What This Book Does Best
Gladys was a remarkable woman who, at the age of 102, created this book to share six powerful lessons drawn from her full and vibrant life. It’s filled with timeless wisdom and written in such a warm, conversational tone that it feels like you’re sitting beside her, listening as she passes on life’s most beautiful lessons through storytelling. One of her central ideas is this: “To be truly alive, we must find the life force within ourselves and direct our energy toward it.” She calls that life force our “Juice”, and in this book, you’ll find inspiring ways to uncover and follow your own.
The Short:
This book helps you discover your “Juice”. The inner energy that leads to a happier, more fulfilling, and purpose-driven life.
The Long:
Dr. Gladys McGarey grew up in India, where her parents served as missionary doctors between the two World Wars, not exactly a typical childhood especially for the 1920s. She became a doctor in the 40s, co-founded the American Holistic Medical Association, and was one of the first American physicians to incorporate acupuncture into patient care. She’s also lived with dyslexia and really, is just an all-around badass.
I really loved her perspective on health, and her holistic view of well-being. How feeling connected to a purpose in life actually contributes to your physical health. She shares example after example of patients whose physical illness was linked back to a lack of drive to live. That’s where her concept of “Juice” comes in. In her words:
“I knew I was important and needed. I felt I was a part of things. We all deserve to feel this way. Each of us is here for a reason, to learn and grow and to give our gifts. When we are able to do so, we’re filled with the creative life energy that I call the ‘Juice’”
She explains that we are all here to connect with our unique gifts, and that connection activates our desire to truly live. Even more powerful is that she states achieving this connection isn’t even the most important part, but it’s the search for it that matters most. I found this especially powerful, because I know how frustrating it can be to feel like you don’t know what your gifts are, but she quiets the ego by reminding us that simply being in search of our gifts is what truly brings life.
Gladys has certainly lived a very interesting life and has both wild and ordinary stories to accompany her lessons. This book is very digestible, she’s not just telling but showing us the lessons that she’s learned through experience. She blends health, purpose, encouragement, and spirituality all together.
This book does cover a very broad topic, living a well-lived life, so she doesn’t go super deep on any topic, but I really like how she bounces ideas off of others and really helps reinforce her ideas.
Who needs to read this now?
I would really recommend anyone to read this book. I think it’s so packed with great lessons about living life well and Gladys has such a positive encouraging voice. The wisdom in these pages can serve you no matter what age or stage you are in life.