In 2018, I finally sought therapy for the anxiety that has plagued most of my life.
Doing so was one of the best decisions I have made and I am grateful to have access to a really good therapist, as well as the support of my inner circle.
Getting mental health help can be daunting. Looking back, I felt like if I was committed to getting help then I would no longer have anxiety as an excuse or explanation for some of my more anti-social and self-destructive tendencies.
I was wrong, of course. Well, I was right about not having an excuse or explanation, but that was true before I sought help.
I was wrong about therapy being daunting. It is a lot of work, which is good. BJ Barham and I talked on Episode 1 of The Marinade about the value of hard work. The phrase 'hard work' evokes images of the grindstone and a swinging hammer.
The work I have done on myself this year has been equally exhausting but also liberating.
I am far from done. This work is a never ending cycle of discovery, struggle, and revelation.
One such revelation has been that I know I am at my best when I write, read, and exercise regularly. That's it. If I do those things, the other stuff takes care of itself.
So, I set out to read more. I have always devoured books but my heroes are voracious consumers of words and ideas. I knew I could do more.
I did not keep count of the books I read. I am too prone to competition to do something like that. It would interfere with my enjoyment.
Safe to say, I read as much as needed. This list reflects the books that really stuck with me.
Cheers and love in 2019, y'all.
-Jason Earle
