Hi friends,
Today is Sunday time for a weekly recap about this past week! Linking up with The Sunday Post hosted by Kimberly @caffeinatedreviewer
In my private life
First of all, I’ve been a LAZY BLOGGER this pas week but a very active reader!
The days are so short in winter and honestly when I went home from work and it was dark outside I just wanted to curl up on the couch with a good book. Not blog or blog hop (shame on me!). So I decided to indulge and it did not help that I have read a fantastic book this week: Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo! Review coming tomorrow.
And when I was not reading that one I was listening to another historical book so …
Referring to today’s title now…
This week has been filled with …outbursts from members of my family.
It seems that communicating is a very difficult thing and I always had to intervene and explain that “No, when your dad is shouting he is not being aggressive (no kidding read further)”. “Yes when you reply without shouting the tone you use is perceived as aggression”.
Then this morning : “Yes what she said was not respectful but she is tired and cranky”. “I know your dad is stubborn but let things cool down a bit.”
See what I mean?
I swear sometimes I should just buy popcorn and count points!
I remember when I began dating my husband and we visited his father’s family on Sundays it was always filled with shouts! It was their “normal” communication. Everyone was hot blooded and they all talked so loud!
So yes, for him, shouting is not meant as an aggression.
Yes, right…. Sigh.
I sometimes think I’ve missed my calling and would have been perfect to negociate peace treaties between enemy armies! Maybe it’s not too late to send my application? 😀
On a very positive note: this week at work we had an inspirational speaker who officially is a “Professeur de bonheur” “Teacher of happiness”. What a delightful profession right?
We learned among other things that scientists study happiness sometimes for more than 30 years!!! Another missed calling for me because that sounds so cool!
They learned that happiness is 50% genetic, 10% linked to exterior factors and 40% in your hands!
So you can work to feel happier that’s the good news!
Many of the “tips” she gave us I already do and one information was very interesting. We all have qualities. In fact there are officially 24 qualities recorded by scientists. When you have to do a task, lead a project or solve a problem, instead of using the qualities you THINK are bests for the task at hand if you use your predominant qualities to do it, you’ll spend less energy and will do it faster, even if it’s unorthodox.
So I went to the site to test my qualities and see which were predominant in my profile.
Here are my top 5 followed by the category they belong to:
-Love to learn (Wisdom);
-Kindness and generosity (Humanity);
-Open minded and analystical mind (Wisdom);
-Perspective and objectivity (Wisdom);
– Acknowledge beauty, is moved by beauty (Transcendence).
If you want to pass this “test” here is the link (you have to create your profile and it’s from the VIAME Institute of Minneapolis): http://www.viacharacter.org/survey/account/register
This kind of speech is a real booster! And part of being more happy is being grateful. So here I am, grateful to have such opportunities given by my employer!
On the blog (click on the graphic to read the post)
As I’ve said, I’ve been a lazy blogger and posted only one review this week but three are planned for next week! I have read and loved The Living Canvas by Pepper Winters, sequel of the Body Painter!
As we had a free Top 5 Tuesday I just posted about our #ownvoices blog tour and chose to speak about Birthday by Meredith Russo.
And as I was lazy and completely engrossed in Ninth House, I missed the Thursday discussion schedule and posted on a ….Wednesday 😆 Yet this was a fun post about what non readers should know if they plan to date or marry a reader!
On the blogosphere and literary world
First something non bookish but just AMAZING! I am a big fan of nature and wildlife photography well the one who won the Wildlife Photography prize this year is a Chinese Yongqing Bao and PLEASE FOLLOW THE LINK! This is just an extraordinary picture, witness of a moment where a yellow belly marmot has been totally spooked by a fox!
You also have other photographies to enjoy following the link to the Smithsonian Magazine. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/see-fox-spook-marmot-cougar-take-down-alpaca-and-more-wildlife-photographer-year-winning-images-180973378/
Back to book business
Epic Reads, my go to quiz blog, asks us What role we would play in a murder mystery. I am happy to tell you that I solve the mystery! Pfew 😀
I skipped some blog hopping as I explained but I loved Kaya’s post about when beautiful writing is too much.
That was my week in a nutshell!
Do tell me how your week went and now that I’m caught up with the reviews I will blog hope and comment.
Thanks for reading!
Sophie
Oh yes, the loud talking or in other words “shouting-talk” I am very familiar with. We have that in the other part of my family as well and after an entire afternoon/evening with them, my ears are ringing *lol* Have a great week and happy reading.
Thank you Vi!!!
Being the mediator in family drama is exhausting. And with it getting dark earlier and earlier, I feel the same after getting home from work. LOL
Oh yes Laura we have more spunk in summer!
Your family is lucky to have you as a mediator! I had a BF who was that way about shouting! It wasn’t aggressive, it was just how he was, and it took me a while to get used to it!
Exactly it takes time to get used to it Brittany!
The life of a peace negotiator can be a hard one, but it looks as if it’s also very… interesting! 🙂
Congratulations on your “ambassadorial” skills!!!
Hahaha yes my life is far from boring indeed Maddalena!
