Wake Up and Live: A Review of ‘Life is a Verb’ by Patti Digh

Rating: 4 out of 5 Healthy Hearts ❤️❤️❤️❤️️

What would you do if you had only 37 days to live?

That’s the powerful question at the heart of Patti Digh’s narrative. It is a soulful, colorful, and sometimes quirky guidebook to intentional living titled Life is a Verb. Digh was inspired by the unexpected death of her stepfather just 37 days after his cancer diagnosis. She turns urgency into art with a unique blend of storytelling, creative prompts, and raw honesty. The book truly suggests that life is a verb, embracing action and purpose.

A Book That Lives and Breathes

The book isn’t your typical self-help manual. There’s no step-by-step checklist or tidy life formula. Instead, Digh invites us to engage six powerful practices—intensity, inclusion, integrity, intention, intuition, and intimacy—through a series of essays, reflections, and action steps. Each one reminds us that life should be an active practice, not lived on autopilot.

What makes this book so engaging is its unpredictable format. Digh shares short, intimate stories drawn from everyday experiences—a coffee shop conversation, a parenting moment, a memory of loss. She pairs them with creative exercises that challenge the reader to reflect, write, sketch, or simply notice. It emphasizes that life, as a verb, requires active participation and awareness.

The Power of Personal Reflection

Digh’s writing is honest and inviting, as if a wise friend is gently pushing you to be braver and kinder with yourself and others. She doesn’t preach. She observes and wonders aloud. And in doing so, she gives readers permission to pause, reflect, and engage life with fresh eyes. One of the most powerful themes throughout the book is the idea that small moments hold big meaning—if we’re awake enough to notice them amidst life’s active pace.

> “Don’t wait for the cancer diagnosis to tell people you love them.”

– Patti Digh, Life is a Verb

Who Is This Book For?

If you’re feeling stuck in the grind, this book offers a refreshing perspective by emphasizing that life is essentially a verb. It’s especially resonant for creatives, caregivers, spiritual seekers, and anyone craving a reset. It’s also a beautiful tool for journaling, solo retreats, or personal growth workshops. Think of it as part memoir, part mindfulness manual, and part creative workbook.

That said, readers who prefer a linear or heavily structured read may find the book a bit disjointed. The freeform, artistic layout is intentional—it reflects the messiness and beauty of life itself—but may take some getting used to.

Final Thoughts: A Call to Intentional Living

This book won’t tell you how to live. Instead, it will lovingly remind you that life is short, messy, beautiful, and happening right now. As expressed in Life is a Verb, Digh dares us to live like we mean it—not someday, but today. It’s not just a book; it’s a gentle wake-up call.

If you’ve enjoyed authors like Brené Brown, Anne Lamott, or Elizabeth Gilbert, you’ll likely find a kindred voice here. And if you’re longing for meaning, creativity, and mindful presence in your daily life, this book belongs on your nightstand, reinforcing that life is to be lived as an action.

Want More Like This?

Check out my other book reviews and reflections on intentional living, creativity, and spiritual growth.

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