Can you tell us a little about Tips for Livin’?
“Care about people’s
approval and you will always be their prisoner.” - Lao Tzu
In a world where we're constantly bombarded with information and
demands, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and lost. But what if there was a way to
live your best life, to find meaning and purpose in every moment? That's
exactly what Tips for Livin' offers - a practical guide to help you transform
your life.
Through a series of inspiring stories and actionable advice, Tips
for Livin' shows you how to cultivate a positive mindset, build better
relationships, and achieve your goals. Whether you're struggling with stress,
anxiety, or just feeling stuck, this book will give you the tools you need to
create a life that's full of joy, passion, and fulfillment.
Tips for Livin' provides a step-by-step blueprint for living your best life.
From setting goals and developing healthy habits to managing your time and
finding your purpose, this book covers everything you need to know to thrive in
today's world.
This book is a collection of tools and perspectives I have developed throughout
my life. It comes at a time in life when I have a solid enough grasp on what
is. Combined with reaching a place in life where I am comfortable. And to use
the broad phrase "happy."
If anything I have to share can help you answer some questions or give a
general bearing to help you plot a better course in life. Then the time spent
writing this book will have been worthwhile.
What type of reader did you write the book for?
I wouldn't say I had anyone in particular in mind when writing
Tips for Livin’. However, it should offer something up for just about anyone.
We all have struggles in our day to day, struggles that aren't necessarily
age-related. The book is like a quick reference guide to dealing with those
struggles from the perspective of someone who has been through a fair bit
himself and come out smiling on the other side.
What motivated you to write the book?
There were many motivations in play when I decided to write Tips
for Livin’. Firstly I had always wanted to write a book; I just hadn’t found
the subject that would inspire me until now. I was sitting at a cafe in Graz,
Austria, enjoying a nice coffee and doing a little people-watching. I was
closing out a month-long trip through Europe. I thought, here I am, still only
in my mid-forties, and I live a life that is quite happy, stress-free, and
allows me to just sit still in places and be present. I decided to share a
little of what I have learned in life and how I have found best to enjoy it.
How did you decide on your books title and cover design?
I have always described life as either Living or Livin’. To me,
Living is akin to existing. Doing the things that need to be done as the main
focus. I.e. working that 9-5 gig that doesn’t inspire you etc. where, as Livin’
is doing this life on your own terms, embracing what life has to offer and
chasing down a life that inspires you to want more. This book is about
Livin’. As for the cover, it is a selfie
I shot one day while swimming with my camera in the surf. I was bodysurfing and
capturing images of my good friends on a perfect summer's afternoon. The image
takes me into that moment, that feeling, and that day was a day for Livin’ for
sure.
How long did it take you to write Tips for Livin’?
It was like I was possessed once I started writing. The words
flowed out of my subconscious as I strolled down memory lane. I wrote the first
few chapters sitting at that cafe in Graz and the remainder of the book back home
in Japan. In total, it took just over a month.
What inspired the idea for the book?
This is a cool story. I was visiting friends in Prague. They are
more like family to me than friends. After a week or so of exploring Prague, we
decided to take a trip down into the Austrian Alps. The ski season was over,
and the summer season was still a little ways off, so everything was closed or
in sleep mode. We drove around for a few hours and finally found a small cafe
to get some Apfel Strudel. My friend was asking me about how I deal with
stress, and I told him about my system of searching for positives in every
situation and embracing both the positive and negative to find balance. It
became a fun debate over how far you could take that idea until it didn’t work
anymore and ended with “You should write a book.” After that, no matter what
the situation, If I was giving any kind of advice, it would begin with “Chapter
8” etc. The rest is history.
What scene or section did you have the most fun writing?
I really couldn’t single out a chapter that I enjoyed writing the
most. Each one took me down another road of introspection, memories, and
discovery. I can say I enjoyed the process of writing so much that I have
already started another book.
Did anything stick out as particularly challenging when
writing Tips for Livin’?
Haha, yeah. I have a tendency to roll into stream of
consciousness and take off on tangents when I write. Trying to keep the
chapters on point, entertaining and succinct was a challenge. I didn’t want to
write a book that was too wordy or took too long to derive meaning from. So I
needed to rein myself in a bit.
What do you like to do when not writing?
I run a media production company here in Japan, I make films,
shoot photographs etc. Mainly based around nature and travel. But I also do
quite a bit in the music industry. Aside from work, I surf, Snowboard, hike
mountains and volcanoes, hit the gym, play with my dogs, play guitar,
gardening, and love to work with wood. I am always open to trying new things,
so I find that I have a lot of things I like to do.
Where can readers find out more about your work?
My website for my company is www.bluepacificmedia.com or you can find me on Instagram at : @adamlfoto or @tipsforlivin.
Itunes:
http://books.apple.com/us/book/id6453686493
Google:
https://play.google.com/store/audiobooks/details/Adam_Lewis_Tips_for_Livin_A_guide_to_livin_your_be?id=AQAAAEBiuSn5WM https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Adam_Lewis_Tips_for_Livin?id=mlDOEAAAQBAJ