Tag Archives: mental health

The Lost Bookshop (Book Review)

February 10, 2026 rebekahjmarshall Leave a comment

I loved the ideas and interwoven timelines that crossed generations, countries, and realities in The Midnight Library by Evie Woods. It is magical, mythical, fairy tale-ical (I made up that word), and beautiful. It is so beautiful that my main complaint is that I wanted more. The first half of the book is deeply fleshed out, letting us into the characters detailed inner lives and minute by minute adventures. The second half of the book feels rushed, almost like it should have been several more books in a series so the author could have gone deeper into the story lines and better tied together the threads she was so masterfully weaving.

I want to know so much more about the eccentric elderly woman Martha works for. Martha’s childhood is left untapped, so much potential for background to show how she might find herself trapped in such a terrible marriage. Her mother signs and does not speak, which opens the door to so many questions that could be answered and scenes that could be elaborated on. The events that occur around the World War II timeline are barely mentioned and could be so many chapters of fascinating detail. Giant chunks of time are skipped over that could be filled with story. And some of the puzzle pieces like the tattoos, living bookshelves, missing manuscripts, and love affairs feel like fragments that could be such an epic saga were we to have their stories told in many more chapters.

It would make a fabulous series on a streaming service, especially if they fleshed out more of the characters, their backgrounds, motivations, and dynamic growth. One thing is for certain; Woods does a great job of creating protagonists I want to root for, women who never give up no matter how many times they get knocked down.

Woods, Evie, The Lost Bookshop, Harper Collins Publisher, 2023.

Poetry, Writing

Hafiz – Poem 21

February 9, 2026 rebekahjmarshall Leave a comment

All images created by Rebekah Marshall’s prompts using AI on Gencraft.com website.

I am reading Hafiz’s Little Book of Life, poetry by Hafiz-e Shirazi. He is challenging me to become more comfortable with ambiguity. I will share his poem and some of my thoughts on his poem (sometimes with the help of experts when the concepts are too hard for me), followed by a poem and some art inspired by his poem.

Hafiz’s Poem 21:

You might think those who speak harmfully

Will get away with it

But they’re being monitored by

The Recording Angels

Some thoughts:

This one got me pondering what it is to speak harmfully. Of course there are the obvious types of harmful speech like threats, abusive language, hurtful insults, comments meant to undermine a person’s self-confidence, disrespectful utterances, and slander. But there are other types of speech that possibly harm less directly, like gossip, argument simply to sow discord, lies, rude tones, sarcasm mean to wound or undermine, gaslighting, fake news, and attempting to rewrite reality to suit the victor or person in power. None of these is good for the speaker or the receiver of the information. Ultimately, something negative has been unleashed when anyone employs harmful speech as a tactic.

Often, people who make a habit of such behaviors appear to get away with it. Why else would they keep doing it, except that it benefits them and they get their way by using insults and lies as weapons. But Hafiz does not believe that those people will get away with it in the end. He seems to think every word uttered by humans are monitored. Whoever these Recording Angels are, they probably don’t take too kindly to having to work overtime lately. Even if despicable speech goes unpunished today, the speaker has been recorded in somebody’s book as someone who speaks harmfully.

My Poem 21:

As regards the habit of opening
the mouth for the purpose of emitting
words meant for other people:
Speak kindly to others,
and be generous with praise.
Share appreciation easily.
Be quick with a soothing word,
with compassion overflowing.
Let poetry and song spring
forth with abundance.
Offer gentle reassurance,
and share steady encouragement.
Keep truth on the tip of the tongue,
and only fill silence with peace,
tenderness, humor, vulnerability,
genuine friendliness, graciousness,
humility, and hopefulness.

Hafiz. Hafiz’s Little Book of Life. Translated by Erfan Mojib and Gary Gach, Hampton Roads Publishing, 2023.

Poetry, Writing

Hafiz – Poem 20

February 6, 2026 rebekahjmarshall Leave a comment

Hafiz’s Poem 20:

Speak not to the
Imposters
Of the wonders of Love’s intoxication
Let them die in arrogant ignorance
& the agony of self-cherishing

Some thoughts:

Let me begin by saying that I don’t think Hafiz is being vindictive to his haters in this poem. My take on it is more symbolic. I mean, he definitely had enemies who made his life more difficult, but it wouldn’t be very mystical or spiritual to wish literal death on them. In his poetry, Hafiz uses the symbol of Love and intoxication to represent ecstatic union, spiritual vulnerability, holy joy. The imposters are people pretending to be part of the community, mimicking that spiritual language, borrowing the symbols of holiness but refusing enlightenment. He knows there is no point talking with them about the depths of love because they won’t get it. They are too wrapped up in appearances, fakeness, and ego.

In the end, their obsession with themselves is their reward. Their prison is internal, a tight, lonely circle of selfishness. There is no need to do them any harm. Simply stop feeding into their false image and they will exhaust themselves. Eventually, the illusion will collapse. The real agony is that they are not opening themselves up to true love with the divine and all that beauty.

My Poem 20:

To be an ally
is to do the work:
Read the books
Watch the videos
Take the classes
Listen—
Stop talking
and hear the uncomfortable
words that sting
Try to understand
the ache beneath

Ask the hard
questions of yourself
Remove the burden
from the oppressed
of teaching you how to act
Think of their plight
as you enjoy your privilege
Admit when you
have been wrong
Apologize—
for your previous
ignorance
and lack of empathy

Humble yourself enough
to swallow the pain
and regret
of generations of wrongdoing
and stop
making excuses
for choosing safe naïveté
Teach—
others like you the truth
with unwavering patience
and determination
because lives depend on it

Remove the walls
that protect your illusions
of them and us
and join the conversation
Show up to help
when a need arises
without being asked
Speak up
if anyone tries to other
people in your presence
Spend—
your money consciously
Support creators and makers
whose values coincide

Reparations
must come in the form
of willingness
Amends of service
in the hearts and minds
of descendants
because that is all
some of us
have to offer
Heal—
your own brokenness
so you are battle-ready
and resolved.

Hafiz. Hafiz’s Little Book of Life. Translated by Erfan Mojib and Gary Gach, Hampton Roads Publishing, 2023.

Poetry, Writing

Hafiz – Poem 19

February 4, 2026 rebekahjmarshall Leave a comment

Hafiz’s Poem 19:

The town is empty of love

Until one person

Acts beyond their self

Some thoughts:

Sometimes powerful movements start small:

One little girl protesting outside the Swedish Parliament about the climate (Great Thunberg).
A small group of students protesting education policies in South Africa (1976 Soweto Uprising).
One woman refusing to give up her seat on a bus (Rosa Parks).
A hashtag in response to the acquittal of a murderer (Black Lives Matter).
One woman researching the dangers of pesticides for a book she was writing (Silent Spring by Rachel Carson and the beginning of The Environmental Movement of the 1960s).

We often don’t feel like our contributions matter or the fact that we are only one person cannot possibly make a difference. It simply is not true. Each choice we make to share love or kindness increases goodness in the world. The ripple effect can restore relationships, heal families, and build communities. And team up with a likeminded friend or partner? Imagine the good we can do; the help we can offer this broken world. Hafiz knew this, must have witnessed it, or was that person for someone else. That is who I want to be.

My Poem 19:

A kind word offered

may mean the world to someone

who has nothing else.

Hafiz. Hafiz’s Little Book of Life. Translated by Erfan Mojib and Gary Gach, Hampton Roads Publishing, 2023.

Essays, Writing

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry (Book Review)

February 4, 2026 rebekahjmarshall Leave a comment

Astrophysics for People in a Hurry by Neil deGrasse Tyson was simplified enough that I could almost begin to fathom parts of it. The grand scale of the universe or multiverse or whatever hugeness is out there seems like a great imaginary tale. My little, tiny reality does not mesh with the vastness of trillions of miles as a measurement or billions of galaxies, our Milky Way being only one little spiral among many. Tyson says scientists think the gigantic, galactic, humongous universe, as we know it, was at one time smaller than one-trillionth the size of the period at the end of this sentence. It might as well be a magical fairy tale.

