Book Review: The Great Eight by Scott Hamilton

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I read the book The Great Eight by Scott Hamilton. It was a rather short, simple read, but it was packed with inspiration and advice about finding happiness. Actually it was not about finding happiness so much as it was about choosing happiness in our lives. Scott Hamilton clearly believes that happiness is a choice and a goal to be achieved rather than something that happens to us beyond our control. Clearly he is a goal-oriented person, and he broke the concept of choosing happiness into eight simple steps. If those steps are diligently practiced, much like his years of practicing to make the perfect figure eight on the ice (not to mention all the other figure-skating skills he certainly mastered), happiness will be a habit in our lives.

Life will be full of trials, and Mr. Hamilton certainly has had his share. He was adopted, and some people use this issue alone as a hindrance to finding happiness in their lives, never mind the other huge obstacles he would later face. His health was poor as a child, and he had difficulty being accepted by other kids because he was different. In adulthood he has had two separate battles with cancer. If anyone would have an excuse to wallow in self-pity, he would. However, he has chosen happiness and applied these eight principles to his own life.

This is a very inspirational read, and I think this book is timely given the difficult times we face today. It has helped and encouraged me personally in several facets of my life.

Candle Maker

Candle Maker, originally uploaded by Marvin (PA).

I have been in the candle business since 2004, and I am constantly reminded that I have so much more to learn. This is a process I have never seen before. He is pouring ladles of hot wax over a taper candle to build up the layers. I have seen them made by dipping them in hot wax, but never this method. Clearly he has done this many times before. Learned something new!