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Repacking Your Bags

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Repacking Your Bags

Lighten Your Load for the Rest of Your Life

Berrett-Koehler,

15 min read
10 take-aways
Text available

What's inside?

To stay light on your feet, you have to carry less metaphorical baggage. Here

Editorial Rating

5

Qualities

  • Inspiring

Recommendation

This book is directed to those who want to unburden and redefine their lives. Authors Richard J. Leider and David A. Shapiro encourage readers to re-evaluate their daily lives: relationships, work places, home, and purpose. They present their suggestions for the metaphorical "unpacking and repacking" of life’s excess "baggage" in an easy-to-read, sensitive, and even humorous way. Suggestions and exercises encourage you to reexamine what is truly important. Though sometimes redundant, they provide encouraging, thought-provoking material. Reading this book may cause you to have a mid-life crisis "on purpose" and begin to live like Thoreau, "deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life." getAbstract recommends this book for those who want to simplify their lives and reassess their priorities.

Summary

Regaining the Good Life

More and more, people feel overwhelmed, joyless and trapped in today’s fast-paced, fun-seeking society. People feel cornered by the demands of daily living. Since the middle 1900’s, United States residents have prioritized higher salaries over family and leisure time. Many people are trapped in a treadmill of more work, and increasing desire for more material goods. Eventually, they reach mid-life and begin to wonder, "Is this all there is? When does the fun begin?" Many hide behind a clown-like mask, having lost the ability to smile and laugh.

Regaining the ability to laugh makes you feel better, and makes you "better at feeling." People who are quick to smile and laugh are considered warm-hearted and energizing. To regenerate your smile and laughter you might:

  • Prime your smile. Find tapes, movies and programs that make you laugh to get your laughter "engine" started.
  • Laugh and the whole world laughs with you. Plan a dinner, a party, or a picnic with people who make you laugh and who will laugh at your jokes.
  • Play with children. Find time to play games or have a "tea party" with children. Kids know how to laugh and...

About the Authors

Richard J. Leider, a nationally recognized speaker and author, is an expert on career and lifestyle strategies. He is the founder and partner of the Inventure Group, a training consulting firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota. David A. Shapiro, a resident of Seattle, began his professional career by writing jokes for comedians. He now writes career development programs for businesses and organizations, and works with interactive multimedia.

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