How Elin Hilderbrand furthers my goal to own a cottage in Maine

I'm getting a headstart on my summer reading this year. My first pick: The Island by Elin Hilderbrand.

I've not read this author before, but I was drawn to the cover--something publishers like to hear. The chairs remind me of the summer cottage I long to own in Maine. This is not a pipe dream. It is an actual future plan that is, for now, only in my mind, though I have written it down in various places and discuss it frequently with friends. "When I'm in my summer cottage in Camden, Me.," I'll say, because I'm a big believer in stating what you want, visual cues or reminders--and also of specifics.

Which is why I bought this book on a recent errand run. I meant to buy bread but made the mistake of going down the magazine aisle, instead. That's where they also stock books and greeting cards. I picked up a few of each. This book among them.

The only reason I chose it was because of the cover. It reminds me of the beach cottage I will own in Maine, possibly within the next 10 or 15 years. In Hilderbrand's book, the setting is Nantucket. Still New England. Still close enough. And the cottage the main characters visit is on an island, not the sea. But still. Close enough. It allows me to further my vision.

And I'm enjoying the story as well. It's about four women, all related, who wind up at this cottage on an island, a cottage owned by the family for generations. They're all there one summer to heal from personal tragedies, and there will be interesting dramatic spins. I'm only in the first few chapters, and already I've read about a breakup or two, a death or two, and a budding romance, with another one in the works. It's not something I normally read, but I was obviously in need of a novel on which to rest my mind, and this one fit the bill. For those of you looking for your own summer reading, I recommend it so far. It's light reading and fun. I expect to finish before the weekend's over.

You may be asking what does this have to do with joy? To which I say this: Because joy comes from within, you'll see you are drawn to certain things naturally. You'll gravitate exactly where you need to go. The key is to pay attention to the cues. Watch for them. Soon you'll recognize why you wind up, as I did, going down the magazine aisle when you thought you were looking for the whole wheat buns. You'll let yourself be drawn elsewhere momentarily. You'll follow your eyes and let your hands pick up the book you know you don't really need. But you won't question yourself at the check-out line. And you'll go home with a smile on your face.

In turn, you'll be better able to articulate your dreams and goals and also be in a better position to attain them. Getting a head start on your summer reading? Well, that's the bonus, thanks to Hilderbrand and her publisher who created a cover I couldn't resist.


When was the last time you used a visual to further your goals?