The Gift of Books
Dear friends,
One of the most beautiful things about being human, for me, is the ability to read. What a marvel it is to let our eyes glide over those tiny symbols we call letters, and to watch entire worlds unfold in our imagination—worlds we’ve never known before. Some books have the power to transport me to a dimension where I want to stay. Their authors remind me of where I truly come from.
I’d like to share three books with you that have been particularly meaningful to me over the past year. All three revolve around living in harmony with nature, reconnecting with our essence, and nurturing love for one another and for our surroundings. They remind us that separation—from ourselves, from each other, and from nature—is not our natural state.
It’s not easy to stay grounded in a time when we are so often swept up by technology and social media, and when so many of our fellow inhabitants on this planet are consumed by hatred and conflict. I hope you find ways to withdraw from that world a little, and to experience more peace and connection. These books can support you on that path.
The most recent book, which I read during a month-long stay in nature in Andalusia, deepened my respect and awe for the plants around me. It even made me apologize for the unavoidable moments when I trampled on them. This remarkable author intertwines her academic knowledge with the wisdom she inherited from her Indigenous roots. She calls with her whole heart for us to give back to the earth what we take from her.
This novel immerses you in an engaging story while teaching you about the traditional culture and history of the Navajo people. You’ll learn about their approach to gender, their profound connection to the earth, their ceremonies, and their dreams. It’s especially inspiring for people with diverse sexual orientations—but not exclusively for them (take me).
The book I have been reading just last week takes you deep into the jungles of Malaysia. A Dutch-American psychologist encounters an Indigenous community there and describes how a different language reveals a different reality. This theme—linguistic relativity—is the focus of the research I want to pursue in the coming year. The Indigenous people of Malaysia don’t use possessive pronouns and can’t talk about what might have been. They can’t comprehend being preoccupied with anything other than what is. Imagine how much lighter we might feel if we, too, could focus only on what is here and now!
I wish you a year filled with the joy of reading, deep connection, and inspiration—and the fulfilment of becoming who you truly are.
Love,
Zoe
P.S. I don’t know about the second one, but the other books have been translated to Dutch. The first one surely also to French.
