The Yellow Envelope- A Review

The past couple of years, I've really been focusing on intentional living and trying to do things to help benefit other people.

This year, my word for the year is "live", and The Yellow Envelope is a perfect example of just that- living every day to the fullest.

Kim Dinan finds herself feeling stuck in her corporate life in Portland, and convinces her husband to join her in quitting their jobs and traveling the world. They basically sell everything they own and set off to try to find themselves as they learn about and experience other cultures. The adventure takes them through South America and Asia, and in the process they discover who they are as individuals as well as who they are as a couple.

Just prior to them setting off on their amazing journey, friends of the couple offer them money in a yellow envelope to be offered to others along the way. The money is free for the giving... the only thing is that they have to follow three rules: Don't overthink it; share your experiences; don't feel pressured to give it all away.

This memoir shares the experiences found from the yellow envelope money, as well as invites the readers to step out of their comfort zone and live fully. Kim finds herself questioning things along the way, but is a more confident and secure individual at the end of the journey.

As I read the adventures across different countries, I was reminded that to truly live, I have to be willing to take some chances. That's not saying I'll be quitting my job anytime soon, but I can definitely look for ways to impact others along the way.

This book is well-written and the story is easy to follow. Each country brings new challenges for Kim and new life lessons for the reader. By the end, we realize the truth of the importance of not overthinking things, and the reality that sometimes we do just that.

I'd recommend this book to anyone who enjoys memoirs, especially travel memoirs. It's a positive read and I finished with a greater sense of obligation to make my corner of the world a little better.
I did receive a free copy of this book through netgalley in exchange for an honest review and am posting this review on their website.