Life Is a Verb: 37 Days to Wake Up, Be Mindful, and Live Intentionally

by Patti Digh

In October 2003, Patti Digh's stepfather was diagnosed with lung cancer. He died 37 days later. The timeframe made an impression on her. What emerged was a commitment to ask herself every morning: What would I be doing today if I had only 37 days left to live? The answers changed her life and led to this new kind of book. Part meditation, part how-to guide, part memoir, Life is a Verb is all heart.

Within these pages, Digh identifies six core practices to jump-start a meaningful life: Say Yes, Trust Yourself, Slow Down, Be Generous, Speak Up, and Love More. Within this framework she supplies 37 edgy, funny, and literary life stories, each followed by a 'do it now' 10-minute exercise as well as a practice to try for 37 days - and perhaps the rest of your life.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Memoir, Art, Inspirational, Personal Development, Spirituality

240 pages, Paperback

First published August 26, 2008

About the author

"If the Buddha had two kids, a dog named Blue, a Southern accent, and a huge crush on Johnny Depp, his name would be Patti Digh," wrote one reviewer after Digh's grassroots bestseller, Life Is a Verb, was published. In 2003, Patti Digh's stepfather was diagnosed with lung cancer and died just 37 days later. She woke up on day 38 and asked herself a question that she has asked every morning since: "What would I be doing today if I only had 37 days to live?"

Patti's award-winning blog, 37days.com, emerged from the lessons she learned by asking that question and soon the essays were crafted into the bestselling book LIFE IS A VERB: 37 Days to Wake Up, Be Mindful, and Live Intentionally. Patti has since written FOUR-WORD SELF-HELP: Simple Wisdom for Complex Lives, CREATIVE IS A VERB: If You're Alive, You're Creative, and WHAT I WISH FOR YOU: Simple Wisdom for a Happy Life.

Her newest book, The GEOGRAPHY OF LOSS, comes out January 2013. In the tradition of her other releases, Geography of Loss will also be beautifully illustrated by readers. This unique book will serve as a guide to help readers Embrace What Is, Honor What Was and Love What Will Be.

In addition to her writing, Patti is a co-founder of an international consulting firm focused on re-imagining K-12 education. Patti is also a sought after Keynote speaker. Audiences come away from her speeches both laughing and crying, and with a clearer sense of what's important in their own lives.

Patti and her family live (intentionally) in the serene mountain town of Asheville, NC.
www.37days.com

Reviews

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm not a big reader of non-fiction books. And I'm definitely not a reader of self-help books. Yet Life is a Verb is both of these things and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The secret to my enjoyment? After each chapter there are two boxes, one called Action, the other, Movement. I was happily reading along, enjoying Patti Digh's voice and storytelling when I got to the first action box. As I recall, that box told me to set the timer and dance for five minutes. Ummm, no. Not going to happen. I stopped reading the book for several days, stymied by my refusal to follow instructions and my inability to keep reading without doing what I'd been told. Then I realized: no one was looking over my shoulder, checking my progress. No one had told me to read this book. It wasn't an assignment. And if I enjoyed Digh's stories and thoughts, I was free to read them and not "take action." The truth of the matter is that this book may change my actions. But I'm a thinker first, a born ponder-er. After lots of that, I'll act. So I read this book and didn't follow a single instruction. That's freedom for a recovering rule-follower like yours truly.

Here's why I kept reading:

1) This book is beautiful. It's like reading someone's carefully crafted scrapbook, but with better writing and fewer candid family photos. There's art, there's color. The fonts change and shift based on whose thoughts you are reading. Lovely, moving, funny quotes are scattered throughout. For the visual experience alone, this book is worth your time.

2) Life is a Verb was alternately encouraging and convicting. I would read some chapters and think "Hey! I already do that. That's good." Others? My thoughts were more along the lines of, "Hmmm. Good point. I stink at that. Do I want to do better?" Had the book been just encouraging or just convicting, I would never have finished it. The former makes me feel like the book isn't offering me anything, the latter like I'm a failure.

