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Reading can not only change the way you think, it can even form who
you become. Did you ever give any thought to that idea? Life is pretty
full these days, don't blame you if you don't spend a lot of time contemplating
stuff like that. It's true though I think. When I was much younger I read almost
any kind of book, as long as it seemed interesting, 'science-fiction' was the thing
for me in my early teens. As the years rolled by my choice, yes I do mean
choice, turned to nearly all non-fiction books.
I did not want to waste any time reading anything that could not do me any real
good. Recreational reading seemed a luxury I had not the time for. Many were
technical type, hardly ever from a library, purchased from bookstores and
institutions. Time was too valuable to spend frittering away on fiction.
None of these books made much difference in who I was or eventually became.
Oh, sure, they gave me knowledge which was important to my uses at the time,
but they did not guide or develop my character. Perhaps that is why a few that
did not fit the mold seem to stand out so well in my mind. They were the ones
which were not instructional, or self-improvement which was a big rage in those
years, but were rather informational written in an interesting way. Most if not all
were on the theme of ecology or fly fishing.
I did subscribe occasionally to a sporting type but that was rare. I read little in
the summer but as winter curtailed much of my fly fishing in Michigan, reading
was one of the things I could afford. Winter is a good thing, it gives a rest from
the hectic planning of spring, the involvements of summer and the relaxing times
of fall. Winter is to recharge, both the body and the inner mind. I think it must
have been planned that way even in the states which have no snow, things do
change. Winter does for the whole person what eight hours of sleep does for
us every night.
This is the time for us to take a deep breath, relax, chill-out, re-group, do some
reading. Pick one of those books you already have, turn off the TV, fire up the
stereo, stoke up the fire-place if you have one and allow some new ideas to enter
your mind with a good book. It is hard to get any new ideas when we are talking
all the time, a book will make us listen to the sincere thoughts of someone who
just may have something to say.
As we read we tend to incorporate those thoughts. We add them to ourselves
just as we add words in our vocabulary. Be selective about what you read, but
take the time to recharge, let in some fresh ideas and continue to grow. It is not
wasted time, it is your time and your chance to develop in any way you choose.
"Come on in 'Old Man Winter;' I'll put another log on the fire." ~ James Castwell
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