SW Off-the-Cuff Dialogue Riff of WELLTh by Jason Wachob

Disclaimer #1: I get pretty darn bored w/ your typical book reviews lately. I read about a third of a paragraph & move on. Ugh. So, this book review is more of a  'off-the-cuff dialogue riff' which is a term used in specific writers circles for 'say whatever comes to mind - 100% unedited'.

Disclaimer #2: I was not asked to review Wellth by Jason Wacob. I am not a part of a marketing or launch team for this book. I have ZERO affiliation with the book for those who have asked. None. I am marketing it like crazy because I haven't read a book this good since The Glass Castle...which was written years ago. I haven't.

Last Disclaimer.....Disclaimer #3: Links to WELLth & MindBodyGreen will appear at the End of the riff.  The reason I will not be linking along the way is b/c it will interrupt this 'off the cuff' approach. I plan to write whatever comes to mind and hit 'PUBLISH" to all of you so, no EDITING - pure freelance 'flow'. If there are spelling errors it's b/c this is fully UNEDITED- first draft - RAW THOUGHTS. 

Let's go!
 

Jason Wachob, Author of WELLTH is also the Founder of, MindBodyGreen.com. MindBodyGreen.com stands alone as the most well versed & highly resourceful wellness site in the entire country. There is no other site that has as many contributors nor is there a site (in the country) that has as many physicians, nutritionists, dietitians, psychologists, etc. contributing.

And the fact that MindBodyGreen has over 15 million subscribers, apparently, a lot of you agree with me. I have been a contributor to MindBodyGreen throughout the years and I hope to continue to be. I recall being on board very early on as MIndBodyGreen got started and to watch it explode has been really moving.

But, let's get to this unedited  - off the cuff - review of mine (wink):

When I learned that Jason Wachob had written WELLth, I ordered it immediately. Mind you, I knew nothing about the content but, I really loved the title that Jason coined, WELLth. I thought it was clever and frankly, I was digging the book cover (color and all).

So the day I received the book, I wasn't feeling well at all. I curled up on my side - in bed - opening the first few pages of WELLth. 

The first few chapters were what I had pretty much envisioned from WELLth - Jason discusses diet, food, movement, etc. What I deem the basics of 'health'.  Being someone already deeply involved in the health/wellness community, I thought 'OK, I already know what this book is about - I get it - it's about prescribing your own diet and basically making choices that work for your body.

And then.....

And thennn......around Chapter 3....the book began to throw me a curve ball - grab me by the heart - and throat - and body. And frankly, I didn't see any of this coming. Whoa.

I very literally lost touch with time and the space I was in (my bed). I don't think I moved my body for hours. All I know is Jason had my full attention so much so that. I finished the book around 11:00pm.  I read straight through time, phone calls, eating, etc. And after I closed the book, I stared at the ceiling in silence until after 1:00am  - in tears - for about two hours absorbing all of what I just read. Tears were flowing down my face.....steadily. 

Immediate thoughts running through my mind  - while staring at the ceiling in tears - after reading WELLth: I began rethinking my entire life. I began 'connecting the dots backwards' which Jason talks about (you'll have to read WELLth to find out more about that). I was reminiscing and thanking God for those 'three soul mates' as Jason describes them, in my life. I didn't realize who they were until Jason described them. I absolutely loved and wrote in my journal today about staying 'Three Moves Ahead' (again, you'll have to read it yourself).

I began examining who my friends actually are.  And who is masquerading as a friend but, really isn't one. I began to examine what a 'friend' even means.

All of the grief of the loss of my father & best friend washed over me as Jason shares so much on how to handle grief and his own grief at the loss of his father, friend & grandmother.

My mind then turned to Jason's health and how he overcame such scary health battles........and then I turned back to my own health challenges. And I was given hope by reading not only Jason's words but all of the contributors in his book (AMAZING QUALIFIED contributors....so so many of them)!

WELLTh has caused me to reflect on my life while giving me hope.

WELLth challenged me in every single aspect of life from how I eat - how I move - how I speak - what I do with my time - who I spend my time with.

WELLth caused me to rethink everything that is happening in my life and everything that 'has' happened in my life. E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G.

Why was I crying? I was crying because this book caused me to 'feel' everything I just shared with you. And that's a heck of a lot to allow myself to 'feel'.

Ultimately, WELLth made me realize something that is incredibly painful to admit. And that is this: I have been settling in a few key areas of my life. So painful yet so enlightening.

WELLTh made me re-examine a few 'friends' that I have been friends with for years that aren't really friends at all. And that's a painful realization.

WELLTh made me realize that so much of what wasn't making sense.....does now. 

And WELLth has helped me to get even closer to God.  And I would have NEVER saw that coming.

My favorite lighthearted moments in WELLTh: When Jason shares how he met his wife, Colleen! So fun hearing people's love stories.  I loved when Jason shared more about his sister-in-law Kerry! And I really related when Jason talked about his past and drinking - social influences. I found it comical yet, sadly relate-able as my old social circle and I drank so much as well. And looking back, it was so unhealthy.

Some new things I will incorporate into my life BECAUSE of WELLth: Meditation. I've never meditated a day in my life.  And that's about to change. I have no workout regimen. And that's about to change.  I LOVED connecting the dots...backwards. Three gratitude questions that a physician created for her med students (You have to read the book to find out what they are).  AN ENTIRELY NEW MINDSET.  Yes, even More trust in God (and I already trusted Him). A new attitude. Hope to heal fully.

What I found heart wrenching about WELLth: Jason's honesty was so beautiful and humbling. I wish more and more people in life would throw off the mask and get real like him. There were specific losses of his that made my heart sink. The truth of his journey to success (not a 'rags to riches story) is both inspiring - truthful - yet hard to read b/c of the reality. When he lost his dad - friend - grandmother - I lost it - I could feel an ache reading it. When he moved back in with his mom & grandmother at 30 ( I believe it was age 30 - I am writing 'off the cuff' remember -smile). 

What surprised me most about WELLth: I was defintely most surprised by Jason's strong faith. I was surprised by Jason's humility and honesty - he really put it all out there for us. I was surprised to learn his entire story really - I didn't expect to read anything he wrote.

This book is spellbinding. It's a book that I truly didn't expect to affect me in the ways that it is and has. It's also a book that you don't just read and place on the shelf. It's more of a life guide....just like MindBodyGreen is in many ways.

This book rattled my soul. It made me rethink absolutely everything in my life. And I will be better because of it.

I believe certain books come into each of our lives for specific reasons. And I believe the reason WELLth came into mine was to change it.

Order WELLth here
Go to MindBodyGreen here