3) Digh is a lovely and engaging storyteller. If you set aside the self-help portion of the book (as I did), the book reads like a series of personal essays. I found I could relate her stories to my own life and while she and I don't see the world in exactly the same way, she challenged me to think - and I always like a book that makes me think.

4) This was definitely the right book at the right time. January being a time of new beginnings - of looking back and planning forward - makes this book a great read for this month. Reading Digh's words will make you take a look at your life and how you are living it. Are you being as intentional as you'd like? Are you who you want to be? How can you get there?

If you're in the mood for a book to ponder, to think about, to let settle into your consciousness, Life is a Verb is worth checking out. Maybe you'll even find yourself grabbing a journal and a pen to do some of those Action boxes. (If so, let me know how that goes...)

[Candice Hayden · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, the title sounds like one of those silly, self-help, self-indulgent works that abound in the marketplace. But Patti Digh is different. She moves in. She hangs out on your sofa. She lets her life hang out, warts and all. She makes you feel "normal" because she is so real. She dares to share the messiness of her own life, her own "imperfect, red-headed freckled-ness" that you want her to permanently move into your guest room with her two kids and "Mr. Brilliant", her sweet, innocuous, bookstore owner husband. Through all this imperfection, these bumps in the road, the near death experiences on planes next to self-absorbed colleagues, she dares you to embrace it all. With her Mrs. Beasley glasses, she wiggles herself into your heart like a quirky best friend, has the courage to tell you that you have green stuff in your teeth, and still loves you. Unless, of course, you are a self-absorbed lout, and then she has the courage to pull out the big scissors and cut the cord. I adored this book and will invite Patti Digh over sometime so we can take silly pictures of ourselves standing in our own shadows. Read the book and you will "get it".

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rare is the read that leaves me feeling as though I need to write a THANK YOU note to its author. By the time I was reading the last page, I so wanted to consider the author and I good friends. This book will never stray far from my side. It is everything we ALL need to be reminded of if we truly desire living an intentional life. And its author...Ms. Digh...is a storyteller extraordinaire. Her fluidity, her prose, her sheer understanding of being mindful...beyond impressive. Every chapter held my complete attention and moved something within. I am grateful, I am more aware, and I highly recommend this book to ANYONE and EVERYONE.

[Gail · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the one hand, the author did seem very sheltered, viewing life from quite a privileged position, and her attempts to be open minded and not judge 'different' people seemed a bit patronising sometimes. But on the other hand, the author is incredibly open and honest about her journey, admitting her judgementalism, her struggles. She is also full of enthusiasm. She is who she is, and doesn't pretend to be anyone different.

The book wasn't really what I expected - it was more a sort of set of memoirs, in which the author tells us what she has learnt from various experiences. I found some of the stories made me warm to her, while others were dull. But I hadn't particularly wanted to read a memoir. I was more interested in the idea of 'what would I be doing if I only had 37 days to live?' - but this theme didn't seem to come through very strongly at all. There were random exercises (which I didn't bother doing, because I'm sure I could make up some for myself which I would find more useful) that readers are supposed to do for 37 days, but that is the only reference to 37 days throughout the book.

The story that stood out to me the most was of the time when the author was a teenager, working in her school library, and an irate customer comes to her complaining that there are no psychology books. She says she thinks there are some, and the customer complains she has looked and found none at all, and she wants to speak to an adult. The author explains the adults are in a meeting and asks where the customer was looking. Turns out the customer was looking under the letter 's' - and the author responds to this by suggesting that they try the 'alternative spelling', and goes to 'p' and finds the books for the customer. That impressed me - I suppose because I don't know many people who would respond this way. Most would tell the customer (with some satisfaction!) that her spelling was incorrect, and then mock her afterwards behind her back. But this girl responded as she did to allow the customer to save face, and as an adult she says she is glad she did this. (The cynical part of me wonders whether the story is true - I've never heard of libraries filing topics alphabetically! Surely everyone uses the Dewey Decimal System! But still, even if the story is invented - or remembered creatively - it is a good one, that makes a very important point, I think, in a society where people tend to revel in one-upmanship.)

