Rena Reads: July

July was a month of gratitude and reflection, much of it inspired by the book I read, Theo of Golden by Allen Levi.

This book will go down as one of my all-time favorites. It is a book you want to read slowly—to take in the stories of the characters you meet and give yourself time to think about what you learn from them. Nearly every character reveals a piece of our shared humanit

y through stories of struggle, love, joy, sadness, and inspiration.

Some chapters stirred up questions and memories of my own, causing me to pause my reading and reflect.

One character who especially stayed with me was Ellen, a homeless woman with a complex and traumatic past. Theo, the main character who gently unlocks these stories, takes the time to listen and learn without judgment.

Ellen is often overlooked because she dresses differently, struggles with her mental health, and has an unusual attachment to her bicycle. But she is also incredibly well-read and can recall and quote great philosophers. As you get to know her, you realize she deeply values the simplest things in life, the very things many people take for granted.

Her attachment to her bicycle brought back a memory of my own grandfather. He passed away earlier this year, but I was so fortunate that he was a talker. I had the privilege of hearing so many stories and experiences from his life.

Appreciating the simple things was always part of Grandpa’s story because he came from a time when those things mattered so much. He was born when food could be scarce, clothes were passed down until they were worn out, fruit was a special treat, and working for everything you owned was simply a way of life.

As a child, my grandpa took a paper route so he could save enough money to buy a used bicycle. Getting that bicycle was a huge deal. It was one of the first things he owned himself, and he had worked hard to earn it.

I loved recalling that story. I felt grateful that I had been able to hear it, remember it, and learn from it. It reminded me how important it is to appreciate what we already have instead of always focusing on the things we do not have, or the things we still want.

For 25 years, I have had the privilege of being a hairstylist. That career has given me the time and space to deeply connect with my clients. The people I have met, and the conversations we continue each time they return, have been among the most meaningful and inspiring parts of my life and career. The connections, the friendships, and the privilege of hearing people’s stories are incredibly valuable to me.

Recently, I started a new business: Rooted Wildflower, a boutique bookstore.

The store carries many things, but the most important thing it carries, to me, is stories. Through this business, I have been able to combine so many of the things I love: my hometown, unique artisan goods, gourmet foods, and, of course, BOOKS.

Books are the most obvious way the store carries stories because every one of them is quite literally a story. But the unseen stories have become my favorite—and most surprising—part of this adventure.

In my salon, connections grow through long conversations over time. In the store, I have the opportunity to share brief conversations and connections with so many more people. That has been one of the greatest blessings of June and July.

A good day at work is one in which I meet people who share their stories with me. Books often open the door to these conversations because I could talk about them forever! Stories lead to more stories, and that is exactly the theme woven throughout Theo of Golden.

At one point in the book, a secretary suggests that Theo hold a meeting and invite everyone in Golden with whom he wants to connect. He could gather them all together and give them the pieces of art that first inspired him to learn more about them.

Theo gently explains that if he did that, he would miss the conversations and the stories - and those stories are the whole point.

It is about giving people your time, your energy, and the joy of getting to know the little pieces of their lives and discovering what moves them.

Through the store, I have had the privilege of meeting so many more people. Many of these brief conversations have inspired me, moved me, and left me feeling grateful that I happened to be in that place, at that moment, to hear their stories.

I think the whole point of being human is to be human together.

Take time for people. Connect with them. Be grateful for those moments. You never know what you might learn, what you will come to appreciate, or what doors a simple human interaction might open.

That is one of the truest gifts of life.

Theo of Golden left me feeling grateful, sad, happy, thoughtful, and full of both questions and answers about my own life.

I hope you pick up this book and allow yourself to read it slowly. Let it carry you back to the moments in your own life that have brought you both joy and grief. Most of all, remember that human connection is one of the greatest gifts we receive.

For me personally, this verse says it best:

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

—1 Corinthians 13:13

Thank you for taking the time to read. I hope you have a blessed month filled with love.

Serena