The Peace Project: A 30-Day Experiment Practicing Thankfulness, Kindness, and Mercy

by Kay Wills Wyma, Ron Hall (Foreword)

Does life have you feeling unsettled, overlooked, anxious, exhausted? Good news! There's a better way.

Enter The Peace Project with its short, digestible chapters full of practical application. This thirty-day experiment invites you to experience lasting personal peace through the outward practices of thankfulness, kindness, and mercy. In these hopeful pages, Kay Wills Wyma takes us along on a journey to see others--as well as ourselves--not as objects or obstacles but as people of great worth. People who matter.

The result? Transformation--for you and those around you. Experiencing the endless depths of God's peace where you can actually, finally, somehow breathe. Welcome to the less-than-perfect, sometimes hilarious, consistently magical journey of practicing thankfulness, kindness, and mercy with Kay, her kids, and some brave friends.


"Kay Wyma is a funny, honest, and encouraging guide who will walk with you toward more peace in your life one day, one step at a time."-- Holley Gerth , bestselling author of The Powerful Purpose of Introverts

"Ultimately, everyone wants to be seen, to be valued, to feel like they matter. We can do that. Kay's Peace Project invites readers to see and value people through a challenge to practice thankfulness, kindness, and mercy each day for thirty days."-- Leon Logothetis , global adventurer, author, and TV host of Netflix's The Kindness Diaries

"Kay shares her family's journey so openly and generously and welcomes you to the table. Grab a cup of tea or coffee and settle in as she invites you into her world in The Peace Project ."-- Melissa d'Arabian , Food Network Star, New York Times bestselling author of Ten Dollar Dinners and Tasting Grace

"When you change your gaze, when you choose to respond to life redemptively, your brain changes, your heart changes, and the world around you heals a little. Our world needs this message."-- Susie Larson , talk radio host, national speaker, and author of Fully Alive

"From carpool with her kids to surly people at the store, Kay shares the exasperated thoughts we all have and offers hope and helpful solutions for seeing the world through a more positive lens. Want to soothe your soul? Try The Peace Project and get ready to chill out."-- Melanie Dale , author of Calm the H*ck Down

"Unfortunately, I can't force others to be less rude. But thanks to Kay, I'm better equipped to control my response and find peace in any circumstance."-- Heather MacFadyen , host and author of the Don't Mom Alone podcast and book

Genres: Nonfiction, Christian

224 pages, Paperback

First published May 18, 2021

About the author

Kay Wills Wyma has five kids, ages four to fourteen, and one SUV with a lot of carpool miles. Before she transitioned to stay-at-home mom, she earned an MBA, worked at the White House, and dabbled in international finance. Happily married to Jon, this self-described recovering enabler is committed to equipping the next generation to achieve great things in the future by piling on the responsibility today.

from http://www.randomhouse.com/book/21699...

Reviews

[Jenny · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really loved the idea of this book initially, but it ended up not at all being what I was expecting - and I'm really sad about it! This book is described as a 30-day experiment, so I assumed that it would give much more structure - and be something that I could work at over a 30-day period, but in reality, this is just the account of one woman and her family taking on this challenge themselves. Kay shares her reflections and experiences, but I found that these got somewhat repetitive, and didn't encourage me to get involved at all, particularly as they never really explained exactly what they were doing - other than just vaguely focusing on being more kind, merciful and forgiving. I liked that Kay involved her children, but even this got repetitive and became less and less relatable to someone who doesn't have kids, as so many of the reflections were heavily about them. Overall, I just really wish this had more structure, maybe more contributors, and actually mentioned the Bible - or at least looked more at what the Bible says about the things they were focusing on.

Thanks to NetGalley and Revell for letting me read this book.

[Rachel Mason · Rating 3 out of 5]

The peace project is an uplifting feel good book about the power of Gratitude, Mercy and Kindness. Incorporating these 3 things into our life can bring a mindset change and peace to our souls. I was a bit misled about the description of the book. I believed it to be a day by day goal/list if things to do for the reader. But instead it read more like a journal of the individuals that took part in the peace project. Still a good read. Just not what I thought it was.
I received a free copy of the Peace project from Netgally in exchange for an honest review.

[Deena Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good motivator to pay more attention to being thankful, kind, and to extend mercy to others. I thought it was going to be more specific with ideas I could implement each day, like challenges or something, but that wasn't the case. Overall a helpful and encouraging read.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Peace Project
A 30-Day Experiment Practicing Thankfulness, Kindness, and Mercy
By Kay Wills Wyma
5 stars
What a wonderful book. Kay Will Wyma, her family and friends go on a 30-day journey seeking peace, thankfulness and mercy. I read the book in about 10 days instead of the 30 it is set up to be read as, but I still found myself offering more grace and choosing to be thankful in all things. I do believe this will be a book I will re-read as life gets in the way and I forget to be kind all the time.
Wyma has shown in this book how easy it is to turn everyday annoyances into a chance to offer grace to ourselves and others. I very highly recommend this book. The Peace Project would make for an excellent Bible study!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and Netgalley.

