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Chai on Life: Unpacking Everyday Wisdom: Stories of Vulnerability, Strength, and the Human Heart
232 pages, Hardcover
Published September 15, 2025
1 person is currently reading
3 people want to read
About the author
Lorie Kleiner Eckert
9 books12 followersBorn and raised in St. Louis, Missouri.
A magna cum laude graduate of the University of Missouri with a degree in Elementary Education.
Married in 1973. Gave birth to my son in 1976; to my older daughter in 1978; and to my younger daughter in 1983. Divorced in 1994.
Have lived in St. Louis, San Diego, and Los Angeles. Currently reside in Cincinnati.
Have ten grandchildren - 6 grandgirls and 4 grandboys. Love them dearly!
I love to quilt! I love to walk, exercise and eat right! But then again, there is ice cream...
I am a happy camper and I count my blessings daily.
A magna cum laude graduate of the University of Missouri with a degree in Elementary Education.
Married in 1973. Gave birth to my son in 1976; to my older daughter in 1978; and to my younger daughter in 1983. Divorced in 1994.
Have lived in St. Louis, San Diego, and Los Angeles. Currently reside in Cincinnati.
Have ten grandchildren - 6 grandgirls and 4 grandboys. Love them dearly!
I love to quilt! I love to walk, exercise and eat right! But then again, there is ice cream...
I am a happy camper and I count my blessings daily.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 3, 2025
Delightful book includes many words of wisdom on positive thinking and optimism. The writer delivers these words of wisdom in short essays, so it's nice to pick it up for a quick "pick me up" for the day! Pronounce “chai” like “high” and… you get the idea! Also, Chai on Life, the book, makes a great gift!
August 31, 2025
Heartwarming stories, life lessons and motivation to keep going all wrapped into one 💕
September 20, 2025
Full disclosure: the author is a friend of mine. (And I read a pre-publication copy of the book; the version now available is in full color and illustrated by the author, herself.)
That said, I can tell you that my rating of this book would be the same were she a complete stranger. Why? Many reasons -- but mostly because the life lessons Lorie shares with her readers are common- sensical, relatable, insightful, and memorable. I need those reminders, insights, and inspirations, and I'm pretty darned sure most of today's women need them, too.
Of course, men can benefit from these slice of life essays and their takeaways, too. But I doubt many will read them, as the self-help/relationship section of bookstores has rarely been given a glance by my male friends and relatives. However, women who feel (at times or always) overwhelmed by everyday challenges -- the realization that they (or their children, or both) are growing older, illness and/or death of family members or friends, unexpected basement floods or not knowing who to call for help with unusual household issues, or simply the day-to-day grind of work/family/housework responsibilities -- these women surely will benefit from the wisdom imparted in these short, easily digested essays.
Lorie writes from the heart. Reading these essays is like sitting down in your living room with her, sharing a cup of tea or coffee or maybe even a glass of wine, and discussing life with all its beauty and challenges. Conversational in tone, with warmth, compassion, empathy, and humor, Lorie Eckert opens up her life experiences as if sharing them with a friend. Indeed, you'll feel like you've got a new friend after reading only a few of the essays in this book.
The title is a play on words: "chai" (pronounced with a gutteral "H" at the beginning, not like the drink you might order at a coffee or tea shop) is the Hebrew word for "life." But it sounds a lot like the word "high." So despite all the challenges Ms. Eckert's life has brought her, she is still "high on life," and these essays encourage us to be so, too.
You don't have to read these essays all at once, or even in any special order. Lorie has arranged them by theme, so you can dive in anywhere. (Examples: "Accepting Yourself and Others;" "Aging.") And the essays are short -- you can gain a meaningful insight in just a few minutes of your precious time. And, many times, you'll get a chuckle or two, as well -- a nice bonus! Plus, at the end, Lorie lists all the takeaways in short form, so you can "re-read" the book in almost no time. I may write down and post the takeaways I find most meaningfuly on my office wall, so they'll be ready and waiting when I need them.
I highly recommend this book for any woman who finds herself at times bewildered or overwhelmed by what's going on in her life. Is that you? Then go get this book. It's great medicine -- and fun reading.
That said, I can tell you that my rating of this book would be the same were she a complete stranger. Why? Many reasons -- but mostly because the life lessons Lorie shares with her readers are common- sensical, relatable, insightful, and memorable. I need those reminders, insights, and inspirations, and I'm pretty darned sure most of today's women need them, too.
Of course, men can benefit from these slice of life essays and their takeaways, too. But I doubt many will read them, as the self-help/relationship section of bookstores has rarely been given a glance by my male friends and relatives. However, women who feel (at times or always) overwhelmed by everyday challenges -- the realization that they (or their children, or both) are growing older, illness and/or death of family members or friends, unexpected basement floods or not knowing who to call for help with unusual household issues, or simply the day-to-day grind of work/family/housework responsibilities -- these women surely will benefit from the wisdom imparted in these short, easily digested essays.
Lorie writes from the heart. Reading these essays is like sitting down in your living room with her, sharing a cup of tea or coffee or maybe even a glass of wine, and discussing life with all its beauty and challenges. Conversational in tone, with warmth, compassion, empathy, and humor, Lorie Eckert opens up her life experiences as if sharing them with a friend. Indeed, you'll feel like you've got a new friend after reading only a few of the essays in this book.
The title is a play on words: "chai" (pronounced with a gutteral "H" at the beginning, not like the drink you might order at a coffee or tea shop) is the Hebrew word for "life." But it sounds a lot like the word "high." So despite all the challenges Ms. Eckert's life has brought her, she is still "high on life," and these essays encourage us to be so, too.
You don't have to read these essays all at once, or even in any special order. Lorie has arranged them by theme, so you can dive in anywhere. (Examples: "Accepting Yourself and Others;" "Aging.") And the essays are short -- you can gain a meaningful insight in just a few minutes of your precious time. And, many times, you'll get a chuckle or two, as well -- a nice bonus! Plus, at the end, Lorie lists all the takeaways in short form, so you can "re-read" the book in almost no time. I may write down and post the takeaways I find most meaningfuly on my office wall, so they'll be ready and waiting when I need them.
I highly recommend this book for any woman who finds herself at times bewildered or overwhelmed by what's going on in her life. Is that you? Then go get this book. It's great medicine -- and fun reading.
November 10, 2025
Chai on life is a refreshing look at coping with everyday life by a talented, approachable writer and motivational speaker. Interspersed with pleasing artwork are life lessons that can apply to us all. Based on the precept that knowing and loving yourself can help positivity and forgiveness her prose uses personal anecdotes to show the philosophy of facing life by finding happiness despite the difficulties we may experience.
In many ways I identify with Lorie, as we are both grandmothers dealing with the problems of aging but grateful for our families. In other ways, her everyday life in Cincinnati is quite different to mine in England but her messages apply to all women of any age in most parts of the western world. The easy conversational style and self-effacing humour make each essay enjoyable reading, best read in short bursts for the best reward.
For me this final message resonates most:-
Remember the past
Create the present
Inspire the future
In many ways I identify with Lorie, as we are both grandmothers dealing with the problems of aging but grateful for our families. In other ways, her everyday life in Cincinnati is quite different to mine in England but her messages apply to all women of any age in most parts of the western world. The easy conversational style and self-effacing humour make each essay enjoyable reading, best read in short bursts for the best reward.
For me this final message resonates most:-
Remember the past
Create the present
Inspire the future
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews