Today is my 54th birthday!
Will you share your favorite novel with me?

written by Bari Tessler January 3, 2023

Dear Money Adventurer,

I know some women don’t like to share their age, for all sorts of reasons. But me, I have always loved to sing it from the rooftops.

Today is my 54th birthday!

I think it’s an honor to age. It’s not easy. Aging has its blessings and challenges like everything in life. But it is an honor and I choose to meet it with celebration.

So, since it’s my birthday, I’m asking for you to indulge my celebration by sharing your favorite novel with me (or even send me a copy in the mail if you feel like really indulging me).

If you know me, you know I love to read – but I only read fiction and the occasional memoir. I have always learned so much through storytelling, getting lost in great writing, transported to another time and place.

Reading novels and memoirs informs my work as a somatic-trained financial therapist, and how I show up as a parent, and it’s simply a huge pleasure of mine.

Since I was a young kid, I have spent countless, blissful hours hanging out in libraries, bookmobiles and bookstores. So, it really isn’t surprising that as we were refreshing our living room this year, I got a clear vision to create a reading nook and library in our front window.

We hired a local carpenter to bring my dream to life, and he’s almost finished with it. I can’t wait to fill the shelves! Whether you share a recommendation for a recent favorite or send a copy of a beloved book my way, I would love it if you would help me make my birthday library complete.

As I was approaching this 54th birthday, I realized recently that I started my somatic training 30 years ago. I don’t even know how that’s possible, honestly, but if you do the math, I was, in fact, 24 when I started the graduate somatic psychology program at Naropa University.

That was when I realized what my “work” would be in the world. While there have been some shifts and detours along the way, these days I typically refer to myself as a Financial Therapist before I mention that I also have a Master’s in Somatic Psychology.

Despite that, my somatic training informs everything I do and all of who I am. And I would say the same thing about reading novels and memoirs. It informs so much of who I am and how I operate in the world.

So please, indulge my birthday request, and share a favorite novel or memoir that took you to a new world, changed your perspective, or deeply touched your heart. And if you want to send me a book, send a note to [email protected] and we’ll send you our special P.O. box address for birthday books.

I can’t wait to cozy up with a blanket and your favorite books in my little living room library (it will also be a hub for local book lovers, since my neighbors and I already pass our favorite reads around the block). Keep an eye on the socials for my reading nook updates!

Thank you for being here and celebrating this milestone with me.

With love,

P.S. In other exciting news, my mentor program is opening for registration on January 15th. Created specifically for therapists, coaches and financial professionals, this is the program people have been asking me to offer for years. There are 40 seats available for this program. If you’re ready to embark on this personal and professional money journey, I would love to support you! You can learn more about my mentorship program here.

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