What a breath of fresh air Tsh Oxenreider brings with Notes from a Blue Bike. As a 30-something who cringes at the idea of doing things because “culture says so”, this book was a sigh of relief for me to know that there are people who do things in ways that breathe life into them and that work for their families even though it may be just left of convention.
Told in a series of short chapters that read like fond memories of Tsh, the book alternates between flashing back to her time living abroad in Turkey to life in Bend, Oregon and other places in the U.S. The book is divided into seven parts {Awakening, Food, Work, Education, Travel, Entertainment, and Revival} throughout which Tsh draws a picture of the life she and her family have chosen: one of unhurried simplicity. Tsh is not preachy or otherwise coming from a position that would alienate the reader into believing they are inferior if they do not live the way she has chosen to live. Her words are light and her tone is approachable. She invites readers to dig into to the depths of their souls and truly live out life the way that works best for them. She is authentic and honest about challenges that might arise through the art of cultivating a life that is moving in contrast with the majority of the world around you. Tsh is clear that this is an intentional practice that will take time to master, but the resulting joys are never ceasing.
If you’re the type of person who desires a slower life, a life that allows you to pour into your family the things that matter to you, then Tsh’s book is a must-read. It is not a practical “how to” but rather a journal of sorts of how Tsh’s family accomplished it for themselves. Her invitation to you will remove the intimidation and allow you to exhale as you start creating the life you want in order to focus on what matters.
I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book through the BookLook Bloggers program in exchange for my review. I was not required to post a positive review.
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