19 April 2010

Reading

I didn't read much as a child.  I don't really remember my parents saying "why don't you read" when I was looking for something to do.  Mom and Dad both read, but not voraciously.  My father read the newspaper daily.  And both my parents read their Bibles, dare I say religiously.  By that I mean a lot and not just enough to get by.  Whatever reading was required in school was just about all that I did.  Many classics that were required reading in high school, I didn't read.  Not because I didn't do my assignments, but because I wasn't assigned many of them.  Even in my AP English class.  The few classics I did read I don't remember.

A few years back I decided I wanted to make more time in my day for reading.  Ironically, but not surprisingly, I couldn't decide with which book to start.  As I mentioned in an earlier post, reading Dan Miller led me back to The Artist's Way.  So,  while working on that book (it's one of those read and do the assignment deals) I found a link to Dan Miller's reading list.  I thought that since he brought me back to The Artist's Way and I was at work on it, I might like other titles on his list.  Decisions make even the simplest task complicated.  Or in my case indecision makes a simple task difficult.

Since my reading journey began I have read some motivational, fiction, inspirational, fashion, health, lifestyle, sales, financial, art, antiques and even some childrens books.  I have probably completed only half of Dan Miller's reading list.  The really great thing is I've actually developed my own reading list.  I'm quite happy with it and look forward to my time with the book which ever one it is at the moment.  In addition, my reading list is growing and new titles are added often.

Here's the thing.  Reading is like writing is like most everything else in life.  Just get started.  Just do it (to borrow an old slogan).  It's not really so important where you start, but that you start.  Like me and many others who enjoy reading you'll find your favs.  You'll find what motivates and inspires you, what soothes and calms you, what challenges and intrigues you.  And you'll be on your way to filling your time and mind with much better stuff than television and googling. So, grab a book and get started.

13 April 2010

Writing

I don't remember ever thinking I would make a career of writing, although I wrote for the campus paper in  high school and college.  I also served on the yearbook staff in college and during my teaching career was on the writing team of a newsletter for educators.

A couple of years ago I began a quest for success.  Not the "I wanna make a million" kind of success, but the success that leads to happiness because you love your work, your relationships are good and you are leading a life of balance and harmony.  Although, if anyone has any ideas about the "I wanna make a million"  I'd be happy to listen. . . just 'cause.

I reread a book, The Creative Way, during this quest and was reminded of the significance of making time to write in one's life.  In my earlier post I mentioned my interest in beautiful journals which I never wrote in for fear of messing them up.  So, I bought some college notebooks at Staples http://www.staples.com/ and began the writing exercises as recommended in the Creative Way.

It took a while to get the hang of it, but soon I looked forward to my early morning ritual with a mug of coffee and the quiet as my only companions.   I believe the author dubbed her writing method as "stream of conscience" writing.  Just recording whatever thoughts were going through your mind when sitting down with pen and paper.  This took a little getting used to for me.  But, once I started the routine deciding what to write about was no longer the problem.

Funny, it was easy to begin and continue this practice on inexpensive college rule, but I couldn't use those nice journals.  And I couldn't bring myself to blog.  Until now.  Another dichotomy.  One really interesting thing about the whole process was that the morning ritual evolved into a meditation time and was a way of thinking, processing and evaluating stuff in my life.  It has been a helpful practice leading me to a heightened awareness about so many little things in life.  Little things that lead to success.  Not the money kind but the harmonious and happy kind.  All because of some college rule and an ink pen.