Man, I love John Waters! And I like his way of thinking on the subject of books, as it seems as though books have gone by the wayside. Books are the perfect escape, the perfect mental stimulation and great companions. You can definitely tell a lot about a person by what they read, and even more so by what they don't read sometimes. I'm giving people the benefit of the doubt, but in this day and age, is it fair to judge people by an empty bookshelf? Maybe they are just really in to their kindle, or use the library? Maybe they spend most of their time reading articles and blogs online? I agree that reading is important and we need to make Books Cool again, but I think the bottom line is whether or not a person has a desire to learn, to seek knowledge and expand the mind —to want more from life. Woodrow Wilson once said, "I would never read a book if it were possible for me to talk half an hour with the man who wrote it", and I think that holds some validity. There is a balance, some truths just aren't found within pages, they come from experience and interactions.
I have always said that I'm an open book, but recently I feel like the world is contracting all around me and I've been keeping myself tightly bound...until I started re-reading through a stack of incredibly inspiring magazines that a dear friend left behind when she moved away. I've been getting so much out of these Mother Jones, Shambhala Sun, Breathe and Writer's Journal magazines that I have no doubt about how reading helps shift your mind frame and transforms the dull thoughts. I've been in need of those reminders and prompts to stay light, open and grateful.
As I see it today, the ability to read awoke inside me some long dormant craving to be mentally alive." —Malcolm X, The Autobiography of Malcolm X
A firm believer in the power of vision boards (re: my house and current job), these periodicals have helped me to recreate my goals and focus on what makes me happy. I keep thinking of my experiences in Kenya and the people there. I think of how I am genuinely passionate about nature and animals. And I think a lot about writing. Perhaps, for me, it's one of those things staring you in the face that you tend to overlook. I enjoy writing, and I feel good about pursuing it further. It's going to be the way that I can make an impact, a way to share experiences and information and maybe even make books cool again. Most importantly, my sights are set on the future and the possibilities ahead...we'll see how the next vision and chapter unfolds...
