We Were Made for These Times: Ten Lessons for Moving Through Change, Loss, and Disruption

Besides having one of the best covers I’ve seen all year, this succinct book by meditation teacher Kaira Jewel Lingo is a practical and comforting manual for navigating a world falling apart. A close student of the late Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh, she carries forth his teachings in a unique and fresh way, applying a contemporary social justice lens and her own experience as a Black woman. This is a highly practical little book for navigating times of transition (which is to say, every moment). I was particularly moved by the image of her description of walking meditation that I’ve quoted below. Like other practices in the book, I find myself returning to it. If you need a little hope right now — or simply some better coping mechanisms — this is a nourishing and easy summer read.

This book is a blessing and so needed. It’s a simple guide to living and coping with the uncertainty, chaos and stress of our times. Kaira provides a step-by-step guide to maintaining calm and balance by offering practical exercises that we can follow. She uses simple language to convey complicated topics like non-self and equanimity. It’s like she is talking to us, taking us by the hand and leading us out of the darkness. While it sounds simple, it is quite difficult to do. This book is a gift, written in everyday language to help so many people who are struggling. It is a treasure that will provide guidance now and for many years to come. So grateful to Kaira for her loving contribution to our social well-being.

Kaira Jewel Lingo’s “We Were Made for These Times”, is beautifully written and exudes warmth and compassion. Lingo does a masterful job of breaking down each lesson by using personal anecdotes, meditations, songs and journal prompts. This is the type of book that should be read and reread and passed around and shared. I bought 11 copies to share with my friends and family. I highly recommend.

The book is a treasure of simplicity and encouragement for each to live in the present fully, despite life's many challenges. The tools provided to actually achieve this include meditations and daily life suggestions that are accessible and deeply meaningful. Loved reading and discussing this with a small book club.

While I didn’t really learn anything new here (I have studied these ideas for years), it was a nice, friendly book that reminded me of a few helpful concepts and practices.

This is a great book, especially for those looking for answers and coping skills with so much happening in the world. A good read!

Although this book is available at different platforms online, a paper version is quite useful.

The practices in this book are simple and yet so profound. It was easy for me to follow on the journey she leads and calm mind and heart with her beautiful and gentle practices. Thank you Kaira Jewel!

But it comes highly recommended!

Every single word is cherished.

It’s one of those books that we all need to read, helps makes sense of turmoil

Maybe thirteen or fourteen year ago, i saw Master Thich Nhat Hanh for the first time in Cologne at a retreat. This retreat was for two or three days.I read almost every book from him. Now i saw and listened to him for the first time in my life.Every word and how he moved slow in mindfulness touched my heart very much.After Master Thich Nhat Hanh finished his Dhamma Talk, a nun talked about the five earth touchings.And those words even touched my heart more.I never saw this nun before and i didn`t know her name, but i hoped that day, she would write a book one day.I can remenber every word, thirteen or fourteen years later. Not only my mind listened to this nun. My heart listened too. The mind can forget words, but the mind never, when it is listening.A few year later my wife an i bought a little house in Waldbröl/Germany.This little house is very near of the EIAB an i saw this nun again an often.Her name was Sister Jewel.And she is a Jewel.Later i did not see her anymore.What a loss.And years later i knew she left the Sangha and was in the US again.But i was lucky an found her on facebook.And i am more luckey, she wrote a book.My dream, thirteen oder fourteen years ago, came true.This book ist a jewel too.You should read it with your heart.You should sing every word.You should dance while reading it.This book has music an compassion in it.When you read it only with your mind, you will miss the music in this book.For me she will be alway be Sister Jewel.An i hope, she will write more books.Raphael Douglas