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Words from the Window Seat: The Everyday Magic of Kindness, Courage, and Being Your True Self
Flight attendant Taylor Tippett had just finished beverage service and was sitting in the back of a Boeing 737 when she had a How can I show kindness to these passengers if I can't show it to myself? She grabbed a tiny notepad and a Sharpie and wrote a simple message that would change her "Be kind to yourself." Before she had time to think about it, Taylor taped the note to a window, posted a picture, and then left the slip of paper in a seat-back pocket for someone on the next flight to find. What started as a personal project to encourage herself and others soon became a viral sensation. In Words from the Window Seat , Taylor shares stories of her travels, daily life, and interactions with people of all kinds, anchoring each chapter around a note she's left for a stranger to find. As she takes you from Chicago to Paris to Barcelona on planes, trains, and even a skateboard, you' With charm, inspiration, and plenty of whimsy, Taylor reminds us that even in a weary world, it's possible to celebrate the beauty in each person's unique story--and make an impact that goes deeper than you'll ever know. Praise for Words from the Window Seat : "These pages will empower you to explore the many opportunities we have each day to encounter light and share love with others while traveling. Whether traveling by air or traveling through life. This book is an encouragement to be present in the everyday, no matter what comes your way." --Morgan Harper Nichols, bestselling author of All Along You Were Blooming
224 pages, Paperback
Published October 12, 2021
21 people are currently reading
4617 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 111 reviews
December 8, 2023
all I want to know is how do I get a signed copy?
September 6, 2021
This book feels like a beautiful conversation with a life long friend<3. It has joy and sadness and it is so vulnerable and honest in the best ways. I felt so connected to taylor while reading this book. The way she communicates her stories and ideas are welcoming for anyone in any walk of life. I was glued to the pages hearing about her travels and the people she’s met along the way. The stories all hold beautiful life lessons that we can all relate to and if you’re like me, need to hear! Taylor is one of the most sweet and kind hearted people I’ve ever met. In this book she helps you remember those magical moments that pass you by day in and day out in hopes to bring true joy back to the center of your life.
November 4, 2021
if you like @bobgoff (of Love Does fame) or @morganharpernichols or love scrolling pinterest for inspiring quotes or feel a desire to explore deep in your bones or you dream of big and beautiful things in this wild, wonderful world, you will love this book. taylor describes herself as a wildflower and a travelin’ lady, and her presence on the internet (and in the world) feels like a bright light and a breath of fresh air. truly, she’s a gem and this book featuring her words from the window seat (aka little love notes taped to airplane windows) and the stories behind them is lovely.
(if i had read this in my early 20s, i would have been truly OBSESSED. it did feel a little simplistic/young to me at times, but it’s perf for a younger audience.)
(if i had read this in my early 20s, i would have been truly OBSESSED. it did feel a little simplistic/young to me at times, but it’s perf for a younger audience.)
November 5, 2021
felt like i was talking to a great friend. so sweet 🤍
July 9, 2022
Uplifting and easy to blast through in a few hours. Taylor radiates joy and warmth and this book is a stroll down memory lane of her Instagram, which I’ve followed for years. Feels like getting a cup of coffee with a friend and talking about her life, struggles, lessons, etc. The writing is a little too simplistic, bumper sticker-y, and sometimes repetitive but the themes of the book should be drilled into every human. Be kind, be patient, be brave, love yourself and love others.
August 19, 2022
This was such a sweet read. Taylor is so encouraging and makes me feel less alone on this crazy journey that is being human. Throughout reading it felt like i was talking with a good friend. She is such a beautiful light and has inspired me to show kindness and Love to those around me and to look deeper at myself and my relationship with God.
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January 4, 2024I feel as if I cannot put something of numeric value like a star to someone’s life work and personal story, but I will say that I found comfort and enjoyment in Taylor’s words! She is a treasure!