[Lori · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was so excited when I won this book (#Goodreads Giveaway) as I’m trying to focus more on practicing mercy daily.

My expectation was this would be a prescriptive book based on the “chapter” headings of Day One, Day Two, etc. with each Day building upon the lesson prior. However, this is not the case. The book lacks direction and guidance on how to actually practice and receive mercy.

It is a book about the journey into the author’s chaotic daily life and that of her enlisted children and how they are applying mercy. I learned more about carpooling and laundromats than I did about tools/lessons for practicing kindness and mercy.

I am appreciative of receiving a copy of this book. I will be sharing it via the Little Free Library up the street in the hopes it speaks to someone else differently.

[Bogens Liv · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first, I would like to thank Netgalley and Revell for allowing me to review this book. Keep in mind that my review, however, is my true opinion on this book.

"The Peace Project - A 30-Day Experiment Practicing Thankfulness, Kindness, and Mercy" by Kay Wills Wyma is a book just like you would imagine, about peace.

This is an easy read. The book is short, a quick read, and in a nice setup. This goes for the chapters, the sentences, and the book in general.

This book will lift you up. It will make you feel calm. It might even change your mindset and your view on life for the better.

I love the concept of this book. We all need to get better at staying calm, relaxed, and in peace.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love how Kay Wills Wyma invites readers into her family as she takes on life changes with them and implements them to be lifelong. The Peace Project has the Wyma family tackling being kinder to others and shares their stories along the way. As in her earlier books, I feel challenged to be more patient to those around me, show them mercy and find kindness along the way. It's a great reminder that we don't know what others are facing in their lives and we may bring them kindness along the way.
I received The Peace Project complimentary from NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.

[Brandi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was looking forward to this book and practical steps and ideas for practice kindness and mercy and work towards peace. I went in thinking it was going to be 30 things to practice broken down for 30 days but it’s not. It’s a book of stories of people who took a 30 day challenge. I liked that it told their stories in actual life instead of things I couldn’t relate to but still would have loved tips or an action item to take into life. I received this book from revel and NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Mhughessc · Rating 3 out of 5]

"The Peace Project", by Kay Wills Wyma, is a 30-day challenge to its readers. Wyma encourages her readers to grow their gratitude by showing kindness and mercy to others. Sharing personal anecdotes, inspiring quotes, and verses from Scripture, Wyma shows the positive benefits of this type of lifestyle. I enjoyed reading about the ways that Wyma's family and friends took on this challenge, and I was inspired to do the same.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[Kidron Tirey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wyma shares personal anecdotes of her family life in a way that fuses hope with tangible perspective. At every turn, she invites her reader to journey with her across the plights of life that call for joy, patience, mercy, selflessness and so much more. Additionally, she intersperses quotes from notable figures and authors that layer truth upon grander truth. As a Christian resource, I would have liked to see a greater emphasis on scripture that might have further enriched this book.

[Sherain · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a beautiful book. The premise is about an American carpool mom and her daily discussions and experiences with her kids and friends as they take on a 30 day challenge around gratitude, kindness and mercy (forgiveness and compassion). There were many helpful ideas here that have changed or reinforced some of my earlier thinking on the subject. If you want to bring more peace to your life, this book definitely shows an effective way.

[Christy Evans · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is supposed to be a 30 day experience looking to practice thankfulness, kindness, and mercy. I extended mercy by giving the book a 3 instead of a 2 or even a 1. I really thought this book was going to be more about helping the reader participate it a 30 Day peace project, but it ended up being a repetitive rendition of one woman’s experience with her friends. It comes across as privileged and a little sanctimonious.

[Joni Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many tears while reading this book. Not that it’s a sad book on the contrary it was exactly what my soul needed. My kids and I will definitely be implementing these into our lives. Seriously a moving and relatable book.

[Ashley · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to love this as it focused on kindness, gratitude, and mercy. It was less of a helpful how-to make mindful changes to focus more on those and more of the author’s journey through her thirty days of focusing on them.

[Rachael Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a timely and timeless message! This book is practical and relatable. I appreciate Kay’s authenticity and biblical wisdom. This book will not only affect you but also the world around you!

[L E · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a sucker for a monthly challenge book. Kindness, gratitude and mercy are the objects of growth and living a better life in this one. Thank you to the publisher, author and Goodreads for the free copy.

[Sally Andrews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thought-provoking. Heartwarming. Convicting. We should all work to realize what we’re thankful for, see the kindnesses we can do for others while recognizing those done for us, and toughest of all —- show mercy when it’s hard to do.

[Destiny Wiley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book really helped me stay grounded and grow mentally as a person. I enjoyed pushing myself to be more thankful and reading the examples really showed me that there's more to life than what is shown.

[Kat Armstrong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a perfect small group read. Grab your friends and enjoy Kay's humor. You'll be smiling and laughing with her as she tells hilarious and heart-warming stories and you'll likely feel the way I did when I finished: encouraged. This book was real good!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. A great Christian devotional. Highly recommend