Book Chat with Danielle Pilgrim

Now I am joined by another fabulous book lover that many of you have probably seen across BookTok and Bookstagram, Danielle Pilgrim. Danielle, how are you? I'm doing awesome today, thank you. How about you? I'm doing pretty good. So before we kind of take a deep dive into a couple of the books that you sent over that were your faves, which I know is typically a very difficult question, tell us a little bit about who you are, where you're from, and where your journey for reading really began. Yeah, so I'm originally from New York City, but I currently live in Savannah, Georgia, where I work for a non-profit as Director of Public Policy and Communications, and my work focuses on creating social change through policy advocacy and through recommendations of public policy. But beyond that, I am, you know, I guess I'm a social media content creator, and I just share the books that have changed my life, shaped my thinking, and I love having meaningful dialogue, so I started a book club to discuss the topics that I found in the books that I love to read. And I love that a couple of your books were very different from what we typically see, because usually we have a lot of fiction lovers, you know, thriller, horror, it's very rare where you get, you know, books that's almost like self-help, but like books that have also changed people's lives, although all books change people's lives in some way or shape or form. And so one of them was Finding Me by Viola Davis, which I love anything that revolves around her, and it's essentially her life story, you know, like how she grew up, how she was bullied, and, you know, how she became this wonderful woman that she is today. So tell me a little bit about what you loved about it, and what would you say is one lesson that you've learned from her? Man, that book was amazing. And I just recently read that book, I read it last week, and I, it was so gripping that I read it in almost like a couple of hours, because I was like, I have to get through this book. But what I loved about the book, two major takeaways, one is about poverty, and how poverty doesn't just affect what you have, but how it shapes how you think about yourself, how you move through the world. And for me, in my line of work, it's really important for leaders and for teachers to understand that because it once you have that understanding of how poverty affects someone's self esteem, and how they navigate the world, you can better help them, right. And so for me, I thought this book is should be a must read for leaders and teachers and anyone who, you know, affects change. Another thing about the book that came up that stood out to me was her experience as a black woman, but not just as a black woman, as a dark skinned black woman. And, you know, that there was a total difference of how she walked through the world or walks through the world and how I and other individuals walk through the world, right, and shows how colorism has a huge part to play in, in the opportunities that you have the opportunities that you don't get, right. And so that was eye opening for me. And then, of course, her resilience, like the book about finding herself was ultimately about not only overcoming hardship, but leaning into who she was, who she is, and overcoming all the obstacles, but coming out victorious. I mean, that was a story that it's moving. Very inspiring. I love that you brought up, you know, like how it should be a read for any leader that is evoking change, especially when it comes to teachers, because I feel like a lot of times teachers nowadays sometimes can get discouraged because kids in this generation are very different. They don't want to come to school. Some are disrespectful. It's just a different time. And I loved when I was growing up, the era that I did because our teachers did not play. They were like very hands on. And I was just having this conversation on my show yesterday because my third grade teacher, who was always like a second mom to me, we still keep in contact. And she had like her own creative business. And I actually wore one of her designs yesterday, like promoting an interview that I did. And so it's like that just goes to show my full circle moment. Like I was a tiny tot in your class, and now I'm wearing, you know, your design on TV. But that just goes to show that like teachers make certain teachers make such a huge impact. And I think that like you said, it's very important for them to read this to show how they can evoke change, especially at a young age when kids are so impersonable. Yeah, absolutely. And then you also sent over a new earth. And so tell me a little bit about what's in this and what you liked about it. Okay, so a new earth. It's not an easy read. But once you get into it, and you hit chapter three, it changes your life completely. Okay, I tell people just give it until chapter three, and then the book will change your life. So this is more of a spiritual philosophical book that challenges how we understand our identity, right? And he talks about the big question that he asks the reader is, how do you define yourself? Right? Because often we define ourselves by our job, our titles, our accomplishments, relationships, possessions, and all those different things. And he says, yes, those are a part of your life, but they're not the entirety of who you are. And so what the book calls us to do is to realize that your worth is not attached to what you have accomplished or what you have not accomplished. Your worth is attached to the fact that you're a human being, and that you're not a human doing what you're a human being, right? And there's a difference, right? Because as humans, we're always about the next thing they're accomplishing. But you're a being, you are a soul, you are someone of value. And so one of the major themes of that book is, you know, defining yourself by the worth that you are a human being, rather than what you, the external, the internal rather than the external. And that was very life altering for me, because I'm a person I like to accomplish and do things, and I'm really attached to those things. But this book was really about deep down inside, you are worthy, and living in the present and living in the fact that you are of worth, regardless of what you accomplish or not accomplish. And I love that, because I think a lot of times we get so stuck on moving, like constantly moving, like, what's next? What can I do to get this? What can I do to get that? And we forget to live in the present. And then next thing you know, you look up years down the line, you're like, what did I do all my life? Because all I did was work, all I did was this, all I did was that. And we forget to live sometimes and just be present. And then I think that eventually affect us down the line. And sometimes it's okay to take a break. Sometimes it's very hard for me to do. And it's like, it's okay to like, take a day, not do anything, not work so hard. And then a lot of times when you do that, you come back, refresh new ideas to help you progress even more. But it's okay to just woosah sometimes. Yes. And you know, it's interesting, he has another book called The Power of Now. And that one also everyone should read. But that one is about living in the present. He talks about life happens in the now, right? And oftentimes we live in the past, we live in the future, right? But everything, the past is made up of the now, the future is made up of the now. And so our attention should be about what's happening right now. Because the now, the quality of how we spend the now determines how we look back on the past and how we look at the future. So he's a powerful author. So I just recommend. I think you need to teach a class. I sure will. I will be happy to. No, especially like the key points, because a lot of times, some people won't pick up these books, because they might be like, you know, that's too deep as I don't have time for it. But I love how you're breaking it down and making it easier for people to understand. And if they're like, hey, let me actually go pick this book up. Or let me go read it because it seems interesting. And like you were honest, give it to chapter three. And so Danielle, before I let you go, is there anything else that you would like to say to fellow book lovers out there? Yeah, I mean, just keep on reading and expand your horizon. Because honestly, I am not really a fiction girl, or a novel girl. But since I have journeyed on this reading and curiosity journey that I'm on, I have opened my eyes to different genres, and they are as powerful as a philosophical book, right? And so just just be open, open your horizon. And I also share that I just launched a website, it's a catalog for book lovers, if you're looking for a book. And you're, you know, in certain categories, I have launched a book site, it's called the equity feed bookshelf.mycanva.com. And so you can just go on there and check out books. There's over 300 curated books by myself, and I'll constantly keep updating it so that you can find things that expand your mind and your horizon. Awesome. Well, Danielle, thank you for all that you're doing in this literary community and for taking the time to come and chat with me and fellow book lovers out there. We greatly appreciate it. Thank you so much. This was a pleasure.