(Have You) Read Any Good Books Lately?

Now that the weather is turning a little cooler and the skies here in the Northwest are turning a little”drippier,” one’s mind turns to curling up with a good book in front of a fireplace… at least, mine does.


Fireplace or not, reading a good book anywhere… on a plane, at the kitchen table, while waiting at the doctor’s [hairdresser’s] [barber’s] [manicurist’s] office, on a bus… is a joy!


As a member of a Book Club, I recently had the privilege of presenting a book that absolutely “knocked me out,” one that lingers long after I finished the second reading. The book is A Pilgrimage to Eternity, by Timothy Egan. I highly recommend it if you are interested in extremely well-written history and adventure.


This November 2022 Poem of the Month is shared with love, and a message: Find your own “knock out” book and spend some valuable time with it. Let it take you to some wonderful places.


And remember, friends, whatever the question, Love is the answer!

 

(HAVE YOU) READ ANY GOOD BOOKS LATELY?


Reading, as you may know, is a brainy affair:
You use you own, and borrow the author’s.
You increase your power by feeding your brain.
You, in turn, become a venturer.

A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies…
A non-reader, in contrast, lives only a few.
Books let you travel without moving your feet.
And reading good books broadens your point of view.

One glance at a book and you hear the voices
Of people who, perhaps, lived long ago.
When you read, you can easily voyage through time.
When you read, you know you are not alone.

Human nature calls for progress, and reading
Will give you the stimulus to expand your view.
To rise above the ordinary and continue to learn
Is a choice to be made, and worthy to pursue.

Reading affords awareness of others who’ve lived different lives.
As you read, your sources of information are on the increase.
The reading of all good books is like a conversation
With the finest people of the past centuries.

Reading is an exercise in empathy.
You walk in another’s shoes all the while.
You discover how they handled their personal issues.
You compare them to yours, and you smile.

Reading only one book is like eating one potato chip.
You will require more to satisfy your hunger.
The more you read, the more things you’ll know.
…Older with knowledge, but with curiosity that is younger.

Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body.
You become a part of everything you have read.
Learning to read is to light a fire.
Without the skill it is difficult to go ahead.

…And The Conversation Continues

The name of October 2022’s Poem of the Month is … And The Conversation Continues. During the past few months. I’ve been fortunate to connect with some long-time friends and, honestly, we pick up the conversation where it left off the last time we spoke!

The length of the time lapse doesn’t seem to matter.

So, thoughts about what a conversation is, and how it enhances the quality of our lives, prompted the poem.

Enjoy it, and remember…

Whatever the question, love is the answer…

 

… AND THE CONVERSATION CONTINUES

What is more satisfying than a good conversation
With a person who stimulates your mind, and your heart?
A good conversation can shift your perspective.
People who engage are practicing their art.

Many famous people have commented on the subject:
Anne Morrow Lindbergh enjoyed a good conversation.
She said, “It’s as stimulating as drinking black coffee,
And just as hard to sleep after.” (Fun association!)

Even with all the modern “Zoomy” technology
A face-to-face conversation is certainly my preference.
A face-to-face conversation is unfolded slowly.
It teaches patience; moreover, it creates confidence.

Remember that “silence is one of the great arts of conversation.”
Cicero related that opinion in his writings.
You listen to their words before you respond.
Give-and-take in conversation is much more inviting.

Ideal conversation is an exchange of thought.
It’s not oratory or an exhibition of wit.
You build on another person’s words and observations,
And both of you reap the benefit.

True happiness arises from the enjoyment of one’s self;
And after that, the company of others that you hold dear.
Friendship and conversation with your select companions
Create in your world a loving atmosphere.

Elder Wisdom

September 2022’s poem, “Elder Wisdom,” was first published in 2017 in my book, AWAKENINGS. Though short in length, it packs a powerful lesson, I think. It reminds us that we get back (usually, in like kind) that which we put into a thought… a philosophy… a project… a life!

If we think positively about something, then positive results will ensue; and the same holds true if we think in a negative vein… we get negative results!

Feed the positive, my friends. Feed the positive!!! You will be happier, and who knows? Your presence might make other people happier, too.

Remember, whatever the question, Love Is The Answer.

 

ELDER WISDOM

Old Cherokee wisdom passed down to the young
Around a campfire burning bright…
The Elder Woman sharing her stories so wise
To a granddaughter basking in the light,

The subject was about a battle that rages…
(Couched in terms of two wolves in a fight… )
The fight goes on inside people each day
Between Good and evil — wrong and right.

Evil is anger. It’s envy and jealousy.
It’s sorrow and regret and greed;
On the other hand, Good is joy, peace and love.
It is hope and serenity, truths to heed.

The young girl turned to her grandmother and asked,
Her face in an earnest, questioning need…
“Which one wins?” She asked the Elder Woman.
The Old Woman’s answer: “The one you feed.”