A SoulStroller is a person who chooses to step into the unknown with great intention. To hop on planes to foreign destinations or explore oft-trod neighborhoods with new eyes. To strap on a parachute take a death-defying leap, and drift into a perfect, soundless stratosphere. To embrace what it means to be inspired, immobile, and immoveable. Action with no visible response. Words without sound. A SoulStroller heeds whispers from the past or present and moves toward the future.
SoulStroller, Page xvi
I may be a bit jaded to the world of female empowerment novels. I’m a big fan of Jen Sincero, Mindy Kaling, Amy Poehler and the like. I’m not, however, a fan of messiness and abandoning order.
After a tragedy where her eldest son disappears into an overdose, Ms. Stevens Hughlett thought life would never be the same. It wouldn’t, of course.She also shares the stories of being brought up to be a good daughter, wife and mother, like most of us women are instructed to do.
As time goes on and she continues the trial of dealing with a son with addiction and completes a degree in counseling and psychology, she begins to travel.
The memoir takes a bit of an Eat, Pray, Love type turn. We learn of her travels through Paris, Ireland, and Bali.
SoulStroller is interspersed with nonsense like:
SoulStrollers are comfortable with simple modes of transportation…like their feet.
To SoulStroll is to remember — to weave together experiences, people, places, and words until we are made whole again.
SoulStrollers understand there aren’t formal rules of engagement when they choose to step into a new experience.
I’m sorry, but that last one is just ridiculous. You’re stepping into a new relationship? Rules of engagement say you shouldn’t beat them. Starting a new job? Rules of engagement say you shouldn’t demand a raise on your first day or talk back to your boss.
For someone who as Type-A as I am, I just couldn’t connect with SoulStroller. There were “Take Your Soul For A Stroll” sections that led you through some reflections that were nice. If told as a fictional story, I probably would have enjoyed the adventures. However,if someone came to me asking for a book to bring them peace, this would not be at the top of my list.
Note: This book was provided to me by JKS Communications in exchange for a review.
