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Good morning, I love you. What’s the best way to start the day?

Self-love. Because if you don’t love you, no one else will love you either.

It’s never too late to re-wire your brain for deep calm, contentment and clarity. This book, by my friend, Shauna, offers both the science and practice of how self-kindness leads to fulfillment and joy. The simple practice of putting your hand on your heart first thing in the morning and saying, “I love you" can change everything.

I gave Good Morning, I Love You to my daughter when she left for college because I wasn’t there to say it to her when she woke up. Now, she does that herself. I also love it when she sends me a surprise text: Good morning, I love you. As a mother, nothing warms my heart more.

Now, Shauna has written, Good Morning, I love you, Violet! A children’s book to cultivate the same self-love at a young age. This practice is not easily adopted by our protagonist. I recommend you read it to see how she breaks through the resistance and what happens when she does.

These two books for parents and children are essentials on the book shelf this holiday season and beyond.