Shine Bright: Live A Supernova Life

Writers of autobiographies and memoirs have to decide how much to summarize and how much to share. The best share what is important and summarize the in-betweens. Less intriguing books summarize just about everything. In Shine Bright: Live a Supernova Life, Shelia Cameron summarizes just about everything. She went to group therapy. Wonder what that was like. She did hallucinogenics. I haven’t, be nice to know what that was like too. She had problems. We all have problems. Wonder if she experienced them differently. She had physical issues. What kind? She had bucket list experiences and described none. She enjoyed fantastic travel adventures that may have been fantastic; hard to know. To use her style in writing a book review would be easy: “I read the book; author made some helpful points and is worth reading.”The book was okay, could have loved it had she added a few descriptions of setting, in-depth emotions, what she feared, loved, sense of joy and despair, if she likes pepper on her eggs (if she eats eggs). Plato said “an unexamined life is not worth living.” Shelia was not quite so rigid, suggesting instead we examine our assumptions and see what freedoms we are giving up, what contributions we could make that never enter our mind, and what limitations we put on ourselves needlessly.Much of the book emphasized taking care of our planet, and was a bit preachy at times. Her disclaimer is no one has all the answers, saying I don’t, but here is what worked for me. She is a smooth writer, explains issues well and covered many topics, from feminine hygiene to public speaking. The book is a good length for its purpose which is to remind us to be ourselves, to be the best me I can be; a good lesson for us all. Shelia offers practical ways to do just that and includes resources.

After receiving a free advance copy i thought "I'm not a self help book person. I would never usually be drawn to this genre on the shelf of my favourite bookshop. How can I possibly comment on this." I read the first three chapters, with trepidation, at the side of the swimming pool while waiting for my kids. I was expecting to hear lots of ways that the author had achieved amazing things and expected to feel like I had let myself and my family down by not attaining any of them. What I did read however was a heartfelt and heartening story of how one person can choose to make many tiny differences in their life, by questioning convention, which can spark a catalytic change in their environment and their community. I went to bed that night feeling a little disgruntled with myself for not trying harder but woke the next day rejuvenated in my plan to make small differences. I finished the book the next morning (it's a short book not a bible). I silently thanked the author and immediately made some small changes to my attitude and habits. This book is not preachy, it is not prescriptive, but the personal stories will resonate in part with most people. Some stories will totally shake up your pre conceived ideas and make you feel uncomfortable but others will make you think "I've often thought that." It is thought provoking and has promoted more discussion between my husband and I than any book in the last few years. "Shine Bright" definitely made me think about making my tiny star shine brighter. Thank you Sheila Cameron.