Finding your authentic self

I just finished reading Distant Shores by Kristin Hannah.

Kristin Hannah is one of my very favorite authors. Every book I've read by her, I have loved. I find that some authors tend to write stories that feel practically the same, with only slight differences in the characters or setting. Not Hannah. And yet, she draws me into every story, every time.

I don't post about every book that I read, but I particularly loved this book, not because it was spectacularly written or the best story ever told, but because I could deeply relate to it. Despite the age difference between myself and the main character, I felt a kinship with her. And she gave me hope because this year for me is also about finding myself again and renewing my passion. There was one quote from the book that resonated right in my heart:

"Finding your passion isn't just about careers and money. It's about finding your authentic self. The one you've buried beneath other people's needs."

Sometimes a book can just strike a chord in you. Not only because you can relate to the story or characters on an intimate level, but because it reminds you that, somewhere, someone is feeling or has felt the same way you do. You feel like you could have written the words with your own hand and you remember that you're not alone in this world, that your struggle isn't a solitary one.