Some fascinating science-y things I learned:

Helium was detected in the sun’s corona in the 1800s before it was ever discovered on Earth.
Planets don’t really fly through space orbiting the sun but are carried across the fabric of space-time.
Iridium is the densest element we know of—2 cubic feet of it weighs as much as a car.
Pluto is not a planet. I have finally released my hold on the poor thing. It turns out, this mistake has been made before. Two other “planets” were discovered in the 1800s named Ceres and Pallas. We eventually figured out they were asteroids and now know Pluto is a comet. Sigh. I think we hung on so long because it was the first planet discovered by an American.
About 1,000 tons of Martian rocks rain down on earth each year. Possibly a similar amount reaches us from our Moon. When meteors and asteroids hit them, they send debris flying our way. When we pick up a rock and put it in our pocket, it could be from Mars or the Moon.

Tyson, Neil deGrasse, Astrophysics for People in a Hurry, W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2017.

Poetry, Writing

Hafiz – Poem 18

February 4, 2026 rebekahjmarshall Leave a comment

All images created by Rebekah Marshall’s prompts using AI on Gencraft.com website.

Hafiz’s Poem 18:

Hey, fly

The realm of the simurgh

Is not your arena

Some thoughts:

A simurgh is a mythical beast in Persian mythology that is a huge benevolent bird creature who is part dog and all amazing. They are said to be older than the dinosaurs, so old they have seen the destruction of the earth at least 3 times. They return like the phoenix and are powerful enough to carry off an elephant. When one took flight, it shook the tree of life and all the seeds of the entire plant kingdom scattered on the wind to populate the earth with every herb, vegetable, and fruit we now have.

Flies…not so much. No one is as impressed by a fly. Perhaps Hafiz is gently telling someone to stay in their lane. Walk before they run. Learn the basics before trying to take on more complex levels. Whoever or whatever he is referring to sounds like a little chihuahua who thinks she can take on a bear. The spirit is impressive, but the reality it a little harsher. As much as we all want to dream big and believe we are capable of anything we set our minds to, it is probably best to also prepare and take the right steps to get to the next level of progress. Who knows, maybe someday we’ll fly with the simurgh.

My Poem 18:

Fly is an opportunistic nuisance,
irritating background noise with
indiscriminate hunger drawn to rot.
Thin whine, buzz, hum, restless—
nervous energy that confuses
access with belonging mistakes
nearness for importance embodies
hunger without wisdom living
on lilfe’s leftover crumbs.

Simurgh scans the heavens silently,
sound swallowed by altitude and
casts a mountain-sized shadow.
Wingspan vast, immense presence—
motion that reshapes air with stillness.
Benevolent creature glides effortlessly,
witnesses creation and destruction,
participates in the process of transformation
burns away death to feast on forever.

Hafiz. Hafiz’s Little Book of Life. Translated by Erfan Mojib and Gary Gach, Hampton Roads Publishing, 2023.

Essays, Writing

Gabi, A Girl in Pieces (Book Review)

February 3, 2026 rebekahjmarshall Leave a comment

TRIGGER WARNING: This novel addresses themes of teen pregnancy, substance abuse, addiction, death, sexuality, religious pressure, body image struggles, and family conflict. Some material may be sensitive for readers.

Isabel Quintero does a fabulous job in Gabi, A Girl in Pieces of making us fall in love with a messy, smart, creative, beautiful, real-sounding protagonist. Gabi is sharing her journal with us, along with poetry, artwork, letters to her drug-addicted father, and innermost secrets. We are there for the highs and the lows, and we laugh right along with her, just before we grab a box of tissues to sob along with her. It is her senior year, and she is a pale-skinned Mexican American girl proud of her culture and obsessed with her food. (This gordita can relate.)

She tackles relationships with boys, friendship, teen-pregnancy, religious pressure, family dynamics, sibling issues, senior year stress, college applications, drug abuse, death, sex, body image, and more. Her voice is sarcastic, tender, raw, and heartbreakingly vulnerable. Navigating the minefields of adolescence in the 21^st century has never seemed more fraught nor more worth celebrating. It is full of issues that make it a commonly banned book in conservative states’ schools. I feel sad for young ladies who may never get the chance to meet Gabi because there are probably many who could find hope and courage from her example.

Quintero, Isabel, Gabi, A Girl in Pieces, Cinco Puntos Press, 2014.

