compare "ours" to "theirs".
I admit to having fallen in this trap before and I'm almost certain to fall into it again. But at some point in my walk with God, I learned that it's a total waste of energy to compare myself to others and it isn't pleasing to God. In one particular instance, the author wasted so much energy stressing over her refrigerator that it robbed her of the joy of simply having friends in her home. I'm not faulting her for that, but instance after instance of these comparisons and stressors and envy's totally "wore me out" and I didn't enjoy the book as much as I'd hoped. I also expected more spiritual balance.

If you struggle with comparisons, you may love this book! You may feel a kindred spirit with Ms. Wyma. There are some funny parts to the book. I was thrilled to know I'm not the only one with food wrappers in the car nor laundry in the washer that been washed...three times!

I received my copy of this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for my honest opinion. I have not been compensated in any way. 


http://www.amazon.com/Happy-You-Sort-Not-Really/dp/1601425953