Have you ever read anything thing and thought ‘this is me, this is my life!’? I had that moment about half an hour ago. If you are a fan of great books and you have ever suffered from anxiety or depression I urge you to read Read After Burnout by our very own Mike Evans over here at readafterburnout. I started reading it this morning and now I can’t stop because it is funny and sad, brutally honest and thoroughly entertaining (pretty much what I look for in anything I read).
More than that, it resonated with me on so many levels and voiced many of the things that I’ve never had the courage to say out loud. It shows an awe inspiring level of self-awareness but it isn’t self-indulgent navel gazing. Here’s a couple of excerpts to whet your appetite but I really hope that you’ll take the time to read more:
“Anxiety is a creep. It doesn’t announce itself in a sudden, calamitous collapse, a scream of fear or a strong desire to run into a corner and huddle up. No, anxiety hangs around like a phantom that exists somewhere in the corner of the eye or in the shadows”
“”If you want to cry it’s all part of the process”
I was part of the process now. I was in the process of working through a personal trauma that had brought me to a crashing standstill and….now I was being asked to cry as some sort of cleaning therapy. The problem was that I thought crying would be just a little distraction. It would be like having leaches placed on an exposed stretch of skin with the intention of having them suck out the badness”
See what I mean? It’s just brilliantly written!
It’s the story of breakdown, of life and I can’t wait to finish it. I hope you enjoy it too :O)
Lisa x
This is a nice post. Thank you for sharing. 🙂
https://www.markmyworld.me
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Lisa, I am so grateful for that. Many, many thanks.
Mike
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You are so welcome 😊x
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I would love to use some of your words as a review.
Mike
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Yes of course Mike, use whatever you like x
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Thanks.
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I hope it results in more people finding and loving your book – you deserve it 😊
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You star!
Thanks and thanks again.
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Anytime 😉 x
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Lisa,
I really appreciated your review. Are you still enjoying the read?
Mike
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Unfortunately the only free time I had this weekend was this morning. Don’t you just hate it when you’re social life interferes with your reading 🙄 am off to a yoga festival tomorrow but I’ll be back to it when I get home all stretched and chilled and ready for a good read 😊x
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Enjoy.
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Thank you 😊 x
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Right, I can tell you all now that, this morning, I have finished Mike’s book and it is bloody brilliant! I don’t think I’ve blinked in the last couple of hours so my contact lenses feel as though they’re glued to my eyes but such was my determination to keep reading. Thanks for writing this wonderful book Mike :O) x
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Thanks for reading it. I am pleased that it meant something to somebody.
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It really did and it was a pleasure to read 😊 ps I stuck a review on Amazon as well x
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Thank you.
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Cheers for that lovely review. I am now taken up with how I can best get others to read it. Onwards and upwards (sideways).
Mike
PS
29 C France or Spain your place of abode?
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You’re welcome 😊 let me know if I can do anything to help.
I’m in the South of France. Lisa x
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A good place to be. I have an offer of work at a school in southern Spain come September. If I go, it will be my and my middle daughter going out first. Still unsure…
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Yes, it’s beautiful and the 300 days of sunshine a year really helps ;O) That’s wonderful! Why are you unsure? x
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I don’t know. It’s one of the hardest decisions of my life. Normally, I just do rather than think. But then again, I am here and me and now – not so successful.
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Well, the way I saw it was, wherever I was geographically, I was still me and still sad; I just decided that I’d rather be sad somewhere warm and sunny than somewhere grey and cold. After 2 years of being here life has come together and I’m learning to be happy again. You will always be you wherever you live but, sometimes, with change comes opportunity. Whatever decision you make be happy with it. Wishing you luck either way :O) xx
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Thank you. I wish you well with happiness though I think of it as contentment, now.
Mike
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Thank you :O) x
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Reciprication is enjoyable?
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Sorry, not with you Mike
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Thank you.
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Thank you Lisa for this great book review…………I am going to add this to my “to read” list…..it’s getting so long that I may need to lock myself away for a week or two to catch up!
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That’s great 😃 Mike will be delighted! It’s so wonderful to find new writers – I really hope you enjoy it 😉 x
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I am sure I will, it sounds like I will completely get the book too………..
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😊 x
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