Customer Reviews

Don't Miss Your Life!: An Uncommon Guide to Living with Freedom, Laughter, and Grace

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
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I didn't know what to expect upon reading Charlene's paperback book titled, Don't Miss Your Life! I requested this particular book from Divine Inspiration because I liked the cover art mostly. To be honest with you, I wasn't familiar with Charlene's writing nor the Dearest Dorothy Series. The very first thing that caught my eye on the book cover were these three young ladies who were jumping in mid air with colorful skirts on and oh yes, did I mention their bare feet?! If you are looking for a vision of what freedom within looks like or you might be longing to read a book filled with guidance to how one's life might feel to be free, then I encourage you to get a copy of Charlene's book because "walking barefoot in grass makes your understanding tingle".

The book begins with a charming and playful approach on how to discover your own rich and sustaining memories called "Remember When?" I found that this is not your typical self help book but rather a cleverly woven art of storytelling that this author shares so professionally with us from her own heartfelt unique experiences of life. Charlene has so many cool quotations and scriptures added throughout her book.

Throughout the book's chapters, Charlene's sense of humor shines brilliantly while one in particular, "Humor Hogties" will have your sides ripping! Being a piano teacher, my favorite part of this book is about a passage asking the reader some soul searching questions of reflection and contemplation, "What is the song in your heart right now?" Charlene Baumbich will encourage you to take ownership of your life, show you how to be liberated from despair and celebrate life to the fullest with passion and joy overflowing. I highly recommend this book to you and rate it 5+ stars!

I loved this book and the author's enthusiasm she has in discovering the joy of life. Are you letting fear get the better of you? Is fear stopping you from living life to the fullest?

She says, "Hope is perhaps the first key that can enable you to wake up, and then open up, to your life. Without hope, we are left with only despair," which stops us from experiencing anything good. It keeps us just going through the motions of life not living it.

I enjoyed how this author described life in simple terms, time a precious thing waste. "Do your days pass by in a blur, one melding into the next? ...We thirst to be living life to the fullest, but first we need to be stunned into realizing just how asleep we've been...For instance, have you ever been driving down the road and..OHMYGOSH! I didn't remember driving the last five blocks! How did I get here?"

Charlene has very practical ideas to jump start you back into living life to the fullest, make you aware of the flowers in your path and to take the time to see and smell how beautiful they really are. It's much like our lives. There are so many special moments in our lives to be recognized and savored

Some of the chapters in her book are: Wake Up!, Crowned Princesses of Sparkledom, Humor Hogties--overcoming a Spiritually Constipated Life, Always Question your Assumption, I'm sick of listening to me and so much more.

What an encouraging, up-lifting, hopeful book to read in these uncertain times. I'll leave you with the authors words, "Enjoyv the most important gift you've been given--your one and only, true-self, God breathed life: Don't miss it!" This book helps you do just that. I know I'll be reading this book again.


Finding Hope Through Fiction
Book Club Servant Leader

Don't Miss Your Life is a book of advice on living with "freedom, laughter, and grace". Charlene Baumbich's resounding message is, "WAKE UP!" The author writes of the importance of friendships, positive thinking, playfulness, and balance in life, and the problems inherent in assumptions and preconceived ideas. This book leans heavily on the spiritual, and Baumbich refers often to God. Bible verses are found throughout the chapters. But the author doesn't become preachy or dogmatic. Her casual, highly personal, conversational style prevents that from happening. Initially, I found the style a bit much. There were too many parenthetical insertions and asides. At some point, however, the number diminished (or I got used to them) and Baumbich's irrepressible enthusiasm won me over. Every recommendation and bit of advice is illustrated and supported by an engaging story from the author's life.
This book has a lot to offer, and while it doesn't provide any earth-shaking advice, it does highlight many things that can lead to a fuller life. And it's uplifting and humorous, to boot.

My latest "read" in the series of Baumbick books. I found it as enjoyable as the others. She really keeps the thoughts and action moving.
This book is a blessing to read, it made me think of all the blessings I have received from God and how many come my way that I take for granted. Excellent book filled with everyday happenings.

If you are in the mood to spend some time examining your life while using humor to do so, this book might be just the ticket. I first became aware of Charlene Baumbich when I discovered her "Dearest Dorothy" books and loved them all (sorry to see the series end). I looked around to see what else she had written and discovered this newest publication. Considering the humor infused in the Dearest Dorothy books, I thought there was a fair chance this would be hilarious in addition to being informative and I was right!

