Precious Treasures

/ jenidriscoll

reading-quote

I’ve always loved to read. For me, it’s one of the best forms of escape. Books take me to places I’ve never been. I get to travel back in time or to the future. I meet people and am exposed to cultures I never knew existed.

This past weekend I watched a video that inspired me. It was by Danny at Dream Big, Dream Often. You can watch his vlog here. He talks about how crucial reading is, in order to learn and grow. One habit of successful people is that they read. A lot. Whether books are educational or entertaining, they expand your knowledge about the world.

Danny mentioned something that stuck with me. He quoted Mark Twain, who said, “The man who does not read has no advantage over the man who cannot read.”

What that means to me is that since I can read, I have no excuses for not continuing to learn. There’s a wealth of information waiting for me in books.

I started taking Mackenzie and Talee to the library when they were very young. It was a fun and free activity. As they got older, around five and seven, we made a trip to the library every few weeks. They’d browse the shelves and once they had a huge stack of books in their arms, we’d settle into comfy chairs to look at them.

When we were ready to leave, the girls would hold their library bags that were stuffed with books, audio tapes, and puppets. I can picture the huge smiles on their faces. They’d practically run to the car because they couldn’t wait to look at their new treasures.

It was like I  bought them a bunch of toys or outfits from their favorite store. They’d be that excited. It warmed my heart and made me smile. It still does.

Now that they’re in their twenties, Mackenzie and Talee still love to read. One day when they’re both home for the weekend, I should take them to the library. I bet they’d love that. I know I would.

First image courtesy of here

Second image courtesy of here

47 thoughts on “Precious Treasures”

  1. My mum used to get me new books from the library every week while I was in primary school and I would gobble them up as soon as I got home. I was always known as a bookworm. I took my children from being babaies and they rake theirs. Unfortunately. Our libraries are under threat from council cutbacks, our small town library was threatened with closure along woth several others in surrounding towns. They don’t just provide a space to read books, they have computers and give basic training, they are a centre for local information, for meetings, for parent and toddler groups and so on. Our town was successful in fighting the closures but they have seriously cut back the staff and the opening hours, relying on volunteers a lot of the time. The council members were reputedly shocked and stunned at how strongly people felt about this issue. Goodness knows why.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  2. Reading an actual book seems to engage a part of my mind that watching a video or even reading an internet source doesn’t stimulate. I can highlight and make notes in the margins, feel the pages between my fingers, smell paper. All of my senses participate. When I was little, I loved to read. My mom used to bring my brother and me to the library just like you brought your daughters. Our favorite section was the special shelf for books that were featured on Reading Rainbow. We *loved* LeVar Burton.) When I was older, the only reading that I did was of textbooks, and I think something inside my brain actually died. When I started therapy for my eating disorder, I started reading for pleasure again. I read C.S. Lewis’s “Screwtape Letters” while I was in partial hospitalization and “The Gifts of Imperfection” by Brene Brown, and nothing was the same after that. Now I usually am reading at least three books at a time. An appreciation for the written word is such a blessing! I loved reading your thoughts about it.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Thank you! You’re right… there’s something about reading an actual book, vs. online or a reading tablet. I love the smell of books, and the smell of the library and book stores. I went through a phase like you, which I think is common. I loved to read when I was little, then by high school and college, all I read were text books and info to study. I got back into reading when I was married and my girls were little. I remember finally reading for pleasure again, and thinking how very nice it was. Since then, I’ve been hooked. I’ve been in several book clubs and always have something I’m reading. Thanks for sharing, Lulu! xx

