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Dear One - Volume One: 100 Days of Encouragement for the Hopeful and Weary
Too often, we accept the weight of harmful narratives that make us feel unworthy, unwelcome, or unloved. In Dear One, writer and autistic mental health advocate Kimberly Vanderhorst offers gentle encouragement to those who are too many kinds of weary, who yearn to answer her invitation to “lay down your weary head” and “rest if you can.”
With insights shared as brief quotes and poems, the book is designed to demand little of its readers, but hopefully give more than they knew how to hope for.
rest here with me for a time
let me tell you all the truths
outside your knowing
let me tell you of all the storied heights
below you—of all you’ve already become
With insights shared as brief quotes and poems, the book is designed to demand little of its readers, but hopefully give more than they knew how to hope for.
rest here with me for a time
let me tell you all the truths
outside your knowing
let me tell you of all the storied heights
below you—of all you’ve already become
- GenresNonfiction
119 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 12, 2021
1 person is currently reading
558 people want to read
About the author
Kimberly Vanderhorst
2 books152 followersKimberly Vanderhorst grew up sandwiched between the mountains and the sea of British Columbia, Canada. She now lives in the interior of the province where--between the weather and the wildlife--it often feels like the outdoors is trying to kill her.
Thankfully she has plenty of distractions in the form of four fierce and lovely daughters, a delightfully silly husband, and more stories in her head than can possibly be told in a single lifetime.
As a late diagnosed autistic woman, she's passionate about writing stories that feature neurodivergent characters, and sharing messages that remind or reveal just how incredible human beings in general have it in them to be.
She has had some of her advocacy work published in Salt and Sage Books's How to Write Autistic Characters: An Incomplete Guide, and Writing Fat Positivity: An Incomplete Guide. You can (too often) find her on Twitter (@Kymburleev), Instagram (@kymburleevan), or pretending she knows how to use TikTok (@kymburleev).
Thankfully she has plenty of distractions in the form of four fierce and lovely daughters, a delightfully silly husband, and more stories in her head than can possibly be told in a single lifetime.
As a late diagnosed autistic woman, she's passionate about writing stories that feature neurodivergent characters, and sharing messages that remind or reveal just how incredible human beings in general have it in them to be.
She has had some of her advocacy work published in Salt and Sage Books's How to Write Autistic Characters: An Incomplete Guide, and Writing Fat Positivity: An Incomplete Guide. You can (too often) find her on Twitter (@Kymburleev), Instagram (@kymburleevan), or pretending she knows how to use TikTok (@kymburleev).
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 27, 2021
Just in time for Thanksgiving *and* my mid-life crisis!
I love this book. It is full of poetically beautiful thoughts that will lift you up. You can read it quickly all at once, but you can also use it like a calendar and read one or two per day, meditating and thinking about each little message. That's what I'm planning to do next now that I've read the whole thing. I need more positive affirmations and mantras in my life.
I love this book. It is full of poetically beautiful thoughts that will lift you up. You can read it quickly all at once, but you can also use it like a calendar and read one or two per day, meditating and thinking about each little message. That's what I'm planning to do next now that I've read the whole thing. I need more positive affirmations and mantras in my life.
September 23, 2022
I received this book as a gift, and what a thoughtful gesture that was. I think the point was to savor each sentiment day by day, but of course I binged the whole thing in single setting. It's such a lovely book, filled with beautiful words of inspiration suitable for any soul, no matter how weary. What a wonderful mind the author has. Five well-earned stars.
October 29, 2021
Being a 70-year-old Christian woman, I might have a different point of view regarding this book. This book is fraught with lyrical, contemplative, and exquisite messages of mercifulness, strength, and self-acceptance.
And it's through these 100 messages, one day at a time, that I believe the author Kimberly Vanderhorst desires to give her readers gentle reassurances devoid of any negativity individuals tend to inflict on themselves. If one closes their eyes after reading each day's message, the repeated phraseology she uses of "Dear One" at the beginning is reminiscent of a mother giving her child advice. The same kind of advice my mother gave me as I was growing up.
Given this, I'm happy to give Ms. Vanderhorst the 5 STARS she’s garnered from this rather voracious reviewer of nonfiction Christian books.
I read this book via an Amazon KU [KINDLE Unlimited] download.
And it's through these 100 messages, one day at a time, that I believe the author Kimberly Vanderhorst desires to give her readers gentle reassurances devoid of any negativity individuals tend to inflict on themselves. If one closes their eyes after reading each day's message, the repeated phraseology she uses of "Dear One" at the beginning is reminiscent of a mother giving her child advice. The same kind of advice my mother gave me as I was growing up.
Given this, I'm happy to give Ms. Vanderhorst the 5 STARS she’s garnered from this rather voracious reviewer of nonfiction Christian books.
I read this book via an Amazon KU [KINDLE Unlimited] download.
October 14, 2021
Dear One is a beautiful little book full of short letters and poems that are encouraging and just downright beautiful. Despite their short length, they grapple with things like self worth, anxiety, and the overwhelming impossibility that life just sometimes is.