The subtitle is "An Uncommon Guide to Living with Freedom, Laughter, and Grace" and that sums up the contents very well. There are sixteen chapters starting with "Remember When? What we already know" and ending with "Be a Reed. The breath of God Blows Through Us .....". While the topic is largely serious - who wants to die without ever really living - it is covered with such grace and style it's almost possible to not realize how substantial the book is. Very story oriented, it could stand alone as humor writing. There was one story I shared with friends yesterday (the straw at lunch story) that had all of us chuckling. Very personal, very funny and very spiritual (not religious), this book is a great read for anyone open to a new way of thinking. Charlene isn't perfect but she is honest and open about herself and what she has learned in life.

A wonderful, wonderful life philosophy that I am so glad she shared.

It is wonderful to read a book in which the author talks to you, not at you. She has a superb grasp on engaging her audience. This book is a fast read because it is funny! Don't let her humor fool you though, she has an important message here. Too many people are just going through the motions. The author has useful takeaway advice and I'd recommend her for sure!

Don't Miss Your Life
An Uncommon Guide to
Living with Freedom, Laughter and Grace
Charlene Ann Baumbich
2009
Howard Books
Non-fiction/Spiritual Growth/ Self Help

Reviewed by Cindy Loven

The title is a perfect description for this book, Charlene Baumbich, wants us to all slow down and smell the roses, basically. A book that will stir you to slow down and to live life to it's fullest.
Filled with stories from her life, and childhood. Ms. Baumbich shares her funny stories, her dreams and her adventures. Nearly dying after having surgery, she is awakened even more to the message she has been sharing for years about living your life.
Enjoy and imagine yourself as she describes spending times with friends playing dress up, as a child and as a adult. Who has taken time to play dress up as an adult? Learn to grasp those times with your children, as toddler, teens and adults. Live your life to the fullest and don't get too busy to miss your life!
A wonderful book, presented with lots of humor, and love! A definite must read. Also there is an accompanying website (www.dontmissyourlifebook.com)that has pictures of some of the stories she shares. Each chapter challenges us to think about our childhood, think about our lives and to build our own MP (Memory Portfolio). A book that would be great for a book club or study group, this book will inspire you to dig deep, examine your life, priorities and goals and to LIVE LIFE!

A wonderfully, witty reminder to wake up and pay attention to your life! Charlene urges you in her creative ways to "grab hold of that moment of wakefullness".

One of my favorite quotes is, "Life here on Earth is too short to give it away to happenstance, to hide it, to walk around sleeping or pinched up while you wait for somebody else to serve up your joy."

Through her wonderful observations she will encourage you to live your life joyfully and to it's fullest potential!

First a disclaimer: I loathe self-help books (with the exception of "The Last Lecture" and "Tuesdays with Morrie") and this was required reading for my book club. That said, this is pretty obvious stuff that we all know already. 1.Your kids will grow up before you know it so savor every moment of their childhood. Every mother instinctively knows this from the time their child first enters this world. 2. Take time to enjoy the small things. DUH!! 3. Surrender to God. (not even touching this one.) Let me just say that I hate having a stranger give me religious advice. 4. Slow down and don't overschedule your life. This little tidbit was offered again and again throughout the book which is perfectly good advice especially in today's fastpaced world. But then later in the book the author recounts how she practically had a nervous breakdown in the middle of an overscheduled book tour. If she's not following her own advice then why should I bother reading any more of this book?! Basically, while the author meant well, this was a one page essay of original material rehashed many times over until it became book length. The author admittedly "can't believe she gets paid to do this." Neither can I. Can I have my $10.00 back please?

I requested "Don't Miss Your Life" from the Library Thing Early Reviewers group because of the word "Laughter" in the title. The book lives up to its title. I giggled. I tee-heed. I snorted. I laughed out loud. Then I laughed so hard that tears ran down my cheeks. I laughed so frequently while reading "Don't Miss Your Life" that my husband asked to borrow the book when I was done with it.

Charlene Baumbich lives up to her reputation for humor. Better yet, the "Grace" in the title is fully accessible, and especially in the last few chapters. I made notes all over the first three-fourths of my copy, but for the last fourth, I could only read and drink in the assurances that we all have been given the ability to live, love, laugh and share our gifts, however small, with others.

Baumbich relates hilarious stories from her own life that are very freeing, and I found it easy to relate to her. I know that the next time I want to give up and drop out, or the next time I trip and fall down, I will think of Charlene, and I will choose differently. Because how could I take myself too seriously or stay angry when I'm brimming over with grace, laughter and happiness? Oh, I'll still get mad or huffy, but I won't live there for long with the memories from "Don't Miss Your Life".

I didn't just read the book, I inhaled it, I wrote all over it, and I laughed, chuckled and giggled my way through it. I was sorry when I got to the last page. Guess I'll have to look up her back list - I'm addicted to humor now.