Life Glows On Conversation Starters

Thanks so much to the book clubs, women’s groups, creativity groups, health and wellness groups, nurses groups, educators, therapists who have requested a Life Glows On discussion guide. I always like to wait a bit to see what resonates for early readers, so another big thank you to all the awesome women who have reached out to share insightful comments and stories.

Feel free to use these Life Glows On conversation starters in any way that works for your group. Or share them with the friend you love to talk books with. Or scroll through them solo whenever you need a nudge to get back on track with your creativity.

If you’d like a PDF to print or forward, just send me an email at ClaireATClaireCook.com and I’d be delighted to send you one.

Life Glows On Conversation Starters

1. Claire Cook wrote her first novel in her minivan when she was 45. At 50, she walked the red carpet at the Hollywood premiere of the adaptation of her novel Must Love Dogs, starring Diane Lane and John Cusack. She is now the New York Times bestselling author of 21 books that encourage other 40-to-forever women in their own lives. What would you like to do in your own life if, as Claire says, it’s never too late to shine on? What’s getting in your way?
2. Claire says that her own COVID-19 story planted the seed for writing Life Glows On. How has your personal pandemic experience impacted your life? Your values? Your goals?
3. A foundational belief of Life Glows On is that we’re all creative. Has reading the book changed your view of creativity? Do you feel inspired to reconnect with your own creativity? Is there a specific creative project you’re now ready to take on?
4. What’s your earliest creative memory? Was it a positive or a negative experience? If you could reach back and give that younger self some advice and/or encouragement, what would you say to her?
5. In Life Glows On, Claire says that “being creative helps us heal, see ourselves, find our voices again, reconnect with the parts of us we’ve lost, step into our truth.” Have you experienced that in your own life? Have you observed it in other people’s lives?
6. “Creativity is the box of crayons we use to tell our story, and in telling our story we figure out who we are.” How has creativity helped you tell your own story? How has it helped you figure out who you are? Who you’re becoming?
7. While researching the book, many people told Claire that even though they have more free time than they’ve ever had, they seem to be accomplishing a whole lot less these days. The thought of settling into a creative project when there’s so much need swirling around makes them feel guilty and self-absorbed. Is struggling with feeling overwhelmed by “the staggering stress of this time” something you’ve also experienced? Has it been a challenge to use your time productively?
8. In the chapter “Leaving a Legacy,” Claire says, “Creativity makes our lives better. Our legacy can make other people’s lives better. A little bit of both makes everything better.” How do you look at the overlap between creativity and legacy? In general? Specifically in your own life?
9. Did Life Glows On inspire you to keep a notebook? What kind of notebook did you choose? When and how often to you write in it? What kinds of things do you write? What would you suggest to someone who’s new to collecting ideas and inspiration in a notebook?
10. “It doesn’t have to be complicated to be creative. It doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful.” Do you struggle with perfectionism? How does it get in your way in terms of your creativity? In terms of the rest of your life?
11. Do you thrive when you follow your creative impulses or do you have a tendency to end up surrounded by the chaos of half-finished projects?
12. Do you agree that “fear is a fact of a well-lived life” and that fear of success and fear of failure “are pretty much flip sides of the same coin?” How has fear impacted your own life? Your creativity?
13. “We can spend our life trying to get back at all the ugly, mean-spirited people who totally deserve it. Or we can be grateful that we’re not one of them, and spend our days being kind and sparkling with creativity.” What ugly, mean-spirited person are you NOT going to try to get back at? How will you rise above that particular negativity?
14. Have you chosen your one creative thing? Will it involve a daily practice? What is your version of Claire’s two pages a day?
15. What section of Life Glows On gave you the biggest jolt of recognition? What inspired you the most? What is your favorite quote from the book? Which of Claire Cook’s books do you think you’ll read next?

BONUS ACTIVITY: Go to ClaireCook.com and get your FREE copy of 41 Essential Quotes to Get Your Glow On. Print them out, color the borders and/or collage them. Copy your favorite quotes into your notebook. Or just leave them on your phone to pull up whenever you need a boost.

If you haven’t read Life Glows On yet, you can buy your copy here: https://amzn.to/3A0vmN2

Talk to you soon!

CLAIRE COOK wrote her first book in her minivan at 45. At 50, she walked the red carpet at the Hollywood premiere of Must Love Dogs, starring Diane Lane and John Cusack, which is now a 7-book series. Claire is the New York Times, USA Today and #1 Amazon bestseller of 21 fun and inspiring books.