I don’t think there is a family on this planet that doesn’t argue, yell, fall out and have great arguments. I know mine does it all, at 100% the loudest volume going. My partner’s family, however, never really talk. It’s kind of weird. As for mediator? My dad. 😀
Oh your dad? You know as we never shouted in my family I was so surprised!!!
Another great post, Sophie. Love the scientific proof that happiness is 40% in our own hands; this is something that I believe so I’m all for it.
Thank you Flora and have joy finding happiness 😉
Glad to hear you enjoyed Ninth House – I have it on my Kindle, but who knows when I’ll get to it. Family drama – I feel your pain, Sophie, lol.
I hope you’ll have some time to read it Teri!
Ugh, family drama is the worst. Thankfully we haven’t had any to speak of in a while. With the holidays coming up, I’m sure that will change though, lol. Can’t wait to read your review for Leigh Bardugo’s latest!
Thank you for these encouragement Suzanne!
By any chance, is your husband latin/Hispanic? Because for Puerto Ricans, we are known as talking loud and talking with our hands We always move our hands/arms a lot when we talk.
And I got I solve the crime!
Genesis @ Whispering Chapters
No no he is not latin but …he totally could LOL And Genesis we would band together to solve the crime!
Being the referee or moderator between dad and the kids can be tough sometimes! Sometimes I shut the blogging world out and read, too. I mean that’s what started all this in the first place, anyhow, right? Reading! I do think happiness is very reliant on how we perceive things. Being grateful is great advice! Happy reading Sophie! 🙂
Exactly Rachel you are so right! That’s what started all this indeed!
That’s an interesting program your company brought in. Lots of food for thought.
Exactly Sam! Honestly we are lucky because it makes us think “out of the box”.
I’m glad you were able to just read. I’m behind a bit with traveling. I’m happy to learn you liked Ninth House as I will be listening to the audio this week. I wish you a great week with more good books!
Anne – Books of My Heart Here is my Sunday Post
Anne I really hope that the audiobook will be as good as the physical copy!
Yes… I recall when my children were living at home, spending a lot of my energy mediating… I often have to step in between the grandchildren, too. Thank you for that link, I love the idea of a professor of happiness. And yes – I do believe that a chunk of it is genetic, but isn’t it heartening to think that happiness is also something we can influence? Have a lovely week, Sophie.
With your grandchildren now? Oh I hope they’ll behave better. And yes of course that’s heartening that we can influence happiness.
They aren’t particularly naughty – but there is five years between them and they are fourteen and nine, so it’s tricky because they don’t have a lot in common due to the large developmental delay. But they are both adorable:)).
I can totally relate to just wanting to read – without the blogging and blog hopping. Sometimes it feels great to just set the rest aside and just READ. Yes, you definitely missed your calling as a peace negotiator. Or a referee! LOL What a great speaker to have brought in to the workplace!
If I ever lose my job I’ll offer my services to the government Tanya LOL
My dad and my brother communicate that way. I would come home from college and one of them would be at the top of the stairs and one at the bottom just yelling at each other. Ugh so stressful!
I can totally relate Samantha!
So I checked out the picture, and all was well until ‘the fox trotted away with a delicious meal.’ LOL
I want to read Ninth House SO BAD! And I think I might be able to fit it in at the end of this year. I’m glad to see it had you so engrossed.
Thanks for sharing! 🙂
Bwahahaha yes this is such a sad ending for the yellow belly marmot!
I had to go on a work trip from Wednesday to Friday and had to put aside posting/blog hopping till now and that ain’t easy! But I can totally understand wanting to just read and not blog for some time though. Happy you did just that. 😉 Also super cool that you had that professor of happiness drop by. Those kinds of subjects are nice to tackle just to reflect on what you’ve been through in life and what you think happiness is.
I hope that you met as many interesting people as you hoped Lashaan!
LOL, on the Mom white flag. Sometimes a referee is needed with clashing personalities and miscommunication. Completely agree about 40% happiness in your hands. I also belive if you expect shit to hit the fan, 90% it will. I am of the glass is half full perspective find I am happier than those who belive it is half empty.
I also am from the glass half full specie Kimberly!
Sounds as though hubby and daughter need to go to their respective corners and have a timeout! lol. It’s been raining here for most of the week, making it hard to gain much motivation for anything.
On a positive note, I read a fun rom-com this week, and today is the launch of my book tour, yay!
I ahve seen your interview on Jay’s blog Jacquie!!!!
Yay! Thank you, Sophie 🙂 Did it totally suck? lol
Drama llama. 🙂 What would life be without the drama, right?
Wow, very interesting about happiness!
Excellent quiz as always! I got “You’re the Prime Suspect”, so… that’s not good right lol? I guess I better work on my alibi or escape plans. 🙂
Hahaha no Greg that’s not good! It means that maybe I’ll arrest you by the end of the story!
I wish I could say you will have to stop being the “white flag” in time, but alas, I guess not. Funny that Mom and I had this discussion not long ago. She still has to intervene at times. As much as I adore and love my Dad, he and I have always clashed a bit and Mom always has to be the mediator.
You have no idea how this is comforting me Tracey! I don’t feel so odd with a weird family 😉