December 20, 2021
when i was 20 years old @taylortippett was all i ever wanted to be. i had just broken up with my first boyfriend and could barely get enough courage to get out of my bed. i was lost and i would cry and cling to every post @taylortippett would write. i wanted to live in chicago, travel the world, and have an influence through being embodied love for other’s. she was vulnerable in way i could only dream of. i was clicks away from being a flight attendant and dropping out of college (classic enneagram 7 thing). then i found a reason to stay, and i found beauty right where i was at. i became a teacher at my dream school @cinciwaldorf and married my sweetest treasure @mike.hammond1. but mostly i got therapy 😭
reading @wordsfromthewindowseat was like reading it over my most wounded version of myself. i’ve come so far. i’m not her anymore. i’m not chasing someone else dreams anymore. i’m learning my reality has a beauty of its own. thank you Taylor Tippet for getting me out of bed during 2018 and getting me to say “me too” until i believed in myself.
it wasn’t a groundbreaking book for me now. but i thanked every word for the version of me that would have clinged to it!
reading @wordsfromthewindowseat was like reading it over my most wounded version of myself. i’ve come so far. i’m not her anymore. i’m not chasing someone else dreams anymore. i’m learning my reality has a beauty of its own. thank you Taylor Tippet for getting me out of bed during 2018 and getting me to say “me too” until i believed in myself.
it wasn’t a groundbreaking book for me now. but i thanked every word for the version of me that would have clinged to it!
June 4, 2023
kindness is love with work boots on!
November 10, 2021
Thank you for the tears, Taylor. 🤍
December 20, 2021
this book was exactly what i needed with where i’m at in life right now. it felt just like getting coffee with a close friend. taylor’s writing has always spoken to me through her instagram captions, and to have a full collection of her stories was such a gift. i am grateful for her vulnerability, courage, and light. i am grateful to have looked up to her for so long. this book touched my heart deeply. i told my friend before reading it, “this is going to be a forever favorite.” and it certainly is. ❤️
February 9, 2022
I’ve followed Taylor on social media for a lot of years. Like, since 2015. She has always felt like someone special and I can’t exactly explain it, but I always felt connected to her somehow. She has warmth even through a screen. This book was a beautiful insight to her life that made me smile and also left me in tears. I applaud her vulnerability. Taylor if you’re reading this, thank you. You are impacting so many people. Sending you all of my love. If you are struggling and looking for some hope, read this book and you might just find some.
October 17, 2021
wanna be bffs with taylor irl.
October 27, 2021
It was almost exactly four months ago that I found myself sitting on an airplane preparing for a rare flight for me, a highly anticipated trip out to Seattle where I'd been asked to officiate my goddaughter's wedding.
I don't fly often. I'm a paraplegic/double amputee with spina bifida who is single, lives along with no family around, and who has never really enjoyed the cumbersome act of arranging accessibility for extended trips and flights. While I have similarly disabled peers who regularly rise to the challenge, for me the challenges have always outweighed the benefits and I'm fairly content to travel my way around the Midwest.
But hey, for my goddaughter? Anything.
On this particular flight, I experienced a first. I was approached my a very proactive, compassionate flight attended who had a several minute conversation about my safety needs for the flight including everything from accessibility to restroom to what she would do in case of an emergency (which essentially involved grabbing me around my shoulders and dragging my way heavier than hers body to the best of her ability).
Essentially, she did everything in her ability to make sure I would be safe.
I'd never experienced this and it profoundly impacted my flight and my trip. It would be enhanced by the fact that I exited the plane upon arrival in Seattle realizing my transportation plans to my hotel had fallen apart - this same flight attendant, along with a couple others, made sure I got where I needed to go. It was WAY above and beyond.
So, as I opened the pages of Taylor Tippett's "Words From the Window Seat: The Everyday Magic of Kindness, Courage, and Being Your True Self," I was already in a place of gratitude for this recent flight experience as yet the latest in my long life of giving and receiving kindness to the best of my ability.
"Kindness Devotee" is even on my social media pages.
