December culminates in a busy year crowned with holiday parties and Christmas cookies out the wazoo. Everyone needs a little time for hitting the reset button before plowing into a new year. Pick up a good book and relax.

Stillness is the Key, by Ryan Holiday

                In aworld overrun by stress and just plain too much busyness, Ryan Holiday comesjust in the nick of time with a piece on the value of being still. If you’relooking at a holiday of madness, include this in your bedside stack ofessential holiday reading.

                Mr. Holiday looks at world leaders, world religions, artists and athletes to draw inspiration. What did they have in common? It was the ability to find stillness in the soul is not a matter of just doing less. It was a matter of being less. I hate to sound mystical here, but you’ll have to read this to discover for yourself how to let stillness put some New Year spring into your step.

Fast-Track Your Memoir in 45 Days, by Rachael Herron

I’ve talked to several of you whohave expressed interest in writing your memoir. Do it! Ms. Herron is funny andshe will not lead you astray. You may think you can’t craft a masterpiece, butwhat you write will be a masterpiece for your family. Our culture seems adrift,all too often cut off from the parents and grandparents and great grandparentswhose stories connect us to our roots and teach us both heritage and lifelessons. This is a way to reconnect.

Writing the story of you isnot as daunting as it sounds, and the holiday season is a good time to start.Available on Kindle, she will take you through the steps and teach you thebasics through explanations and writing exercises. Take some time each day toscribble down a story as you feel inspired and keep them in a notebook. Don’tworry about making the first draft perfect. Just write or dictate. If you needhelp further on, you can always hire a ghostwriter or editor to fine tune yourrough draft. The point is simple: Just do it.

The Mother I Could Have Been, by Kerry Fisher

                Need apage turner? I’m not telling you anything about this book, except it’savailable on Kindle for 99 cents. Yup. You want it.

The Mistletoe Game, by Bree Livingston

                If youlike a squeaky clean romance, Bree does not disappoint. Her books are alwaysfinely crafted and she’s renowned for no steam and no bad language. It’s not aclassic, but if you have a cold and feel like you’re down for the count, it’scomfortable reading curled up with an afghan and a cup of tea.

Welcome Home: The First 100 Days in Long Term Care, by Mike Hamilton

Some of you are visiting older parents this holiday and a sad truth is emerging. Your parent(s) may no longer be safe living at home. Mike has been a long-term care worker for many a year and he offers good tips to read before you are forced into rash action. His advice is both thought-provoking and heart calming. It's short, but worth the read.