There are many lessons to be learned in this life. Often we learn by the things we experience as we pass through, and it has been said that "smart people learn from their mistakes and that really smart people learn from the mistakes of others." There is plenty of truth in this statement and we would do well to grasp the magnitude of this concept in our lives.
Learning by our mistakes can be humbling, amusing, and can put us in awkward positions. This is typically the most painful way to learn. On the other hand, learning by the mistakes or experiences of others shields us from much of the pain of failure, and if those we are learning from are close to us it can still provide us with some uneasiness or distress.
Reading Life's Equalizer
In my professional life I have come into contact with the phrase, "readers are leaders" and believe this to be true. Studies consistently show the benefits of reading. It broadens our perspectives and allows us to gain new viewpoints from which to look at the various issues that arrive in our lives. I must admit that growing up I was not much of a reader. My baseball glove, basketball, and golf clubs were far more interesting to me at the time. As I went through college this started to change. I was never one to take classes year round, preferring to sit out the summer terms. It was during this time that I determined that if I expected to keep my mind sharp, reading was the way to do it. Upon finishing school and entering the full time workforce it took a few years before I became a consistent to avid reader. Now I constantly read, trying always to have at least one book that I am reading, along with my commitment to Bible reading, and several blogs that I enjoy.
What to Read?
So now you may be asking the question, "what should I read?" My suggestion is to begin each day with daily Bible reading. This sets Christ as a priority and puts us in a positive frame of mind to start the day. Beyond that, find subjects that interest you and start with those and then don't stick to a single subject but branch out. With all the change in the world today the more we broaden our perspectives the better we will be able to deal with issues that arise. I tend to lean toward non-fiction and biography, but weave in some fiction as well. My personal favorite are the books of Andy Andrews who teaches tremendous life lessons through a folksy, down home fictional style. "The Traveler's Gift", "The Noticer", and "The Noticer Returns" are among the best and most meaningful fictional reads I have encountered. Mitch Albom is also worth looking at with two more fabulous books that also teach us everyday lessons, "The Five People You Meet in Heaven" and "Tuesdays With Morrie".
Call to Action
We all know that physical exercise is good for the body, though we don't always live this way. It is also true that mental exercise, such as reading is great for our mind. Now I encourage you to make time for both. We all have pockets of time that we use unproductively that we could gain a world of advantage from with only a slight tweak. Take inventory, set a goal, and get started. The most underutilized resource in many locales is the local public library. These are great repositories of information and entertainment and, get this, at no cost! If you live near me here is the contact information for two local libraries where you could begin your journey to a broader perspective:
Greene County Public Library
120 N. 12th Street
Paragould, AR 72450
870-236-8711
Jonesboro Public Library 315 W. Oak
Jonesboro, AR 72401
Phone: 870-935-5133
We can all enrich our lives and "With God We Will".
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