Taylor Tippett, who also has one of my favorite names ever, is known as "The Travelin' Lady," a Chicago-based flight attendant who seemingly on a whim started a simple yet meaningful kindness journey of her own and who spends many of her travels exploring the beauty of the world and the people who live in it.
Tippett sees beauty. Tippett creates beauty. Tippett plants the seeds for beauty and seems to practically giggle with delight when those seeds grow.
"Words from the Window Seat" is filled with Tippett's infectious spirit from beginning to end. It's an unusual reading experience in some ways, a sort of grounded yet whimsical journey through Tippett's own life experiences and her own lessons in the everyday magic of kindness, her own discovery of personal courage, and her own journey toward being true to herself. "Words from the Window Seat" finds its foundation in Tippett's practice of leaving random notes on airplane windows yet finds its true vibrancy in expanding around this meaningful practice by exploring how this practice has helped Tippett turn it into life-changing practices for her own journey.
For those aware of Tippett, and I admittedly was not prior to my being provided the opportunity to review her book in advance of its release, you're aware that her travels have become a successful blog and a presence as a trusted voice for travels and travel experiences with a variety of corporate and organizational partners.
I mean, seriously. Who wouldn't want to work with this infectious spirit? I found myself thinking she'd have been a most delightful Tenderness Tour companion (NOTE: If you don't know my history, I've spent 30 years of my life as an activist in the area of violence prevention and have traveled over 6,000 miles by wheelchair thanks to having a seriously devoted network of friends, peers, volunteers, and confidantes).
Tippett writes with fierce optimism yet authenticity. She writes, it should be noted, from a place of faith yet also writes a book that will appeal to those who don't necessarily come from a place of faith. She shares deep wounds and seriously acknowledges their impact, yet she marvels at simple points of healing and the wonder of finding true love after a series of heartaches. Better than most writers I've experienced, Tippett creates a vibrant, honest relationship with the reader while also celebrating our universal connections.
"Words from the Window Seat" wraps up its pages as the pandemic itself was arriving and Tippett's own life was impacted in very direct ways. It's a richly human way of ending a book that peacefully co-exists somewhere between being a practical fairytale and also being refreshingly, at times painfully, human. "Words from the Window Seat" is filled with joy, yet not the artificial joy so often found in literature but the joy birthed out of life lessons learned and a journey through joys and sorrows embraced.
A quick yet meaningful and heartfelt read, Taylor Tippett's "Words from the Window Seat" is like sitting down with a trusted friend and processing life and love and fear and doubt and wonder and ending the hours-long conversation realizing that amidst life is absolutely amazing.
I don't fly often. I'm a paraplegic/double amputee with spina bifida who is single, lives along with no family around, and who has never really enjoyed the cumbersome act of arranging accessibility for extended trips and flights. While I have similarly disabled peers who regularly rise to the challenge, for me the challenges have always outweighed the benefits and I'm fairly content to travel my way around the Midwest.
But hey, for my goddaughter? Anything.
On this particular flight, I experienced a first. I was approached my a very proactive, compassionate flight attended who had a several minute conversation about my safety needs for the flight including everything from accessibility to restroom to what she would do in case of an emergency (which essentially involved grabbing me around my shoulders and dragging my way heavier than hers body to the best of her ability).
Essentially, she did everything in her ability to make sure I would be safe.
I'd never experienced this and it profoundly impacted my flight and my trip. It would be enhanced by the fact that I exited the plane upon arrival in Seattle realizing my transportation plans to my hotel had fallen apart - this same flight attendant, along with a couple others, made sure I got where I needed to go. It was WAY above and beyond.
So, as I opened the pages of Taylor Tippett's "Words From the Window Seat: The Everyday Magic of Kindness, Courage, and Being Your True Self," I was already in a place of gratitude for this recent flight experience as yet the latest in my long life of giving and receiving kindness to the best of my ability.
"Kindness Devotee" is even on my social media pages.