Essays, Writing

Millionaire Success Habits (Book Review)

February 3, 2026 rebekahjmarshall Leave a comment

Since starting my trading journey, I have been reading many financial strategy/growth mindset-type books as part of a book club on one of my platforms. I have not been very impressed with many of them. Millionaire Success Habits by Dean Graziosi was a much more enjoyable read. Not only is it written in down-to-earth, simple language, but the anecdotes, advice, and examples are relatable and realistic. Some of his ideas are a little unconventional but make a lot of sense.

One such idea his suggests is to work on strengths rather than weaknesses. So much focus is spent on trying to improve our weaknesses in our competitive culture, but why? What if we put more of our energy into focusing on our strengths and passions? Then we can hire people to do the parts we don’t excel at. It’s a win/win. He has excellent advice on short bursts of intense focus on one task to achieve more than when we multi-task. He develops the idea that relationships with our employees and customers should be better thought out and inclusive of everyone’s needs. And he has wonderful strategies for organization, productivity, and confidence building.

His tone is authentic, experienced, and direct. There is no double-speak or confusing lingo, and each chapter provides actionable steps a person could take to improve their life. He provides insight on vanquishing the inner villain who wants to sabotage us, harnessing our inner hero who wants us to succeed, and creating one clear overarching goal or why that we are working toward. He’s the one who started the whole “What’s your Why?” that every service industry uses.

Graziosi, Dean, Millionaire Success Habits, Hay House, 2019.

Essays, Writing

The Midnight Library (Book Review)

February 2, 2026 rebekahjmarshall Leave a comment

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig is a lovely reality check for anyone struggling with wishing their life could be different. Some quantum theorists think every alternative reality possible happens simultaneously. In one reality, I’m here writing this book review. In another, I’m still in the middle of reading the book. In another, no one gave me this book as a gift, so I haven’t read it at all. And in yet another, heaven forbid, I don’t even like reading fiction.

Our protagonist has reached such a state of melancholy in the beginning of the novel that she cannot see past midnight. She decides to end her life and finds herself in a library containing all the books of every variation of her that exists. It is the chance to see how different versions of life could be if various choices changed the trajectory of her past. It is an adventurous dive into the world of what ifs. I have enjoyed such thought experiments on myself. What if I had not gone into teaching, but had chosen a more lucrative profession? What if I had not married my first husband nor had children? What if I had moved away from Texas and was living somewhere cooler up north?

It is sometimes easy to get lost in those alternate wishful versions of ourselves and forget to appreciate all the little things that make up the lives we are living in the here and now. Though there were many poignant, sad, discouraging revelations in her journey, I was satisfied with the lessons she learned. I recommend this book for anyone who could use a reminder to feel a little more grateful or who sometimes wishes they would have made different choices in life.

Haig, Matt, The Midnight Library, Penguin Books, 2020.

Poetry, Writing

Hafiz – Poem 17

February 2, 2026 rebekahjmarshall Leave a comment

Hafiz’s Poem 17:

Vanity, my dear

Is merely proof

Of sheer ignorance

Some thoughts:

Hafiz seems to be addressing someone he cares about, by calling them “my dear.” This does not seem like a harsh rebuke, but more of a compassionate, gentle reminder. There is no need to be vain if we understand our true worth. Either we are over or under-inflating reality when we assess ourselves as less than or greater than we should.

If we mistake attention for worth, confuse a mask for the self, or are more concerned about appearance than authenticity, we are missing the mark. We are beautiful, magical, stardust creatures who are part of a giant, miraculous cosmos. We should not forget our true fabulousness by replacing it with vain imaginings that are neither helpful nor accurate. We are better than that.

My Poem 17:

Both extremes of vanity
are inaccurate reflections
of your miraculous beauty.

You are but dust and ashes,
no greater than anyone else
on this giant flying rock.

But the point is that you are
stardust and magic, the hope
of your ancestors made real.

Don’t confuse being ordinary
with missing the fabulous
truth that you are a singularity.

There has never been and never
will be another you the same
as the wondrous you right now.

Hafiz. Hafiz’s Little Book of Life. Translated by Erfan Mojib and Gary Gach, Hampton Roads Publishing, 2023.