Vanderhorst has a calming and loving voice that shines through in each one. My favorite is definitely number thirty--you know I'm chanting, "I am already cake" to myself every single morning--but I truly enjoyed reading through every single one of these notes. I'd highly recommend this for anyone who needs a little boost of goodness in their lives.
Vanderhorst has a calming and loving voice that shines through in each one. My favorite is definitely number thirty--you know I'm chanting, "I am already cake" to myself every single morning--but I truly enjoyed reading through every single one of these notes. I'd highly recommend this for anyone who needs a little boost of goodness in their lives.
March 7, 2022
I flew through this one, so I could rate and review it (the author is my dear friend, and I wanted to be able to help increase her visibility), but I am going to start over again tomorrow and read one at a time, to truly savour each encouragement . . . each 'love letter'.
There are so many wonderful truths in here . . . truths that we need to remember . . . to be kinder not only to others, but to ourselves . . . to know that our best is, truly, 'good enough' . . . and that it's ok not to be perfect.
Read this. Really SAVOUR it . . . it will change your life if you let it!
(2022 re-read: beautiful, gentle . . . just what I needed!)
There are so many wonderful truths in here . . . truths that we need to remember . . . to be kinder not only to others, but to ourselves . . . to know that our best is, truly, 'good enough' . . . and that it's ok not to be perfect.
Read this. Really SAVOUR it . . . it will change your life if you let it!
(2022 re-read: beautiful, gentle . . . just what I needed!)
December 22, 2021
I won this beautiful book in a goodreads giveaway and feel like it found me at exactly the right time! Thought provoking and inspiring. As someone who often feels like "too much" I was already drawn in by the time I finished the dedication. Spirit boosters, hard truths, & so much hope covering these 100 days. Day 50 specifically hit me hard.
"Dear One,
You don't have to hate who you were to love who you can become."
Five hopeful stars.
"Dear One,
You don't have to hate who you were to love who you can become."
Five hopeful stars.
October 21, 2021
Dear One speaks to my soul. It is a collection of beautiful, uplifting truths that shine a bright light against the dark landscape of the negativity we often immerse ourselves in. My only wish is for more...
December 19, 2021
Great motivational quotes.
Such inspirational and motivational quotes. For an everyday pick me up. Great reminders for all of us that struggle at times, everyday, or simply for those that need an extra reminder of being ok with who we are.
Such inspirational and motivational quotes. For an everyday pick me up. Great reminders for all of us that struggle at times, everyday, or simply for those that need an extra reminder of being ok with who we are.
January 7, 2022
The poetry flows beautifully and the letters......it makes me feel warm and embraced. In a way they remind me of some of rumi's work.....just beautiful. This is a book I would get in print even. It's that good
July 31, 2022
This was a lovely book of encouraging words for the weary and downtrodden. The verses were short and sweet injections of hope for those of us who need a quick pick-me-up!
November 13, 2021
I loved this collection of brief but touching and inspiring messages by Vanderhorst. I wanted to share and savor each one. I will definitely be coming back to this book over and over again.
December 27, 2021
I was having a tough week and ended up downloading the ebook and reading the whole thing in a few hours. And it really helped. Thanks Kimberly. You eased my spirits.
January 7, 2022
Comforting, reassuring like a supportive friend. Would recommend this to anyone looking for hope and a little more peace in their lives.
March 24, 2023
Lovely daily affirmations
Beautiful set of daily affirmations that both uplift and make you think. Best read one day at a time to really allow yourself the time to ponder each message.
Beautiful set of daily affirmations that both uplift and make you think. Best read one day at a time to really allow yourself the time to ponder each message.
February 17, 2023
Life is hard. It's even harder when we are hard on ourselves. This little volume is packed full of wise self talk that uplifts the soul and makes room for our human frailty, imperfections and vulnerability. I am giving this a five because it is everything it promises to be and that I hoped it would be. One can read it all in one short sitting (as I did) or spread it out over time--or both! A genuine jewel of a keeper.
January 21, 2022
I started out really enjoying this as my morning meditation. I will say the encouragements started to feel shorter, repetitive and less encouraging as the book went on. I still appreciate it for giving me brief quiet moments of reflection, and would likely use it as a supplement to other meditations or devotions in the future.
December 30, 2021
I won this book in a giveaway so thank you to the author, publisher, and goodreads for making that possible!
I went ahead and read through these because I need all the encouragement that I can get lately and I wanted to be able to give the author a review sooner rather than later.
Some of these were corny but most were breathtaking and so many were exactly what I needed to read at that moment. I've also recommended this to friends who need encouragement.
If anyone is needing something to pick themselves up in the middle of the day, before bed, or as you get ready in the morning then you should get a copy of this book!
I went ahead and read through these because I need all the encouragement that I can get lately and I wanted to be able to give the author a review sooner rather than later.
Some of these were corny but most were breathtaking and so many were exactly what I needed to read at that moment. I've also recommended this to friends who need encouragement.
If anyone is needing something to pick themselves up in the middle of the day, before bed, or as you get ready in the morning then you should get a copy of this book!
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews