Beyond the need to read such things as recipes, instructions, street signs, bills, notices, restaurant menus, memos at work, and perhaps the headlines in the newspaper, many individuals fail to see the need to read anything else, any time or anywhere. Many home educators generally will read at least some of the textbooks and workbooks their children use but often, beyond that, little else.
Think about it. When have you read last? REALLY read something that impacted you. Something that you learned from. Concepts that have brought you beyond where you were. What is the title of the last book you read? Where are you, as an adult, on the path of continuing learning?
Are you stuck on the ABCs you are teaching your young children? Where are you, now, on your journey towards growing intellectually and as a person? Have you continued learning since you received a highschool or college diploma, or a degree and moved beyond that point in your past, or are you stuck back there? You are probably not alone if your mind is running in circles right about now, saying, “Ya but, you have no idea how busy my life is!”.
Probably the most common reason for not reading is, “I am SO BUSY!” Out of that statement grows the second response, “I just don’t have the time to read.” You are, of course, quite right and I can empathize with you. As a seminar speaker, one of my presentations is “Organizing for Success.” Being organized must extend far beyond lining your ducks up in a row and picking off one at a time as you aim for an undefined or hazy goal. Do you find yourself starting at six a.m., flying through your day, ticking off the to-do’s on your list one at a time, and dropping exhausted into bed at midnight – often with the list not accomplished? Been there? Done that? Now you are wondering if I am truly suggesting you add “reading” to your to-do list and the only time will be between midnight and one a.m. Relax! We will address that time issue in a future article.
In the meantime, you need to know neuropathways are developed and expanded when you read, becoming stronger. Reading is a form of gymnastics or exercise for the brain. As with any form of physical exercise, easy routines will provide some benefit, but perhaps not be life transforming. For instance, walking across the room once is “exercise” in the strict sense of the word. Walking back and forth a hundred times gives benefits beyond a single stroll. Walking the floor one hundred times while swinging your arms would add even more dynamic benefits to your workout. Walking outside, swinging the arms in the fresh air is even more beneficial. What does walking have to do with reading? I am glad you asked! Readers are leaders. And in addition to that, leaders are readers! Read those truths again – readers are leaders and leaders are readers.
When you walk, you are generally going somewhere – advancing forward. When you read quality material, you are mentally advancing forward, beyond where you have been and where you are now, to where you will be in the future. As mentioned in the comments about organizing for success and lining your ducks up, you need to have clearly defined goals. Where are you going? What do you want out of life? How will you get beyond where you are now – to where you want to be in the future? In fact, do you want to be someone different in your future than who you are now? Have you thought along these lines yet? If not, why not?
As you have no doubt deduced, reading figures heavily in planning for your present and your future. If you do not plan for your future now, it will be here before you know it and you probably will not be all that excited about what you find there. Far beyond planning for your financial and housing needs in the future, you need to be considering and caring for your mental needs. That is where reading comes in. Your future starts today!
Until my next post when I will discuss to a greater depth this issue of reading, consider this: when you look at a simple acorn, what do you see?
Until next time,
Maxine