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  3. I’ve been home on disability for the last 7 years and much of the 4 years before that. I do a lot of reading on the internet, and I’ve taken a handful of classes (college and adult school), but for some reason I haven’t really picked up a novel or book of poetry in all of this time. I can’t for the life of me explain why. My therapist has encouraged me to read more off-line, but I haven’t done it. I guess like Mark Twain said there is a loss by not doing so.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Sounds like you keep busy, and learning. But there’s something different about a novel or memoir. You get in a different place, I see it as a nice escape to another world or someone else’s life. Maybe search on Amazon for the top books and try one! Thanks so much for your comment! 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  5. I just love these quotes! Especially, “We read to know we are not alone.” … For me, this rings true… I often refer to not having a book in my hand is like life with no air… A slow, suffocating, stagnant demise… 🤗🤗

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  7. I adore this post! I always think when you open a book, you become like Alice in Wonderland falling down the rabbit hole and you get lost in the book. Then you finish, find your way and find everyone was going about their own normal lives whilst you were caught up in this magic world!! X x x

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  9. That is so true. Reading is a huge part of learning and escaping. I just got Deepak Chopra’s new book and it is quite challenging; it has a lot of science in it, like E=mc squared science. I figure some of it I will understand, and some of it I won’t. I did the same thing with my daughter when she was little. It’s a great gift you gave your children. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • I’m going to check out that book. Interesting… science was never one of my strong subjects, so I don’t think I’d understand a lot of it 😕 but I’m curious about learning more about what Deepak Chopra says. Thanks Traci!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      • You’re welcome. I just got the book and it is quite complex. It has a lot of physics in it; I only bought it because we are going to his lecture and then the book signing. I’ll probably only read some of it. You can check out Deepak on youtube. He has great videos about life and living peacefully. Also, he and Oprah do free 21 day meditations periodically. Each one has a different focus. I have done two, and they are great. Each day they email you a meditation for the day. Oprah talks a bit and then Deepak talks and then we meditate with chanting or just breathing. The next one starts April 10th. I signed up. If you want to sign up go to oprah.com. The focus of this one is Hope in Uncertain Times. I would actually take notes when he spoke. The new book won’t give you a true sense of what he is about; it is even coauthored with a science professor. Ugh!

        Liked by 1 person

      • I love the idea of the Oprah/Deepak collaboration! I’ll go to her website and check that out. Thanks for the info! And yeah, ugh about the science professor coauthor. Maybe some people are interested in that, but sounds too confusing, lol! Sounds like you’re doing really good, Traci! I’m so glad🌷

        Liked by 1 person

      • Thanks Jenny! I’m pretty good. Just turned 49 and had a sleepover for my birthday at my friend’s house; she is so good to me. Not sure if I’m going to read the book; it is confusing at times. The meditation starts Monday the 10th. See you there! 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

  11. What a fantastic gift you gave your daughters. Learning the joy of reading is a gift they will continue to enjoy throughout their lives. I use it to take a break from the world, learn how to do something new, reflect on my life and understand others better. Thanks for sharing how powerful reading can be.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  13. Reading this post was like seeing a glimpse of my childhood. Growing up my mom took my siblings and I on weekly trips to the library. We would leave with each of us carrying bags overfilling with books – all of which were read by the next trip. To this day I enjoy a love and thirst for words and books. No matter how short a trip I take to the library, it is impossible for me to leave with a single book. In fact, carrying those bags of books may even be considered a weight training program.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  14. Hi Jenny, I’m just the same. As a child my greatest wish was always to have a book to read. It transported me everywhere. And like you, as a mum I loved taking my kids to the library. They loved choosing so many books, it was always such a treat. We all still love reading now though I don’t seem to have as much time for it these days unfortunately. Wonderful post.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  15. Mark Twain’s quote is so to the point. You don’t have it unless you use it. Same can be suggested for the brain too. 😉
    But yes, books are treasure. No matter old or new, the knowledge, the world within them stays the same. One who cherishes this treasure has, in one go, cherished all the treasures of the world and life. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  16. I love to read memoirs and read anything about psychology and anything related to the mind and how it works. I love to be inspired by people and learn from their strengths, struggles and blessings in their lives.. I find it fascinating to read how people overcame hurdles in their lives. It teaches me about life and encourages me in my own life. I love to read poetry of any kind as well. ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a comment