Notes from a Blue Bike: The Art of Living Intentionally in a Chaotic World
Written by Tsh Oxenreider, Founder of TheArtofSimple.net
I was pitched this book by its publicist and was sufficiently intrigued with the premise to give it a try. I was not disappointed, but its allure was different and stronger than I thought it would be. The subtitle “The Art of Living Intentionally In a Chaotic World” was the draw for me, as I find this a compelling thread of my own life.
The author and her husband lived in Turkey for awhile and started their family there. The cultural shock of moving back to America forced them to examine their lives and their values so they could identify their priorities. Happily, she takes us along with her as she addresses five core areas of life: food, work, education, travel, and entertainment.
Ann Voskamp’s marvelous Foreword set the tone for the basic assumption from which the book speaks by stating her summary of the author’s focus: “Live the life you long for. Period…The daily decisions add up to the sum of your life. And a pail with a pinhole loses as much as the pail pushed right over. A whole life can be lost in minutes wasted, small moments missed…Ultimately—your moments are the liturgy of your life.”
In reading this book, I felt as if I had been taken on three distinct journeys:
- a vicariously physical one by tagging along with Tsh as she told of her family’s travels and their ex pat experience in Turkey;
- an educational one as I learned a great deal about how she learned to juggle her growing career, her family, and her wanderlust; and
- a spiritual one as I contemplated the values Tsh identified as drivers for her life and thought about my own.
Notes From A Blue Bike has a delicious number of layers, and that makes it one of those rare finds that can have something to say to far more people than the ones I would have initially said were her target audience. She speaks directly to young women who are trying to live faithfully and deliberately in synch with their values—spiritual, environmental, financial, and social. These women will find understanding, encouragement, and lots of practical ideas for achieving their goals (ranging from home schooling to dinnertime challenges to traveling with young children), even though it sometimes requires being a bit counter-cultural.
But Oxenreider speaks to anyone of any age who has ever been thoughtful about the way they live—wanting to support a sustainable world and to treat others and the earth with love and kindness. “Yes, you can live slowly in America—but it requires a choice to swim upstream…I realized that unless our family made more intentional, proactive choices, instead of just wishing things weren’t so busy, we would go on forever wanting a different life.” She spoke openly about the constant tension between her idealism and the real world, coming up with practical solutions that were sometimes compromises. I found this honest and endearing.
Not only is Tsh Oxenreider an accomplished journalist and storyteller, but she is a wonderful writer, and I found her style very engaging. She was never strident or didactic, but she was clearly passionate about her mission and her discovery: “To live intentionally, we had to make intentional choices…simple, but not easy.”
[stextbox id=”info”]BOOK GIVE-AWAY! Thanks to the publicist, I am giving away a copy of Notes from a Blue Bike: The Art of Living Intentionally in a Chaotic WorldWednesday, September 10, 2014 DEADLINE EXTENDED BECAUSE OF TECHNICAL ISSUES WITH COMMENT FUNCTION. Can’t wait? Order from Amazon today by clicking the book image below or the book title anywhere in this post.
CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR WINNER, Georgia Brennecke of Columbia, South Carolina. Georgia, I’m notifying the publicist today of your name and address, and you should get a copy of the book in the mail soon. Thank you, everyone, for participating!
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NOTE: I used the RandomPicker.com service to select a random winner from among those who left a comment. Here’s a screenshot of the drawing results:
This looks like a fascinating book written by someone who speaks from experience. Thank you for giving us a chance to win it.
Hi Elizabeth,
Loved the title! I’ve called our public library and they are going to order the book. The themes remind me of remarks from Andy Stanley in his book “The Best Question Ever”… There is a cumulative value to investing small amounts of time in certain activities over a long period…Neglect has a cumulative effect…There is no cumulative value to the urgent things that we allow to interfer with the important things…
So much of a considered life involves hightened awareness- and a response to that awareness(which is not always easy!)
Thanks for sending this our way!
Georgia, what a thoughtful and insightful comment! Thank you so much for taking the time to share that. I’m delighted you felt the book was worthy of being in your local library, and I truly think it is. I don’t know Andy Stanley’s book but will be sure to look it up too.
It’s interesting to me that there are several good books lately whose theme is the notion of how important those small, incremental steps are—for good or for bad. “The Compound Effect” by Darren Hardy was one.
I’m adding you to the drawing right now!
This sounds very timely for some of the rough edges in my life right now, I’ll read it for sure! -Rob
Hey, Rob, thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment! I think you do a pretty remarkable job of balancing your busy life, but it is always a moving target. I wish I could honestly say, from my perspective of 3 decades more of living, that you will ever erase all the rough edges of your life. You’re not likely to do it, but they can often serve an important purpose of helping you locate the sweet spots—they’re the ones in the center, away from the rough edges! 😉
I’m adding you to the drawing right now.
Nice website. Nice job! Hope your family is well.
Noman
Thank you so much for stopping by and leaving a comment, Noman. We are doing well, thank you, and I hope you and your family are too. I’ve entered you into the book drawing!
Intriguing title and a very nice review. Look forward to reading it.
Thank you, Imtiaz! I think you and Mary Beverley would both resonate with the message. Of course, you are both living the message!
Looks interesting. Would her lessons apply to men too? I will forward your note to Donna.
Great question, Don, and the answer is, “Yes, her lessons would definitely apply to men too.” The observations and conclusions she draws often reflect things the author and her husband have both discovered. Having said that, though, it’s possible that a male author has written on this topic in a way that would resonate more with a male audience. I’d love to hear from other male readers of this book. I’ll still put your name in the drawing, and then you and Donna can BOTH read it!
This is probably what I need, having just moved across country from the delightful Shenandoah Valley to a California town that has grown exponentially since we first brought our young family here. Much is the same, but oh, the pace of life has picked up tremendously. It’s time to find myself again in the chaos.
I really appreciate your comment, Esther, because it’s a great reminder of how different triggers in our lives can make us long for a simpler, more intentional life. A big move to a place that has changed is a perfect example. I’ve entered you into the drawing along with everyone who leaves a comment before September 10.
I’ve not heard of this book yet, Elizabeth, so thanks for the highlight.
Living intentionally is a topic near to my heart, so that’s the part of the title that stood out to me.
I went to Amazon to take a peek, and read some reviews. Intriguing!
I’m so glad you were interested enough to research the book a little, Denise. I may never have known about it if the publicist hadn’t contacted me. I seem to be on their radar screen because of the number of book reviews I do, and I’ve found that this particular publicist only represents quality books.
The title of this book certainly caught my interest, but it’s your wonderful review that has me thoroughly intrigued. The author had me at “Chaotic World,” and paired with your thoughtful review and provoking insights, it’s very likely I am one of those who can’t quite wait until the book giveaway drawing to get to reading.
I’m so glad it caught your interest, Barbara. And good luck in the drawing!
Might be just a side note here, but the title “Notes from a Blue Bike” is what captured my attention. Years ago, I used to bike, a lot. I often commuted by bike, I did bike tours, I rode on weekends (and boy was I in good shape!). Anyway, being on a bike changes your perspective about everything. I noticed beautiful homes and gardens, I noticed lovely road-side woods and animals. Slowing down (15-20 miles an hour) gives you a chance to notice things you don’t notice whipping by in a car. It gave me a new appreciation for the world I lived in. This sounds like an interesting book. Great review, E.
Thanks, Karen, and that is exactly the perspective taken by this author. Thank you for sharing your own! It’s a book I plan to give to some young people in my life too.