The Woman’s Comfort Book – It’s all about pleasure, baby!

You first heard about this book in this post. It always deserved a post of its own and I thought I’d written one. My mom reminded me that I hadn’t. So, here it is!

The Woman’s Comfort Book by Jennifer Louden is a book that – in my (not at all) humble opinion should be on every woman’s bookshelf. The subtitle says it’s “A Self-Nurturing Guide for Restoring Balance in Your Life,” and it certainly is THAT.

But before I get into the book itself, I want to say something about my mother.

My mother is a profound influencer in my life, as any reader here can see (read). If you’ve read my posts, you also know that we didn’t always have the closest relationship. In fact, when I was younger, it was downright horrible. This was not just “a phase”… it was… very, very NOT good. For a decade, at least. I give us major props, as we have spent the last several decades repairing what was broken. And it wasn’t all hard work. Some of it was downright joyful!

If I’m sixty (and I am) then you must realize that my mother has been ordering off the Denny’s senior menu for a while. That I got the opportunity to know her — really know her — at this stage of life? Priceless.

So, when my mother, who is also a therapist, says a self-help book is good, I listen. When she buys me one, I read it. She bought me this one. I read it. When I moved 4000 miles from home, it came with me (with a suitcase of mostly “Mom approved” books). Many, many boxes of books stayed behind in the shed. Eventually, my kids fought over them or my late-ex used them for kindling. Not sure. Point is: This is a good one!

I love everything about this book, from how it’s set up to the larger print, ample margins for notes, charts, quizzes, checklists and quotes.

The entire point of the book is to find comfort – for yourself. NOT with food, NOT by complaining to friends and family, NOT by sleeping the day away. Because, guess what? Turns out, self-nurturing is VITAL for your health and well-being, not to mention depression and anxiety.

Whether we like it (or even believe it) … or not… women really do get saddled with the nurturing in many (most?) families. We are “taught to meet everyone else’s needs before we nurture ourselves.” I guess that’s why so many of us feel guilty when we take time for ourselves. Ridiculous, isn’t it?

Young women, especially busy mothers, may ask how they can carve out time to self-nurture. I remember and feel your pain, sister! But it *is* important and there *are* ways to do it – yes, small ways – but they just might change your life!

Louden asks an important question in the beginning of the book… and I’d like you to ask yourself this question: