Today I’ve got a few special treats for all of you. I recently interviewed writer, author and blogger Allison (‘Ally’) Vesterfelt (pictured left). Ally is co-editor of Prodigal Magazine, and also has her own blog.

A few years ago Ally sold everything she owned and travelled around all 50 states in the US for 6 months – learning some incredible life lessons along the way. And now she’s written a book about it, called ‘Packing Light’, which released this week.

In this post I’m going to share some of this interview,talk about Ally’s book, and as a special gift give away the whole interview on MP3 to you to download free.

Yes, that’s free.

But first, a bit about the book.

I usually take a while to read books, but I read this one in two sittings in about three hours. I could barely put it down. It’s compelling, challenging, inspiring and beautifully written. It’s a life-changing book, and one I want to read again and again.

Ally shares not only what happened on her physical journey, but the lessons she learned and how she discovered the principle of ‘Packing Light’ applies not only to road trips, but to our entire lives.

Here’s a couple great quotes from the book (check out the picture at the end of the post for another):

 

“We discover what we need when we live without things. Sometimes it’s good for us to need things and not to have them”

 

“The lighter I pack, the more I realise God knows what I need even more than I do, and He is more generous than I ever imagined”

 

Packing Light is honestly one of the best books you could read this year, and if the message of it really gets out, it could be a complete game changer for how we live our lives and how we perceive our material reality. It’s about living life focussed on what’s really important, rather than what consumerism tells us is important.

It’s challenged me seriously to look at my life and really examine what’s matters and what doesn’t, and I’m still figuring out how I need to respond to this challenge.

I’m sure it will change your life too.

So onto the interview. A couple of weeks ago I interviewed Ally about the book and a whole bunch of other topics. We had a really great chat and I learned a lot. I recorded the interview on MP3 and as I said, today I’m giving it to you to download for free. (yes, no money changes hands whatsoever).

Here’s short sample from our 25 minute interview as a bit of a taster:

 

James Prescott: What are the underlying themes running throughout the book?

Ally Vesterfeld: I’m driving home the message again and again, let go, let go, let go. Either you can let go, or your stuff can drag you through your life. With physical things, it was like an emotional attachment to them. Like a couch..(but) if a couch is keeping me from doing what really want to do with my life then there’s something really unbalanced about that.

What I (also) realised is it’s not just physical things. There were things like worrying what people would think about me quitting a full time job at 26. And in the end it’s something I just had to let go of.

 

JP: What does the message of Packing Light mean for those who aren’t doing a 50-state trip around the US?

AV: I think the message of Packing Light so applicable to anyone in any circumstance. And that message really is that there are things in the way of you becoming who you were made to be, doing the things you really want to do with your life (or ) finding meaning and purpose in your life? And those things (which are in the way) have to go.

And whether it’s physical possessions or emotional attachments, it’s different for each person, there are things for everyone which are getting in the way.

 

JP: What is one piece of advice you’d give to those who are trying to live ‘Packing Light’?

AV: Simply, start with stuff. It’s so easy and tangible for me to tell someone to go through your house and find things you don’t need anymore but you are scared to lose, and give them up. I hope it doesn’t stop there, because when you do that (let go of stuff), it stirs something up inside of you and you start to realise how freeing it is to let go of things which are holding you back. The physical act of letting go of things mirrors the more spiritual act of being able to let go of the more emotional and abstract.

 

Hope you enjoyed that little sample. There is so much more in the interview itself, it really inspired and challenged me and Ally was a great interviewee  as well. And as I said, I can heartedly recommend the book. It’s compelling, inspiring, and encouraging. And it rings true for every single one of us, no matter what our particular belief may be.

So download the interview free at the link below. Then, I’d encourage you, buy the book and give it a read – you can get it here & most online bookstores. It could change your life – it’s certainly changed mine.

 

Interview with Ally Vesterfelt (Free MP3 download)

 

 

Ally Vesterfelt is a writer, blogger & author who is becoming brave enough to live and tell the truth. She’s passionate about helping people to tell, hear and understand stories that inspire, uplift, encourage, and even convict by pointing to the truth of Jesus. She recently released her first book, “Packing Light” and also writes for Prodigal Magazine, which she and her husband Darrell own and manage. Follow her on Twitter at @allyvest 

 

 

 

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You can get your FREE e-book & other free MP3 downloads here or by clicking the picture below.