Stories, journaling focus on second book by Sister Anne Bryan

Sister Anne Bryan Smollin's latest book, "Polish Your Soul and Spruce Up Your Heart," was designed to help readers on their journey of life. Ironically, the book was created while the author was on a different type of journey: It was written in airports and on planes.

"I do most writing on planes or on long layovers," explained Sister Anne, executive director of the diocesan Counseling for Laity office and a nationally known speaker. "I like travel and lecturing. It energizes me."

During her trips around the country speaking on values clarification, stress, communication skills and humor, she has been asked by audience members for materials to help them continue the work started during her presentations. This book, her second, was designed to do just that.

The book, subtitled "How to like what you see in the mirror," contains short narratives and stories, followed by suggested activities and space for journaling. It was designed to be read a little at a time. "Use the book slowly," she advised. "Let the story talk to you. Maybe take a week on one story."

Sister Anne's first book, "Jiggle Your Heart and Tickle Your Soul," stressed the importance of humor. Her latest also emphasizes the benefits of laughter. "The book is meant to be infused with laughter," she said.

It is also important to be able to make mistakes, she advised, suggesting making three mistakes a day on purpose to get over the need to be perfect. "Once we can make a mistake, we can relax, laugh and stop making a mountain out of a molehill," she said. "We need to get over the myth of being perfect. We weren't created to be perfect."

To help get her message across, Sister Anne uses stories from her own life as well as from different cultures, including China, Russia and the Koran. "I love stories from different cultures," she said. "They help us see we're all connected."

She advises adults to take the time to learn from children. One of the best age groups to spend time with are preschoolers, she said. "Maybe we should all rent a four-year-old for the weekend," she writes. "That child would teach us perspective, wisdom and balance."

She also stresses that it is not selfish to like yourself. "We have to like ourselves and appreciate our gifts," she said. It is also not selfish to recognize strengths and talents that we possess, she said. Often, because parents are afraid that their children will become boastful or conceited, they discourage children from talking about the areas they are excelling in.

"We go to the other extreme, and this decreases the importance of being human," she explained.

No matter how old one is, they can learn to like themselves and appreciate their talents, she explained, adding: "Until we take our last breath, we can always relearn and grow in self-esteem." Her book was written to help facilitate that growth.

("Polish Your Soul and Spruce Up Your Heart: How to Like What You See in the Mirror," published by Canticle Press, is available at several local bookstores. Sister Anne will be signing her book on Dec. 13, 7-9 p.m., at Barnes and Noble on Wolf Road in Albany; on Dec. 16, 6-8 p.m., at O'Connor's in Latham; on Dec. 20, noon-2 p.m., at the Open Door on Jay Street in Schenectady; and on Dec. 21, 1-3 p.m., at The Bookmark in Newton Plaza in Latham.)

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