As a whole, the book seemed rather haphazard - a haphazard set of memoirs, about the author's own journey through life. Although the book had moments where I warmed to the author, I don't feel inspired to read any more books by her.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Digh worries that we are not living our lives. This book is her attempt to share six ways of living intentionally: (1) With intensity by saying yes (2) with inclusion by being generous (3) with integrity by speaking up (4) with intimacy by loving more (5) with intuition by trusting yourself and (6) with intention by slowing down. Brilliant.

I read this again in December of 2017.

[Jess Michaels · Rating 4 out of 5]

My original reading was below. I bought in paperback and read slower, savored it more and I love it even more!!

I've been on this "happiness" "live a full life" kick, so I picked this book for our book club. I thought a lot of the advice was so great and fun (I was very excited about spatulas for weeks). But I read the thing all in a short period of time, so it also ended up being overwhelming. Bottom line, it's a good book, but buy it in paperback and savor rather than power through.

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Patti Digh, and appreciate the changes she's brought to my life.

I take this book to my own private luncheon at Golden Corral on Tuesdays, and leave feeling nourished on so many levels.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a long long time to finish this book but I enjoyed the wisdom very much each time I picked it up.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I needed a kick in the proverbial pants and this book landed in my hands - perhaps the book angels pushed it out, but sometimes a trip to the bookstore reveals just what you need. Realigning self and life are daunting tasks and often we forget where we have landed on the game board. I needed this book to remind me that I was responsible for my own life, my own joy, my own intentions. Patti Digh is good medicine and her sassy questions, suggestions, and methods for awakening art as life/life as art were a breath of fresh air. Periodically, I take this book down and open to a random page just for a tune-up. My father used to say that as you age, the grind of the world takes the edge off joy. He would remind me often not to lose the edge and that it would be harder to hone it - boy, I think of that useful nugget of advice often. Sometimes a new whetstone is just the ticket and this book helped me hone my blade and resist the carborundum of life's wear and tear. He used to smile and say, "Illegitimi non carborundum."

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

I am wary of any book that tells me I need to buy something -anything - to be happy. This book insisted that I needed to rent a red convertible. Okay.

Perhaps the suggestions discussed in this book brought the author bliss, but I'm not sure they apply to the rest of the world. I appreciate her effort, but this book just didn't speak to me at all. I also found that the sections were choppy and resembled random diary entries that hardly had flow.

[Kristine Raugust charette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh. The book had a great beginning and I liked the writing. I think I just got bored, but I gave 3 stars because the first half of the book stayed with me. I highlighted, made notes, wrote in the margins... Then I think my life was just too chaotic to really care about the freakin portfolio advice. I was done after that, but finished it just to make sure I didn't miss any nuggets that I couldn't live without.

[Heather · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have to say I like the idea of this book better than the actual book. Not to be petty but I didn't feel like it was that reflective, etc. I didn't feel like it took you deep enough if that makes any sense. I guess I am already "awake" and try to "live intentionally" so it did not give me any "A-has".

[Dawn · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was an entertaining read. There were really enlightening passages. My only criticism, sometimes the author's descriptions seemed materialistic instead of aiding the scene. Sometimes that was entertaining, but depending on the message accompanied with the passage it was distracting. Otherwise, I found I was able to relate to most of the passages and felt motivated.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring, colorful, and movement oriented. If you are a fan of The Artist’s Way, this is another dimension of that. Refreshing!