Taylor Tippett, who also has one of my favorite names ever, is known as "The Travelin' Lady," a Chicago-based flight attendant who seemingly on a whim started a simple yet meaningful kindness journey of her own and who spends many of her travels exploring the beauty of the world and the people who live in it.
Tippett sees beauty. Tippett creates beauty. Tippett plants the seeds for beauty and seems to practically giggle with delight when those seeds grow.
"Words from the Window Seat" is filled with Tippett's infectious spirit from beginning to end. It's an unusual reading experience in some ways, a sort of grounded yet whimsical journey through Tippett's own life experiences and her own lessons in the everyday magic of kindness, her own discovery of personal courage, and her own journey toward being true to herself. "Words from the Window Seat" finds its foundation in Tippett's practice of leaving random notes on airplane windows yet finds its true vibrancy in expanding around this meaningful practice by exploring how this practice has helped Tippett turn it into life-changing practices for her own journey.
For those aware of Tippett, and I admittedly was not prior to my being provided the opportunity to review her book in advance of its release, you're aware that her travels have become a successful blog and a presence as a trusted voice for travels and travel experiences with a variety of corporate and organizational partners.
I mean, seriously. Who wouldn't want to work with this infectious spirit? I found myself thinking she'd have been a most delightful Tenderness Tour companion (NOTE: If you don't know my history, I've spent 30 years of my life as an activist in the area of violence prevention and have traveled over 6,000 miles by wheelchair thanks to having a seriously devoted network of friends, peers, volunteers, and confidantes).
Tippett writes with fierce optimism yet authenticity. She writes, it should be noted, from a place of faith yet also writes a book that will appeal to those who don't necessarily come from a place of faith. She shares deep wounds and seriously acknowledges their impact, yet she marvels at simple points of healing and the wonder of finding true love after a series of heartaches. Better than most writers I've experienced, Tippett creates a vibrant, honest relationship with the reader while also celebrating our universal connections.
"Words from the Window Seat" wraps up its pages as the pandemic itself was arriving and Tippett's own life was impacted in very direct ways. It's a richly human way of ending a book that peacefully co-exists somewhere between being a practical fairytale and also being refreshingly, at times painfully, human. "Words from the Window Seat" is filled with joy, yet not the artificial joy so often found in literature but the joy birthed out of life lessons learned and a journey through joys and sorrows embraced.
A quick yet meaningful and heartfelt read, Taylor Tippett's "Words from the Window Seat" is like sitting down with a trusted friend and processing life and love and fear and doubt and wonder and ending the hours-long conversation realizing that amidst life is absolutely amazing.
December 12, 2021
Honestly, I didn’t do a lot of research before choosing to read this book; the title and the upbeat cover image attracted me as I was scrolling through a Goodreads book giveaway… and no, once again, I didn’t win the giveaway. ☹ Taylor Tippett shares her vibrant emotional world with the reader and some of her life lessons as an airline stewardess; the story reads as a cross between a memoir and a motivational talk. While the book is not overtly preachy, the author unabashedly shares her Christian faith and the hope and joy her faith provides as she narrates flashes from her life story and shares motivational ideas from the highs and lows of her life. I commend the author on her courage and honesty in sharing some difficult aspects of her life story and for the lessons she shares about the importance of kindness, honesty, and perseverance. Young women today may benefit by the words of hope and encouragement her book provides. It is particularly gratifying to see that she just married the man she speaks so highly of—way to go, girl! 😊
January 4, 2022
I loved this book!! I am a flight attendant and got this book as a gift. I actually hadn’t heard of it- so I went in blind. This book is relatable for flight attendants as well as regular people- it’s good for anyone. I myself am an atheist, the author is a proud believer. That being said- it didn’t bother me in the slightest. It wasn’t shoved down my throat or in my face in a way that made me feel uncomfortable. It was more of a I love this if you do too cool if not that’s ok too.
I also suffer from anxiety and lately it’s been out of control- this book honestly was exactly what I needed. I would re read it and have already recommended it to friends and colleagues. Thanks for writing such a real and raw book. 10/10 recommend!
