Review Corner: Being Present: The Gift of Experiencing Life As It Happens by Keith Sykes #bookreview #bookcorner

 

Title: Being Present: The Gift of Experiencing Life As It Happens
Author: Keith Sykes
Publisher: Chosen Pen Publishing
Pages: 104
Genre: Memoir

Being Present details my life growing up in New Orleans, Louisiana, the youngest of 8 children. It gives the reader an intimate look at the relationship between me, my parents, and my siblings. It discusses life and death, joy and pain, and strength and perseverance. The book talks about love and loss and is an optimistic look at overcoming the obstacles of life.

Being Present talks about how I dealt with life after my parent’s death and how joining the military completely changed my life. It gives a glimpse into how the military inspired my love for travel and the many places that I was able to visit as a result. Read about my life after the military and the challenges I faced that shaped the man I am today. Lastly, the book will provide samples of my photography and discuss how it was inspired by my travel.

Release Date: ‎ January 5, 2023 

Publisher: Chosen Pen Publishing

Kindle: ASIN: ‎ B0BRT7CRWH; eBook $1.99 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3jWFLpw

Another powerful book. Mindfulness - keep that word in mind when reading Being Present: The Gift of Experiencing Life As It Happens by Keith Sykes because it's the point of what this book is about. I know our teachers and parents are always telling us to focus. Keith Sykes takes us on a journey - his journey - and through his experiences with his family and through travel, his journey becomes an inspirational tale of hope and sadness and experiencing life as it happens - at the time it happens. People go through life with blinders on sometimes, but not Keith Sykes.

The story begins in New Orleans in the St. Bernard housing projects. The youngest of eight siblings, Keith lived a normal family life filled with love. And Keith was a good kid. Always had friends. His mom was his rock but he knew he had to get out there and make a life for himself. He signed up for the Army and his mother died of cancer just before he was set to leave. His father died of diabetes when he was very young and his mother was all he had (besides his siblings). So when she died, he left for the Army to start a new life.

He loved the Army and loved traveling to new places. Egypt was his favorite. And because he loved to travel, that's exactly what he did after he left the Army. By then, Keith had been married three times.

It was at this point when Keith discovered what it was like to live in the moment. Here's a quote I loved:

"One thing I know is that people are always looking for an upgrade. The better car, the bigger house, the VIP ticket, or the deluxe meal because they want an experience that is memorable and above average. They want something that not everyone has access to. That is how I choose to live life, and that is what I choose to give to those closest to me - An experience that they will remember for the rest of their lives."

I share this because this is all part of his "mindfulness" attitude had painstakingly tried to achieve at this point in his life. Keith had one advantage - a loving family. After he left the service, that was when he decided to do a bit of traveling and find out what he wanted to do with the rest of his life which ended up giving him the opportunity to run the Installation Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers (BOSS) program for Fort Bragg. Then he started working as a health systems specialist for the Department of the Army at Fort Bragg. And then he started his own photography business, Kreative Images.

Keith lived a really interesting life and I enjoyed reading about his family life, his travels and his different business ventures and I know in all his experiences, he kept it real by "Being Present."

I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. I give it 5 gold stars!