[John Bails · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book in 2009. I found it at the library. I pretty much read from beginning to end. It's probably intended more for women than men, but when it doesn't necessarily seem applicable, I just move on. I like her lively, personal, quirky style. She tries to give the reader applications. I bought this book as I thought it was one I should own and that I could mark up. I also bought Creative is a Verb because I like her bouncy writing. My daughter would like to write and I want her to read these books to give her encouragement and to provide a model. Digh's books have been serious, thought-provoking yet fun to read. They are easy to read but being easy doesn't make them simple. Much like Breathnach's and Cameron's, Lamott's books, her's are encouraging the reader to find his own style, and live the best life immaginable.

[Deb Cushman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it!

Fun, inspirational, encouraging, and uplifting.

Patti Digh’s personal stories provide metaphors for the actions she suggests you take at the end of each section. Not everyone will find something in every story that resonates, however those who follow through with the Action and Movement activities are sure to learn a little bit more about themselves.

Attitude is everything. Those who want to get something from this book will do so. Those who aren’t in a place where they are willing to take a look at their lives won’t get anything out of it (but may enjoy the stories nonetheless.)

I read it on my Kindle, where the pictures didn’t show up very well. I got a print copy from the library to look at the wonderful collages the author has added. If such things are important to you, you might want to purchase a hard copy (or do what I did and enjoy both!)

[Kelly McCloskey-Romero · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book, a section a day, all summer long. It is a beautiful reminder of all that is important in life - connecting with others, being a good and honest person, being creative, being true to oneself - all in an engaging, funny, practical format. I plan to return to it again and again, especially the exercises at the end of each short chapter. This book is truly a gem and I'm so glad that it was at the heart of my summer!

[Pat Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Best read a little at a time -- not one a day! Maybe one a week. Or maybe it takes longer for me to absorb and practice. A lot of great quotes and useful exercises because we all need more reminders to get out of our ego-heads.

[Marti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard this author speak at Franklin College in 2010, and I follow her blog.

I have gone through this book many times, and it's finally time for me to mark it as "read" on Good Reads.

This book is charming, fun and colorful. It is full of helpful ideas on living a healthy life.

[Mo · Rating 2 out of 5]

Random autobiographical stories by the author with "action" and "movement" activities at the end of each. I only got about 60-70 pages in before I quit reading this book and up to that point the majority of the "action" exercises were free-writing activities, mostly something along the lines of "write for 7 minutes about an apple, then read what you've written. Could you find your apple again out of a bunch? Now write for 3 minutes about something else about the apple or your experience with the apple". That's just not the type of writing prompt that does anything for me.
The movement exercises were mostly about dancing like a toddler, making eye contact with strangers, helping strangers, etc. The author actually talked a lot about being "like a toddler", which I think was inspired by the fact that she has a toddler. I don't have children and I don't particularly like toddlers, so these exercises were also lost on me.
If this sounds inspirational to you, then great! This book might speak to you! Unfortunately, for me this did nothing so I will move on and try to find something inspirational to me.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a fabulous book to read as my first of 2022. Digh's beautiful offering is perfect at any time of the year but particularly pertinent as I look forward to a fresh start and a clean slate on the first day of January.

This book is a love letter to life. Digh's storytelling is superb, her examples lovely and relatable, and the exercises she offers are both practical and approachable. In a world that's becoming increasingly more divided, with the focus on hustle, productivity, and proving our worth, Digh reminds us that the things we think matter so much really don't. Instead, she brings the focus back to what will make a difference when we reach the end of our days on this planet: the relationships we form with others and with ourselves.

Another reviewer called it "a happiness companion," and I couldn't agree more. It's a lovely, inspiring, heartfelt collection of essays that should be required reading for anyone wanting to live a more intentional life.

[Cat Rayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Life is a Verb is a beautiful book, full of inspirational quotes, quirky art and several personal stories by the author. The premise of Patti Digh was formed by a person she knew who was diagnosed with cancer and passed away 37 days later. Her consideration, along with all of us, is we do not know when we are in our Day 38 as it were, and should live our lives fully, and mindfully.

The book is designed beautifully, and it will make you think. The exercises are fun, and prompt you to experience life day by day. It was read over a duration of a few months, not in a 37-day timeframe, but still offered important “life lessons” that are good reminders.

