Living Big:

This is the book that I'd have to take if I was going to be marooned on a desert island!

The book starts out by saying "This is a book of magic."; it then has a place to sign your name "...if you're ready for a life of enchantment, mystery, wonder, and passion..." And it goes uphill from there.

I've used quotes from this book in almost every Square-Peg-People telecall we've had. It's the book I turn to when I feel disheartened.

What's so great about it? For one, "Living Big is a book of stories." I love to hear people's real-life stories! For another thing, to continue quoting from Living Big: "...Living Big may appear to be a book about heroes, about other people, it's also a book about you. About what's possible within you."

Living Big is divided into "seven BIG attitudes that are second nature to People Who Live Big". There's: Thinking Big, Giving Big, Playing Big... Pam tells us "...these are all attitudes you used to have. They're attitudes from your childhood, attitudes that are hard-wired into your very being."

So how hard can it be to get in touch with things that are already inside us?! Not hard at all if you let yourself get into the spirit of this book. I will say that it's hard to stay in touch with those attitudes - we're admonished, coddled and cajoled into NOT living them - because they're revolutionary!

Pam Grout knows this - as you can see from what she says in the chapter about creativity: "Creativity, then, is nonviolent resistance, resistance to the dog biscuits that society wants to throw you so you'll speak, sit, and roll over."

Pam Grout uses life-stories to illustrate her message of inspiration: YOU matter! Many of the people whose stories are in the book make their financial living through the use of their imagination, heart and joy. All of them make their living (not necessarily their paycheck) by living big.

There are stories about famous people whose names we all know: the doctor, Patch Adams, and Motown Records founder, Gordon Berry. And some (famous folk) whose names I was not familiar with: "Hobart Brown, a metal sculpture artist, {who} was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 1998.", and Wyland, an "...artist who's listed in the Guiness Book of World Records as painting the world's largest mural."

Then there are stories of people who aren't so famous - but certainly live big!

There's Mary Guthrie, who definitely sounds like a Square-Peg: "I hate rules, I'm the world's crappiest rule follower." The author quotes Mary: "In high school, she jokes, she was voted 'most likely to end up in reform school.' " Instead of reform school, she ended up running an "...unconventional special needs program..." out of her own home. But not before she'd been in two abusive marriages, lost a child, had another child with developmental issues - and plenty of other problems.

There's also the story of Kitty, the author's friend, who visited kids in hospitals - using "...her last $15. on Valentine's cards and kids' party favors." And many other stories as well - there's bound to be at least one that will cause you to say "I can do that!"

The book is not just stories - great as they are! - it's also an invitation. Pam Grout asks us to choose to LIVE BIG. And she offers guidance in "Boot Camp for the Soul" - the section at the end of each chapter.

This is where she gives "assignments" - some as easy as "Pick a hero...and find out everything you can about their causes..." - and others as hard (for me, anyway) as "Each day for seven days, do something that you have never done before and something you feel you simply cannot do."

Each "Boot Camp for the Soul" is preceded by a "3 Big ?'s" section - which helps you think deeply about your attitudes.

And she touts the wisdom of kids' books: "The best inspirational literature can be found in the kid's section of your local library." She gives us a list that "should be part of every PLB's {People who Live Big} library".

One of the books on the list is Somebody Loves You, Mr. Hatch, about a man who leads a boring, lonely life until he gets a package in the mail with a note saying "Somebody loves you". Later he learns that the package was not meant for him, but he learns a wonderful lesson. I felt I had to find that book - I did, and was not disappointed.

I have to agree - there is tremendous wisdom in children's books!

There's so much in this book - I nearly jump up and down when I read the author's words about liking wild people: "As much as I like Saint Francis of Assisi, I have come to the conclusion that I like wild people better. People who hug trees, ride Harleys, pierce their noses. People who live outside the bell curve. Either side of the bell curve."

I'm not sure I see Saint Francis of Assisi the same way Pam Grout does. I have always thought of him as a wild man - a half naked dude out preaching to birds and animals, who has turned away from money and worldly success to follow his own heart.

Regardless of our views on Saint Francis of Assisi, I so agree with Pam about wild people. I like all kinds of people, but I have a soft spot for people who align themselves with the phrase "Square-Peg-People". People whom others might call wild folk - who see things differently, may have been "through the ringer" a few times, and possibly turning from the conformist path to follow their heart.

My absolute favorite part of the book is a little section entitled: "YOU WERE CREATED TO DO BIG THINGS". Within only 3 pages Pam Grout manages to inspire us deeply, tell the best grace story you'll ever hear - describing the way a tribe in South America deals with someone in their village doing wrong and list 10 reminders of who YOU are.

Living Big is like having a fuller (lots of "George Bailey" stories) version of "It's A Wonderful Life". I read it and remember: "Yes, I do make a difference!"

Pam Grout quotes Mark Eberra: "There is no greater waste than to live an ordinary life. There is nothing more tragic than a person who has lost their magic!"

Go! Read this book - be reminded of YOUR magic!!