Recent News
'Life Is a Verb' Author Visit Inspires Creative Discussion Series
Patti Digh to Visit Franklin College on December 8
What would you be doing today if you only had 37 days to live?
By asking this simple but powerful question every morning, Patti Digh—an internationally recognized diversity expert and mother
of two—has transformed her life.
Digh will visit Franklin College on December 8 to discuss her award-winning blog, 37 Days, and her book Life is a Verb: 37 Days to Wake Up, Be Mindful, and Live Intentionally. The event is sponsored by Franklin College, Johnson County Public Library, Leadership Johnson County, and Partnership for a Healthier Johnson County.
The first 100 to register for the author visit in person at a Johnson County Public Library branch will receive a free copy of the book. The deadline to register is December 1.
The library will follow up the author visit with a series of creative book discussions in January and February 2011. The discussions will take place at all four branches and each will focus on one of Digh’s six practices for intentional living—intensity, inclusion, integrity, intimacy, intuition, and intention. The programs will incorporate related activities like writing, improvisation, and music, but more introspective readers will be welcome to sit and observe.
In October of 2003, Digh’s stepfather was diagnosed with lung cancer and died just 37 days later. The time frame scared her and woke her up. She started writing an “instruction manual for living” for her two young daughters to encourage them to live compassionate, full, and regret-free lives.
Each of the resulting book's 37 extraordinary and humorous life stories is followed by a 10-minute exercise as well as a practice to try for at least 37 days. Life is a Verb is the first blog-to-print literary work illustrated exclusively by the author’s blog readers from around the world. Sixty-nine individuals created 123 pieces of artwork specific to each of the 37 essays.
Librarians hope to inspire similarly creative responses from book discussion participants.
Like Tim Russert’s Wisdom of Our Fathers—in which Patti’s touching essay about her own father appears—and Randy Pausch’s The
Last Lecture, this book teaches about living through story.
Part meditation, part how-to guide, and part memoir, Life is a Verb is all heart.
Intensity: Say Yes
Wednesday, January 5, 2011 at 6:30 p.m.
White River Branch (317) 885-1330
Inclusion: Be Generous
Wednesday, January 12, 2011 at 6:30 p.m.
Franklin Branch (317) 738-2833
Integrity: Speak Up
Wednesday, January 19, 2011 at 6:30 p.m.
Trafalgar Branch (317) 878-9560
Intimacy: Love More
Wednesday, January 26, 2011 at 6:30 p.m.
Franklin Branch (317) 738-2833
Intuition: Trust Yourself
Wednesday, February 2, 2011 at 6:30 p.m.
Trafalgar Branch (317) 878-9560
Intention: Slow Down
Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at 6:30 p.m.
Clark Pleasant Branch (317) 535-6206
- 30 -