The companion stories were good, but not being a mother, nor a woman with much maternal instinct, they seemed like the voice was for someone else, someone more like the author, not a general work for everyone

[Guida Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve owned this book for years, and I’m now on a quest to write a curriculum to help others live their best lives. This book is a great guide to doing that.

I didn’t do the exercises as outlined, one each day, and I was a little disappointed that they focused so much on one activity — journaling. Still, the concepts of the book and how it’s laid out are perfect for anyone who really wants to live life to the fullest.

I’m a bit surprised by some of the negative reviews: that it reads like a diary, for example. Yeah, because it’s broken into THIRTY SEVEN DAYS. That seems pretty obvious from the cover.

As self-help books go, I enjoyed it and would highly recommend it.

[Carol Tardiff · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're interested in taking a little journey inward and getting some cool ideas on how to expand and grow get this book. Be prepared to, at the very least, be wholly entertained by Patti's short stories, drawn from her own experiences. Patti's sense of humor, acquired wisdom and creative outlook on life draw you in, sometimes shake you up but most of all, make you want to jump up and grab your own lovely life by the horns. There are exercises at the end of each chapter... do them or don't... it's still very much worth the read. Bonus: sprinkled throughout the book are awesome little quotes that you will want to copy and paste all over your walls!

[Samaya · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are a lot of quotes sprinkled throughout the book with random placement. They became annoying and distracting because they are sometimes right in the middle of a paragraph of a particular story - not at the beginning or end. (The book has many short stories used to illustrate a point. Sometimes I wasn't completely certain of the exact point).

The book was written with stories and then assignments to complete after each of them like a workbook. After stopping to do a few assignments, I just wanted to read the book through once and then perhaps return to the assignments. However, doing so would be tedious due to the books arrangement. I could have wished for the assignments and 37 day challenges to be given in an appendix for easy reference. I'm not likely to go back and dig through the book page by page.

My personal bottom line: The book had some great morsels and started off well. But after a time, it was difficult to hold my interest and I found it tedious. I finished the book anyway but most of what I got out of it was in the first third to half of it.

[Debbie Hughes · Rating 5 out of 5]

5!!!
Yes I spent a while reading this huge fantastic packed full of inspiration book! I have had it a while and finally taking the time to really read every page and make notes. I have a copy to 2 friends and we are sharing our favorite “chapter” and then doing the homework.
Thank you Patti. I have also bought another of your books “Creative Is A Verb”
Go out there and buy them before they are out of print!
Enjoy! Like Patti said “Wake Up. Be Mindful. Live intentionally.
Oh and there are some really funny stories scattered through out.

[Mimi Mindful · Rating 5 out of 5]

read this book many years ago and I still keep coming back to it for its truth and wisdom.

The book asks you:

🦋 What would you be doing if you only had 37 days to live?

Patti's stepfather died 37 days after being diagnosed and it made her examine her own life and how to best live it.

The beauty is that you do not need to travel the world or quit your job but simply live each single day with more intention.

[Kerri · Rating 2 out of 5]

I actually didn't finish this book, it wasn't for me. I read it out of curiosity on recommendation and I think I couldn't fully appreciate it because it's not where I am in life right now.
I agree with Gail's comments completely.
However, it is in a great format that I think all self-help books should follow- easy to hold and lots of space in the margins to write notes.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

A friend recommended this to me saying that the exercises were fun and a great inspiration for writing (I've been in a writing rut for a while).

This book is beautiful, and I'm sure it can be really helpful to someone with more time or who just clicks with the book more than I did.

The book is fine, just not quite for me and where I'm at right now.

[Ross · Rating 5 out of 5]

This the book we invited our learners to read this month for Community of Learning. I really enjoyed the narrative, prompts to reflect, and encouraging acts for the next 37 days. There are too many gems to name and the text could be used as writing prompts for middle and high school students. Powerful!