Lean Forward into Your Life: Listen Hard, Live With Intention, and Play With Abandon

by Mary Anne Radmacher

Lean Forward Into Your Life is an ode to living a purposeful, creative life. Readers of Anne Lamott, Brene Brown, Oriah Mountain Dreamer, and Sheryl Sandberg who haven't heard about this book yet will love it. It is self-empowering and inspirational and…it makes a great gift for almost any special occasion.

In the words of Radmacher, ". . .this is a commonplace book for leading an uncommon life. An uncommon life need not include fame and fortune. To live an uncommon life is to pay attention, take care of yourself, live large from the heart."

The chapters form a to do list for living this way: live with intention/walk to the edge/listen hard/play with abandon/practice wellness/laugh/risk love/continue to learn/appreciate your friends/choose with no regret/fail with enthusiasm/stand by your family/celebrate the holidays that make sense/lead or follow a leader/do what you love; live as if that's all there is.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction

242 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 1, 2007

About the author

Mary Anne Radmacher is a writer and an artist. She conducts workshops on living a full, creative, balanced life, teaches Internet writing seminars, and works with individual clients. She has been writing since she was a child, and she uses her writing to explore symbols and find meaning. She is the author of Lean Forward into Your Life (Conari Press, 2007), and Live Boldly (Conari Press, 2008). She lives with her husband near Seattle, Washington. Visit her online at www.maryanneradmacher.com or www.maryanneradmacher.net. "

Reviews

[Mary Radmacher · Rating 5 out of 5]

is it fair or reasonable that i should review my own book AND give it five stars to boot?
you betcha. if i couldn't give it five stars it would be a travesty that i brought it to the world to read. i continue to use LEAN FORWARD as my own pick me up. i like opening it to random spots and just reading whatever i come upon. the diversity and intensity of this book makes this an ideal way to use it. it's often my habit when i'm enthusiastic about a book i've just read to pass it along to the next reader in my circle of book loving friends. this is just the sort of book i would always keep...and keep reading.

[Ashley Steele · Rating 4 out of 5]

a lemon loaf and a cup of tea if she were a book <3

[Marci Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lean Forward is a beautifully written personal journey filled with life lessons. Author Mary Anne Radmacher invites readers to live intentionally in each moment, not just each day. Her unique stories, probing questions and gentle suggestions support you, the reader, in connecting more deeply with your own life wherever you happen to be on the journey. Lean forward is a lifetime book, not a two hour read before moving on. Keep a highlighter or pen ready to mark those passages which resonate most with your life in this moment. Carry the chosen nuggets in your soul. And when you reach the point in your life where you experience more than your quota of personal challenges, pick this up again. As a trusted friend, Mary Anne's words will comfort you, while prompting you to examine your circumstances through a different lens - that of possibility and learning.

[Pam Lyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great quotes, good life ideas

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like her positive attitude. Her words give me hope.

[Aubrey · Rating 1 out of 5]

No disrespect to the author ❤, it's just that a one-star rating on GoodReads is "I didn't like it." It wasn't a good fit for me.

[Rachel L · Rating 1 out of 5]

This was not the book for me. It had been referenced in another book that I thoroughly enjoyed, and it was disappointing that this book was not my cuppa tea. It felt light and fluffy.

[Malina · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great little book to read. During this time of Covid-19 I have found myself turning more to self-help/improvement books. I found myself really relating to some of the topics she touches on, ideas that are an aha moment for me. Some chapters (which are short) didn't resonate with me as much, but that's not saying they might down the road.

[Tami · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all want to live a purposeful life. We'd love to spend each moment of our lives in peaceful contentment. We'd be thrilled if each second of those moments was meaningful and wholly fulfilling. Living life in love with creativity as the driving force sounds like an absolute fantasy come true.

Unfortunately, reality doesn't usually match this dream. Busy days. Stressful schedules. There's just never enough time and motivation.

That's why I like Lean Forward into Your Life. I read this book in small bits, one chapter or one poem when I had a few moments. Then, feeling a refreshed and more centered, I took that motivation and inspiration back into my regular life.

[Jaymi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm drawn into books that help better myself. I borrowed this book from the library after being recommended it by amazon. Mary Anne Radmacher is an artist and a wordsmith whose book reflects upon several tenants on how to live one's life. She says this book is a commonplace book... a book of reflections over life events, teachings and thoughts. It's mapped over one of her more famous poems (her work can be seen everywhere. She's also a Oregon Coast artist) and includes many quotable passages as well as exercises.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won this book as part of a GoodReads giveaway and it will make it to my select few that I will keep referring to for a long time to come. I can not say it any better than the FIVE-STAR reviews on
AMAZON by Charla Kinzel, calbers and Marci Moore. This book will sit beside my copies of Simon Sinek's "Start with Why" and "Leaders Eat Last" and Robert Fulghum "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten: Uncommon Thoughts On Common Things"

[Erin Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

My dad sat by this author on a plane and bought it for the three of us kids for Christmas. I enjoyed it, and found that I'd read a chapter here and a chapter there. There were so many wonderful quotes to live by in it. I've enjoyed giving this book to friends as gifts.

[Kate Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books you read over a long time and then when you are finished you read again. Full of inspiring quotes and great food for thought. All about living with intention and so much more.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book - great gift idea. Has some motivational/life lessons that are taught thru writing, poetry, and journal entries.

A great, fun read.

[Marty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lean forward is the catch phrase here. Once you "lean" into your life you will understand you cannot live standing outside your life in fear.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Anne's books have become my bedside standard for growth, inspiration and insight. With just a few pages, she makes you feel like you can change your life and conquer the world.

[Patti · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that I read for a class at work...some very powerful takeaway, usuable information!

[Barb]

For years I've been admiring Maryanne Radmacher's quotes on posters and magnets. Loved the book -- and found it contained great advice that I hadn't expected.

[S · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot say enough good things about Mary Anne and this book ... I wish she could write one once a year. Well done.

[Donalyn Kent · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've re-read many sections of this book (multiple times) for continual encouragement and inspiration. It's simple, but so fruitful!

[Julie Butler · Rating 2 out of 5]

I liked the idea behind the book. Parts of it were good and definitely worth committing to memory. I think perhaps it was her style of writing that I didn’t care for.

[Anne · Rating 1 out of 5]

I like her quotes/pictures at gift shops but had to really slog through this.