Tuesday 15 August 2017

Book ~ "Finding My Badass Self: A Year of Truths and Dares" (2017) Sherry Stanfa-Stanley

From Goodreads ~ Fighting midlife inertia, Sherry Stanfa-Stanley stares down fear through The 52/52 Project: a year of weekly new experiences designed to push her far outside her comfort zone. 

Her escapades range from visiting a nude beach with her seventy-five-year-old mother in tow to going on a raid with a vice squad and SWAT team to crashing a wedding (where she accidentally catches the bouquet).  While finding her courage in the most unlikely of circumstances, Sherry ultimately finds herself. 

For midlifers, fatigued parents and anyone who may be discontent with their life and looking to shake things up, try new things, or just escape, "Finding My Badass Self" is proof it's never too late to reinvent yourself - and that the best bucket list of all may be an unbucket list. 

Sherry is divorced mother of two 20-somethings sons and in her mid-50s.  According to her web page, she's a "writer, humorist and squeamish adventurer".  A couple years ago when she was 52, she decided to push herself outside of her comfort zone and start the 52/52 Project ... for a year she would do something she'd never done before every week (so for a total of 52 new adventures).  This book is the compilation of those experiences.

The things she did included spending time at a nude beach (with her mom nearby), online dating, hot air ballooning, heading to the airport and jumping on the first flight flying domestically, babysitting quadruplets, unplugging from electronics, going to the grocery store in her pajamas, auditioning for Survivor and more.  Some adventures were successful and she enjoyed them ... others she was glad she did but would never do again ... and there were just a couple where she said no way.

I gave her props for doing the 5km marathon.  I've always wanted to be a runner but I've never been one.  Runners make it look so easy!  I've been trying to do a 5km program (I have an app on my phone) since the spring and it's HARD ... I don't know if I'll ever be able to run (walking briskly is no problem, though).  I've already done some of the things which was a new adventure for me.  It was interesting to read her experiences doing a float and high ropes course ... I love floats and I'm with her re the high ropes course.

I enjoyed this book and found it a fun read.  Sherry is my age and I could relate to her, though I think anyone any age could.  I liked the writing style.  It was amusing and conversational.  I bet Sherry would be a fun and friendly person to hang out with.  As a heads up, there is some swearing.

1 comment:

sherry stanfa-stanley said...

Thanks so much, Teena!

And I'm glad there's someone out there to keep those flotation tanks in business. ;-)