Small Pleasures is a collection of forty-nine short meditative essays that help readers to turn aside from their chaotic lives for a while to experience grace and possibilitiy in the small, critically important things in life. Author Justine Willis Toms divides the book into five sections, each with eassays that draw upon her many connections and her wealth of experiences:
  • A Broad Horizon: How We See Ourselves in the World
  • Animals and Nature as Teacher
  • Be an Activist without Driving Yourself Crazy
  • With a Little Help from Our Friends -- Circles and Friendships
  • Celebrations and Rituals

With a foreword by author Carole Lee Finders (co-author of Laurel's Kitchen and Enduring Lives: Living Portraits of Women of Faith in Action), Small Pleasure offers many ways for readers to "tune-in" to their daily lives and connect with what is good, meaningful, and beautiful.

What others say about Small Pleasures
"Justine Toms writes with a marvelous simplicity, innocence, and open heart. She writes of the simple things that make life rich and so worthwhile. Her book is a mixture of diary and essays, a perfect way to make her point: Simple pleasures ultimately mean more than grand enlightenment or even sophisticated wisdom. This is a book of hope for the new century."
-- Thomas Moore, author of Care of the Soul
"I loved reading this book. Justine muses about something that caught her attention which on its own is an interesting slice of her interesting life. The so-much-more follows, an observation that touches the heart or hits a nerve or inspires doing something on the spot. She caught me with her tale of being overloaded with stuff on her desk as a reflection of her state of mind which brought the nine-day clutter clearing Feng Shui practice to mind. Ten minutes later I was putting a defunct copier in my car to take to the one day electronics recycling station. It may inspire someone else to call friends and start a circle or stop to celebrate or do something small to make a difference. A wise book from a wise woman with a great inner kid."
-- Jean Shinoda Bolen, MD, author of Urgent Message From Mother and Goddesses in Everywoman

Book Signings & Speaking Schedule

Sunday, May 31, 2009 - 4 pm to 5:30 pm
Conversation for the Common Good
Tested in the Fires: Cornerstone for Living Life on Purpose
with Justine Willis Toms

Justine will lead a conversation around the many stories she's gathered from some of the foremost visionaries and thinkers of our time. Let us learn together how to live life fully in this special period of human history. registerb@lcdm.org
(805)969-5031
No preregistration required

Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Wednesday Retreat Day at La Casa de Maria
Finding Grace in a Chaotic World
Come spend a day with Justine Willis Toms exploring the grace and possibility that lie at the heart of each moment of our lives. We will seek a wider landscape as to how we see ourselves and our world and find ways to enhance those practices that infuse everyday living with what is good, meaningful and beautiful. This day will include many processes. Donation only. You are welcome to bring a sack lunch or order a lunch in our dining room for $14. Please register and reserve in advance.

Where:
La Casa de Maria
800 El Bosque Road
Santa Barbara, CA 93108
registerb@lcdm.org
(805)969-5031