Not being a big television ‘watcher’, I honestly had never seen Robin Roberts on Good Morning America or ESPN nor had I ever heard her name, though my husband did know who she was when I asked him. I’m always intrigued by other people’s success stories and their philosophies of life, and though I don’t always agree with everything or it doesn’t line up with my core values, I usually can come away with something new learned every time.
With From the Heart by Robin Roberts, Good Morning America host and former ESPN correspondent – I truly enjoyed every page of her book. Written in such a manner that it feels like she’s having a conversation with you, it allows you to absorb in the detail of what she is saying. Never in this book did she applaud herself or her talent, instead she disclosed value, guidance, teaching, discipline, determination and desire that allowed her to travel the path she traveled.
Her family life was grounded. Period. I related to her upbringing in the fact that my parents were parents first who knew the importance of guiding and disciplining their children and teaching them how to be respectable, not only to others, but ourselves as well. We were taught to respect them, authority and pretty much anyone we had contact with. We were taught to work hard, do our best and always walk in integrity. My dad also made us look up words in the dictionary if we didn’t know how to spell them (where was spell check when I needed it?). We trusted God, trusted each other and always took responsibility for our actions. So, as I read the stories of her parents, she had my full attention. Ms. Roberts had loving parents who knew that discipline, hard work and integrity were vital to be successful. Never play the underdog card. Never blame your failures on your race, where you are from or on someone else. This is a teaching missing in many households today.
It’s clear that Robin’s upbringing played a huge part in her road to success. She tells of her failures and victories. She turned down high paying jobs simply because it was not a stepping stone to where she wanted to be – and that is a rare thing for people to do in this day and age. In her own words she, ‘made a conscious decision to do things that would enrich my life, not things that would make me rich.’ (1) For her, it was never about the money, but instead working hard to achieve the goals she had placed before herself and in doing so being true to herself and her convictions along the way.
The seven rules detailed throughout this book are wonderful and effective strategies for anyone – values that hold true for all. The author states that these are her rules to live by and that everyone should find their own – but I do believe that hers are a good starting point. Even while you read this book, you find yourself nodding in agreement or saying the silent ‘hmm’. She demonstrates how wonderful it is to always follow your heart and dreams – but don’t get stuck in a comfort zone. You may never know when your desires may lead you in new directions you never thought would interest you. This is clear in the life of Robin Roberts.
From the Heart is a real book, by a real person who dared to open her heart and life to readers everywhere. Many books of this nature tend to be filled with too many negative subjects that can leave you down after reading it, but this is a wonderful compilation of advice, memories and values in one woman’s life that she is trying to pass onto others. Much can be learned in the 170 pages of this book and if you truly listen to the message being brought forth, your life can be better by putting any of her Seven Rules to Live By into practice. Learn to enjoy life, embrace life and to love life. In doing so, you will find your ‘personal’ rules to live by that will help you to enrich your life – which makes each day worth living.
(1) From the Heart page 158
