The Agonizing Road To Self

Follow the story of Devin Smitha product of modern-day suburbia whose wholesome upbringing spirals into an American nightmareas he relentlessly seeks inner peace in a world where all that glitters truly is not gold. The book marks author Yusuf Blantons debut to the literary world, as he bravely dances the line between brutally honest memoir and riveting modern fiction. Dealing interchangeably with drug addiction, raucous sex, urban music, and the objective pursuit of spirituality, The Agonizing Road to Self seeks to turn heads, engage minds, and touch hearts. If every person on Earth wrote something this personal, forthright, and honest, we might all be able to understand one another and appreciate each others faults, downfalls, despairs, and joys. Through it all, Yusuf never fails to inspire. Mason Hall, editor If you were touched by Cupcake Browns phenomenal autobiography, A Piece of Cake, then the floodgates of compassion and hope are bound to burst open after reading Yusuf Blantons dose-of-reality debut novel. Gigi James, television writer and award-winning author of I Didnt Sign Up For This! The intensity of this book is sure to strike some chord in anyone who reads it. The Agonizing Road to Self is a powerful testament to the struggles of humanity. James Lord, Zojak Worldwide

Follow the story of Devin Smith-a product of modern-day suburbia whose wholesome upbringing spirals into an American nightmare-as he relentlessly seeks inner peace in a world where all that glitters truly is not gold. The book marks author Yusuf Blanton's debut to the literary world, as he bravely dances the line between brutally honest memoir and riveting modern fiction. Dealing interchangeably with drug addiction, raucous sex, urban music, and the objective pursuit of spirituality, The Agonizing Road to Self seeks to turn heads, engage minds, and touch hearts. "If every person on Earth wrote something this personal, forthright, and honest, we might all be able to understand one another and appreciate each others' faults, downfalls, despairs, and joys. ... Through it all, Yusuf never fails to inspire." -Mason Hall, editor "If you were touched by Cupcake Brown's phenomenal autobiography, A Piece of Cake, then the floodgates of compassion and hope are bound to burst open after reading Yusuf Blanton's dose-of-reality debut novel." -Gigi James, television writer and award-winning author of I Didn't Sign Up For This! "The intensity of this book is sure to strike some chord in anyone who reads it. ... The Agonizing Road to Self is a powerful testament to the struggles of humanity." -James Lord, Zojak Worldwide

A haunting, evocative novel about a woman who might have to face the disturbing truth about her own daughter. Hanna and Joe send their awkward daughter Dawn off to college hoping that she will finally "come into her own." When she brings her new boyfriend, Rud, to her sister's wedding, her parents try to suppress their troubling impressions of him for Dawn's sake. Not long after, Hanna and Joe suffer a savage attack at home, resulting in Joe's death and Hanna's severe injury and memory loss. Rud is convicted of the crime, and the community speculates that Dawn may also have been involved. When Rud wins an appeal and Dawn returns to live in the family home, Hanna resolves to recall that traumatic night so she can testify in the retrial, exonerate her daughter, and keep her husband's murderer in jail. But as those memories resurface, Hanna faces the question of whether she knows her own daughter-and whether she ever did.

AS HEARD ON THE STEVE WRIGHT SHOW 'FORGET HYGGE. IT'S ALL ABOUT IKIGAI (THAT'S JAPANESE FOR A HAPPY LIFE)' The Times Find out how to live a long and happy life thanks to the ikigai miracle, a Japanese philosophy that helps you find fulfilment, joy and mindfulness in everything you do. It is extraordinary that Japanese men's longevity ranks 4th in the world, while Japanese women's ranks 2nd. But perhaps this comes as no surprise when you know that the Japanese understanding of ikigai is embedded in their daily life and in absolutely everything that they do. In their professional careers, in their relationships with family members, in the hobbies they cultivate so meticulously. Ken Mogi identifies five key pillars to ikigai: Pillar 1: Starting small Pillar 2: Releasing yourself Pillar 3:Harmony and sustainability Pillar 4:The joy of little things Pillar 5:Being in the here and now The Japanese talk about ikigai as 'a reason to get up in the morning'. It is something that keeps one's enthusiasm for life going, whether you are a cleaner of the famous Shinkansen bullet train, the mother of a newborn child or a Michelin-starred sushi chef. The Five Pillars at the heart of everything they do. But how do you find your own ikigai? How does ikigai contribute to happiness? Neuroscientist and bestselling Japanese writer Ken Mogi provides an absorbing insight into this way of life, incorporating scientific research and first-hand experience, and providing a colourful narrative of Japanese culture and history along the way.

Roller derby is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. From the history of the sport to strategy to gear, Derby Life will teach you what you need to know to get rolling. This book can't teach you how to skate, but it will get you up to speed on everything else! Veteran skaters will appreciate chapters on building mental toughness, dealing with derby drama, and getting back in the game after an injury.Derby Life also includes advice from roller derby greats, and personal stories and beautiful photographs from derby people all over the world.

'It was with awe That I beheld Fresh leaves, green leaves, Bright in the sun' When the Japanese haiku master Basho composed The Narrow Road to the Deep North, he was an ardent student of Zen Buddhism, setting off on a series of travels designed to strip away the trappings of the material world and bring spiritual enlightenment. He writes of the seasons changing, the smell of the rain, the brightness of the moon and the beauty of the waterfall, through which he sensed the mysteries of the universe. These writings not only chronicle Basho's travels, but they also capture his vision of eternity in the transient world around him. Translated with an Introduction by Nobuyuki Yuasa

Acknowledging and understanding spiritual formation is vital in contemporary education. This book explores the dynamic relationship between education and wellbeing. It examines the theory underpinning the practice of education in different societies where spirituality and care are believed to be at the heart of all educational experiences. The book recognizes that, regardless of the context or type of educational experience, education is a caring activity in which the development of the whole person - body, mind and spirit - is a central aim for teachers and educators in both formal and informal learning. The chapters in this handbook present and discuss topics that focus on spirituality as an integral part of human experience and, consequently, essential to educational programs which aim to address personal and communal identity, foster resilience, empathy and compassion, and promote meaning and connectedness.