I also suffer from anxiety and lately it’s been out of control- this book honestly was exactly what I needed. I would re read it and have already recommended it to friends and colleagues. Thanks for writing such a real and raw book. 10/10 recommend!
December 8, 2024
The author seems like a nice gal but the book was not my taste. I was searching for an inspiring book to give to my yoga teacher who likes to share quotations and stories from her reading. It came up in a search and I liked the kindness tagline and Goodreads rating so I checked it out to evaluate. My first thoughts were that it was a boring, surface level memoir. I realized as I read, she must be a social media influencer and her fans are who this book is intended for - which I confirmed with a quick search. I have no desire to yuck anyone else’s yum. But for me this book felt immature and shallow. Though I’m sure the author is a lovely person and her current fans might enjoy it, to get to know her better. There are also religious themes.
October 5, 2021
This gal. Taylor has always had a way of making a reader feel like you're part of her inner circle - her transparency invites you in as she tells stories about the big time joys and on the floor, can't-get-up-because-life-is-heavy sorts of challenges. This book feels like you're listening to your best friend with a glass of wine on the couch. To see her reflections create depth and conversation on Instagram and now in a full length book is a treat.
Taylor's words about everyday life, her interactions with strangers and age-old friends: that's the gold here. I was left wanting to sit down over coffee and ask one million more questions about her life and what she's learned from it - but maybe we'll get that treat in even another book :)
Go get this book. It's special.
Taylor's words about everyday life, her interactions with strangers and age-old friends: that's the gold here. I was left wanting to sit down over coffee and ask one million more questions about her life and what she's learned from it - but maybe we'll get that treat in even another book :)
Go get this book. It's special.
January 7, 2023
A really quick and easy read. It was a little corny, but light and uplifting. I have some questions about the Jesus she knows, but if I ever had the chance, I’d express my curiosity about many parts of her life and listen to her explain things in detail. Taylor Tippett is someone I’d really want to get to know.
March 3, 2022
I swear she’s my soul sister. Love her words.
May 24, 2023
strawberry sweet little memoir. a satisfying mix of simple life lessons & personal stories.
August 8, 2023
I listened to this book and ending up buying it so I can read it again. Super short listen (~4hrs). It just felt like a positive reminder to be yourself and live life with abandon.
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January 24, 2024always been a big fan of Taylor!! An easy, light read but still inspires a bit of self-effectiveness.
January 19, 2022
Taylor is a beautiful person, and great storyteller. Her honesty and beauty shines through this book. She balances the heavy and light and looks for the redemptive value even in the struggle. It was a privilege to read about her travels, but also to learn about her and the journey of growth she has traversed. It is so evident her desire to spread light and hope, which is so needed. I love the way she ends the book, “Our words are so important. Let’s not forget it.”
January 17, 2022
Found this book in the gift shop at the Orlando airport after my already cancelled [and then] rescheduled flight got delayed again. Started at a table of one over a glass of wine and finished in a window seat. This book was at the right place at the right time…. I needed every word of it.
January 17, 2022
Awesome lessons from a young flight attendant
June 14, 2022
This book warmed my soul!! It reminded me of all the simple joys of life and overall was just a great read!!
November 17, 2021
4.5 rounded down to 4.
This is an excellent book for anyone going through a tough time or really feeling lost in the world. It focuses on the finding true happiness through Jesus. I will say that this book felt a little preachy so if that is not your vibe, I would skip this one! I am not very familiar with Tippett's online presence but I did enjoy the tidbits she had to share.
This is an excellent book for anyone going through a tough time or really feeling lost in the world. It focuses on the finding true happiness through Jesus. I will say that this book felt a little preachy so if that is not your vibe, I would skip this one! I am not very familiar with Tippett's online presence but I did enjoy the tidbits she had to share.
January 8, 2022
my soul needed this book of stories. thank you Taylor . :) 🤍
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